“I was born a princess, but life taught me that the real crown a woman wears is her courage. Palaces crumble, jewels fade — but dignity endures.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Special Correspondent): Nawabzadi Mehrunissa Begum, wife of the late Air Marshal Abdur Rahim Khan, the last Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, passed away peacefully in Washington, D.C., on October 28, 2025, at the age of 92. Her passing marks the end of an era — the closing chapter of a lineage that once defined the cultural and intellectual aristocracy of the Indian subcontinent.
Born on January 24, 1933, in the princely state of Rampur (Uttar Pradesh, India), Mehrunissa was the daughter of Nawab Raza Ali Khan Bahadur, the last ruling Nawab of Rampur, and Begum Khurshid Zehra. Raised amid the grandeur of royal tradition, she was educated by private tutors and governesses, steeped in languages, literature, and etiquette. Yet, even within the confines of privilege, she developed a profound awareness of women’s limitations — an insight that would later define her life’s philosophy.
Unlike many women of her generation, Mehrunissa pursued learning beyond convention. Her love for Urdu and Persian poetry, and later English literature, shaped a worldview that bridged East and West. In her acclaimed autobiography, An Extraordinary Life: Princess Mehrunissa of Rampur (2006), she chronicled her journey from royal privilege to personal emancipation with remarkable honesty and grace.
In the early 1950s, under traditional family expectations, she entered into an arranged marriage with Syed Ali Naqi. The union, however, proved unhappy, and in an era when divorce among Muslim aristocracy was nearly taboo, she took the courageous step of seeking separation — a decision that reflected her independence of spirit and conviction in truth over conformity.
A new chapter began in the 1960s when she met Group Captain Abdur Rahim Khan in London, a distinguished officer of the Pakistan Air Force who would later become its Commander-in-Chief. Their marriage in 1962 crossed political and national boundaries soon after the Partition. Choosing love and companionship over royal privilege, she settled in Pakistan and later became the mother of a son, Abid Rahim Khan, whose untimely passing left an indelible mark on her life.
Following her husband’s passing, Mehrunissa moved to the United States in 1977, where she began an entirely new life — not as a princess, but as a scholar and teacher. She taught Urdu and Hindi at the International Centre for Language Studies in Washington, D.C., earning respect for her intellect, refinement, and quiet strength. Her students remembered her as a woman of poise, compassion, and depth — a living bridge between cultures.
Through her writing, teaching, and dignified presence, Nawabzadi Mehrunissa Begum personified resilience and transformation. Her life’s journey — from the palaces of Rampur to the classrooms of Washington — stands as a testament to the enduring power of grace and courage over circumstance.
She is survived by family and friends who cherished her wisdom and kindness. May Allah Almighty bless her soul, elevate her ranks in Jannah, and grant patience to her loved ones. Ameen.
