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The Begum,
Umm Habiba
The Last Legend of
Love in the 20th Century
The
eternal story of love between the Begum and Agha Khan III began and ended on
the banks of the Nile.
On the
first day of last July, the Begum, Umm Habiba, the wife of late Prince
Mohammad Agha Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismailite sect, passed away.
With
her death, one of the most beautiful and delicate stories of love and passion
in the 20th century came to an end, along with it one of the most noble story
of endless giving, human compassion and kindness ever known by mankind in
modern times. The Begum whose real name was Yvette Labrousse was born on
February 15, 1906 in the Tunisian town of Sete to a seamstress and a tramway
conductor. Yet, her eye-catching beauty and smart stature led her to a more
gorgeous future. Her mother persuaded her to participate in Miss Lyons
competition in 1929 and won the title. Then, the simple and delicate girl
became Miss France in 1930. She was crowned with fame till she became in 1938
one of the girls who were invited to embellish the chic parties.
The Begum with her husband's grandson
Her
ever lasting love story with the Agha Khan began and ended on the banks of
the Nile. The Begum first caught the Agha Khan's eye at a party hosted by an
Egyptian aristocratic lady. Yvette was invited to that party and she
travelled with her parents to Cairo in 1935. Mohammad Agha Khan was one of
the leading guests because he was considered the richest man in the world at
that time and the leader of the Ismailite sect with followers over 25 million
throughout the world. The first smile exchanged between the Prince and Miss
France was the first spark and letter in the most beautiful and last legend
of love and faithfulness in the 20th century.
Although he was 29 years older than her they got married on October 9, 1944
before the end of the 2nd World War in Switzerland.
The
Begum Umm Habiba -her new title- converted to Islam. She travelled to Mecca
and performed the Haj. Three years later Agha Khan conferred on the Begum the
title of Mata Salamat or the mother of peace. It is a holy title, bestowed
only upon three Begums in 13 centuries.
The
story of love and passion went on till her husband fell ill of Rheumatism.
His doctor recomended the city of Aswan in Upper Egypt as a health resort.
President Gamal Abdul-Nasser granted him a lot of land, west of
the Nile in Aswan as a present to build a tomb at his request. He began to
build the
tomb, but he died before
it was completed. He was buried on February 30, 1959.
After his death, the task of building the tomb had
been entrusted to Umm Habiba, a task she took very seriously. The mausoleum
became one of the most important monuments in Aswan as it turned to be an
architectural landmark and tourist attraction of historical value. On July
1st, 2000, Umm Habiba, the queen of beauty, love and hearts passed away. At
her request, she was buried with her husband at sunset. The fresh red rose
was laid at her tomb to be the best witness of the end of the most beautiful
story of love in the twentieth century.
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