The residents of Pataudi are keen to anoint Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan as the tenth nawab of Pataudi in continuation with the family tradition of the royalty. Following his father Mansoor Ali Khan’s demise on September 22, 2011, Saif Ali Khan will soon become the head of the Pataudi state in Haryana. A source revealed, “The people of the princely state were keen to crown their chote nawab. Princely states were abolished in 1971, and Mansoor Ali Khan was the last nawab who reigned from 1952 till 1971. For purely sentimental reasons, the people of Pataudi wanted Saif to be the crowned nawab.” Apparently, Saif is reluctant to step into his Mansoor’s shoes.
For Saif, the title of nawab is an anachronistic as he said, “And also, I would like to remember my father as the last nawab of Pataudi. These titles are no longer recognised by the government. And rightly so, if you ask. But the people in our villages are sentimental about these things. The ceremony is more of a family tradition and hugely symbolic for the people of Pataudi. The event will take place in Pataudi, of course. It is scheduled for the end of this month, 40 days after father passed away.” Talking about his new responsibilities as the nawab of Pataudi, Saif said, “Being crowned the nawab means taking care of my father’s estate, our ancestral home and the trust. More importantly, I will have to continue the work he was doing for the villagers. I have to look after the eye hospital and other charitable institutions father was managing.”
