Erstwhile subjects remember their Nawab

Having lost his father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi on his 11th birthday in 1952, Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had never celebrated his big day amid memories of a tragic loss. Dhananjay Jha reports.

Having lost his father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi on his 11th birthday in 1952, Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had never celebrated his big day amid memories of a tragic loss. However, if close associates of the Pataudi family are to be believed, January 5 this year was different.

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After his children and little girls from the village school insisted, Pataudi made an exception and Ibrahim Palace witnessed festivities again.

His wife Sharmila Tagore, son Saif Ali Khan, daughters Soha and Saba, and Saif's girlfriend Kareena Kapoor were present, besides few residents of the village who had been close to the family.

Students of the senior secondary school (girls) in Pataudi had presented a special cultural program for the Nawab who was a favourite among residents.

"The school girls had presented a folk dance and few songs from Sharmila Tagore's films. The nawab gave the children beautiful gifts and prizes in cash," said Ram Kumar.

"He was very keen on helping underprivileged girls at the school," he added.

In 2008, the former Indian cricket team captain had put together a scholarship program for the school apart from the financial aid he had already been providing to students.

Locals say the nawabs used to visit the school in December and on other occasions too. They loved to play with school children.

As Pataudi was laid to rest at his ancestral palace on Friday, after succumbing to a lung ailment in Delhi on Thursday, thousands thronged the burial site to pay their last respects. Locals fondly remember him as a pleasant person.

"He used to walk up to Idgah and on his way back, he used to warmly meet and greet villagers. He knew many people of the village by face and name," said Parminder, a resident.