Majda Ahmed and Hamida Sarwar at their Albela Hill Top residence. Picture by Kuheli Chakravorty

Kalimpong, Oct. 27: Majda Ahmed and Hamida Sarwar trace their roots to the Afghan royalty, but are forced to lead an anonymous existence here for more than 50 years.

Contrary to the popular perception, the sisters have never been to Afghanistan. “We are not Afghans. We were born in Allahabad and do not know what our homeland looks like,” insisted Hamida.

Grinding poverty might have numbed their senses but a little prodding gives you tales of wonder and awe as the siblings look back into the past.

They narrate the saga of their ancestors, especially during the battle of Maiwand, fought in 1818.

“Our grandfather, Sardar Muhammad Ayub Khan had defeated the English in the battle of Maiwand. None of the Britishers survived the onslaught except a doctor,” said the 68-year-old Majda.

Later, the British brought Ayub Khan to India and rehabilitated his family at Allahabad in the late 18th century.

“We were born and brought up at Allahabad and studied at St. Mary’s School for around four years. Though our formal education came to an end soon after. We pursued our studies through home tuition,” said Hamida.

Those were the glorious days. “Our family shared a close rapport with the Nehru family. Both Panditji and Indira used to visit our place. One of our elder sister-in-laws was Indira’s classmates,” she added.

But, if the past was glorious, the present is sordid and the future looks bleak for the lonely twosome.

The poverty-stricken sisters have turned hostile to the media glare and refused to answer any “prying questions”.

“Why do want to write about us? There will be yet another article on our travails and next day things will be the same. Can the write-up change our lives for the better?” asked a bitter Hamida Sarwar, the youngest princess.

Majda, a spinster, receives a measly sum of Rs 800 from the government after her parents, Sardar Mohammad and Maymuna Sarwar passed away in 1983 and 1987 respectively.

Hamida, widow of Major Q.J. Ahmed, lives off the army pension. Besides the acute financial constraints, the elderly ladies have to contend with various difficulties.

They are now living at their Albela Hill Top mansion in constant fear because of persistent eviction threat from the landord. The building is in a pitiable condition.

The windowpanes had to be repaired on countless occasions. The house was also burgled a few times and the goons had decamped with precious gems and jewellery, their only tenuous link with the royal past.

But the resilient women, in their twilight years, refuse to give in.