Post-World War (1918 to 1939)
In 1919, the Nizam ordered the formation of the Executive Council of Hyderabad, presided over by Sir Sayyid Ali Imam, including eight other members, each in charge of one or more departments. The president of the Executive Council would also be the
prime minister of Hyderabad
__NOTOC__
This article lists the prime ministers of the Hyderabad State.
In 1919, Asaf Jah VII ordered the formation of the Executive Council of Hyderabad, presided by Sir Sayyid Ali Imam, and with eight other members, each in charge of one o ...
.
The
Begumpet Airport
Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, also known as Hyderabad Old Airport, is a civil enclave located in Begumpet. The airport is home to the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy (RGAA), the Telangana State Aviation Academy and the Begumpet Air Force Statio ...
was established in the year 1930 with the eventual formation of
Hyderabad Aero Club
Hyderabad State Aero Club was an airport club in the Hyderabad State, India. It became the airfield for the VII Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan
Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII (5 or 6 April 1886 — 24 February 1967), was the last ...
by the Nizam in 1936. Initially, the Nizam's private airways the
Deccan Airways, one of the earliest airlines in British India, used it as a domestic and international airport. The terminal building was constructed in 1937. The first commercial flight took off from the airport in 1946.
Final years of his reign (1939 to 1948)
The Nizam arranged a matrimonial alliance with deposed caliph
Abdulmejid II whereby the Nizam's first son
Azam Jah
Azam Jah, Damat Walashan Sahebzada Nawab Sir Mir Himayat Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur Bayaffendi ( ur, اعظم جاہ داماد والاشان صاحب زادہ نواب سر میر حمایت علی خان بہادر بے آفندی) (21/22 Feb ...
would marry
Princess Durrushehvar of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
. It was believed that the matrimonial alliance between the Nizam and Abdulmejid II would lead to the emergence of a Muslim ruler who could be acceptable to the world powers in place of the
Ottoman Sultans
The sultans of the Ottoman Empire ( tr, Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in 1299 to its dissolution in 1922. At its hei ...
. After India's Independence, the Nizam attempted to declare his sovereignty over the state of Hyderabad, either as a protectorate of the British Empire or as a sovereign monarchy. However, his power weakened because of the
Telangana Rebellion
The Telangana Rebellion popularly known as Telangana Sayuda Poratam (Telugu : తెలంగాణ సాయుధ పోరాటం) of 1946–51 was a communist-led insurrection of peasants against the princely state of Hyderabad in the r ...
and the rise of the
Razakars Razakar (رضا کار) is etymologically an Arabic word which literally means volunteer. The word is also common in Urdu language as a loanword. On the other hand, in Bangladesh, razakar is a pejorative word meaning a traitor or Judas.
In Pakista ...
, a radical Muslim militia who wanted Hyderabad to remain under Muslim rule. In 1948, India
invaded and annexed Hyderabad State, and the rule of the Nizam ended. He became the
Rajpramukh
Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain Indian provinces and states.
Background
The British Indian Empire, which includ ...
and served from 26 January 1950 to 31 October 1956.
Contributions to society
Educational initiatives
By donating to major educational institutions throughout India, he introduced many educational reforms during his reign. Up to 11% of his budget was spent on education.
Schools, colleges and a Department for Translation were set up. Primary education was made compulsory and provided free for the poor.
Osmania University
He founded the Osmania University in 1918 through a royal firman; It is one of the largest universities in India. Schools, colleges and a Department for Translation were set up.
Construction of major public buildings
Nearly all the major public buildings and institutions in Hyderabad city, such as the
Hyderabad High Court
The Telangana High Court is the High Court for the Indian state of Telangana. Founded by the 7th Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, initially, it was set up as High Court of Hyderabad for the then Princely State of Hyderabad Deccan and later renamed ...
,
Jubilee Hall,
Nizamia Observatory,
Moazzam Jahi Market
Moazzam Jahi Market is a fruit market in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Named after Moazzam Jah- the second son of Mir Osman Ali Khan
History
It was constructed in 1935 during the reign of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It was named after ...
,
Kachiguda Railway Station
Kacheguda railway station (station code: KCG) is one of the three Central Stations in Hyderabad City of Telangana in India. It is currently operated by the South Central Railway zone of Indian Railways. The station was first built during the pe ...
, Asafiya Library (
State Central Library, Hyderabad), the
Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
now known as the Assembly Hall, Hyderabad Museum now known as the
State Museum;
hospitals
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...
like
Osmania General Hospital
Osmania General Hospital (OGH) is one of the oldest hospitals in India located at Afzal Gunj, Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. I ...
,
Nizamia Hospital and many other buildings were constructed under his reign.
He also built the
Hyderabad House
Hyderabad House is an official residence in New Delhi, India. It is the State Guest House of the Prime Minister of India. It is used by the Government of India for banquets, and as a venue for meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. It wa ...
in Delhi, now used for diplomatic meetings by the Government of India.
Establishment of Hyderabad State Bank
In 1941, he started his own bank, the Hyderabad State Bank. It was later renamed
State Bank of Hyderabad
State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH) was a regional bank in Hyderabad, with headquarters at Gunfoundry, Abids, Hyderabad, Telangana. Founded by the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad State, Mir Osman Ali Khan, it is now one of the five associate banks of State Ba ...
and merged with the
State Bank of India
State Bank of India (SBI) is an Indian multinational public sector bank and financial services statutory body headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. SBI is the 49th largest bank in the world by total assets and ranked 221st in the ''Fortune ...
as the state's central bank in 2017. It was established on 8 August 1941 under the Hyderabad State Bank Act. The bank managed the Osmania Sikka (
Hyderabadi rupee
The Hyderabadi Rupee was the currency of the Hyderabad State from 1918 to 1959. It coexisted with the Indian rupee from 1950. Like the Indian rupee, it was divided into 16 annas, each of 12 pai. Coins were issued in copper (later bronze) for de ...
), the currency of the state of Hyderabad. It was the only state in India which had
its own currency, and the only state in British India where the ruler was allowed to issue currency. In 1953, the bank absorbed, by merger, the Mercantile Bank of Hyderabad, which Raja Pannalal Pitti had founded in 1935.
In 1956, the Reserve Bank of India took over the bank as its first subsidiary and renamed it State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH). The Subsidiary Banks Act was passed in 1959. On 1 October 1959, SBH and the other banks of the princely states became subsidiaries of SBI. It merged with SBI on 31 March 2017.
Flood prevention
After the Great Musi Flood of 1908, which killed an estimated 50,000 people, the Nizam constructed two lakes to prevent flooding—the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar
named after himself, and his son
Azam Jah
Azam Jah, Damat Walashan Sahebzada Nawab Sir Mir Himayat Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur Bayaffendi ( ur, اعظم جاہ داماد والاشان صاحب زادہ نواب سر میر حمایت علی خان بہادر بے آفندی) (21/22 Feb ...
respectively.
Agricultural reforms
The Nizam founded agricultural research in the
Marathwada
Marathwada () is a proposed state and geographical region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was formed during the Nizam's rule and was part of the then Hyderabad State. The region coincides with the Aurangabad division of Maharashtra. I ...
region of Hyderabad State with the establishment of the Main Experimental Farm in 1918 in
Parbhani
Parbhani (, IPA ) is a city in Maharashtra state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Parbhani District. Parbhani is one of the largest cities in Marathwada region. Parbhani is around away from regional headquarters of Aurangaba ...
. During his rule, agricultural education was available only at Hyderabad; crop research centres for
sorghum
''Sorghum'' () is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the grass family (Poaceae). Some of these species are grown as cereals for human consumption and some in pastures for animals. One species is grown for grain, while many othe ...
, cotton, and fruits existed in Parbhani. After independence, the Indian government developed this facility further and renamed
Marathwada Agriculture University
Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), formerly Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (MKV), is an agriculture, agricultural university at Parbhani in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
History
The foundation of agricultural research in Pa ...
on 18 May 1972.
Contribution to Indian aviation
India's first airport—the
Begumpet Airport
Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, also known as Hyderabad Old Airport, is a civil enclave located in Begumpet. The airport is home to the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy (RGAA), the Telangana State Aviation Academy and the Begumpet Air Force Statio ...
—was established in the 1930s with the formation of the Hyderabad Aero Club by the Nizam.
Initially, it was used as a domestic and international airport by
Deccan Airways Limited
Deccan Airways Limited was a commercial airline based at Begumpet Airport in the erstwhile Hyderabad State. It was owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad and Tata Airlines.
History
Founded in 1945, it was one of the nine airlines existing in India ...
, the first airline in British India. The airport terminal was constructed in 1937.
Philanthropy
Donations towards Hindu temples
The Nizam donated Rs. 82,825 to the
Yadagirigutta temple at Bhongir, Rs. 29,999 to the
Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam
The Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Rama, a prominent avatar of the god Vishnu. It is located on the banks of the Godavari River in the town of Bhadrachalam in east Telangana, India. Often simply referred to as B ...
and Rs. 8,000 to the
Tirupati Balaji Temple.
He also donated Rs. 50,000 towards the re-construction of
Sitarambagh temple located in the old city of Hyderabad,
and bestowed a grant of 100,000
Hyderabadi rupee
The Hyderabadi Rupee was the currency of the Hyderabad State from 1918 to 1959. It coexisted with the Indian rupee from 1950. Like the Indian rupee, it was divided into 16 annas, each of 12 pai. Coins were issued in copper (later bronze) for de ...
s towards the reconstruction of
Thousand Pillar Temple
The Thousand Pillar Temple or Rudreswara Swamy Temple వేయి స్తంభాల గుడి''is a historic Hindu temple located in the town of Hanamakonda, Telangana State, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. Thou ...
.
After hearing about the
Golden Temple of Amritsar through Maharaja Ranjit Singh,
Mir Osman Ali Khan started providing it with yearly grants.
Donation towards the compilation of the Holy Mahabharata
In 1932, there was a need for money for the publication of the Holy ''
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
'' by the
Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) is located in Pune, Maharashtra, India. It was founded on 6 July 1917 and named after Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar (1837–1925), long regarded as the founder of Indology (Orientalism) in Ind ...
located in Pune. A formal request was made to Mir Osman Ali Khan who granted Rs. 1000 per year for a period of 11 years.
He also gave Rs 50,000 for the construction of the institute's guest house which stands today as the Nizam Guest House.
Donation in Gold to the National Defence Fund
In October 1965, during the
Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War took place between China and India from October to November 1962, as a major flare-up of the Sino-Indian border dispute. There had been a series of violent border skirmishes between the two countries after the 1959 Tib ...
, the PM
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri (; 2 October 1904 – 11 January 1966) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the 2nd Prime Minister of India from 1964 to 1966 and 6th Home Minister of India from 1961 to 1963. He promoted the White Re ...
visited Hyderabad and requested the Nizam to contribute generously to the National Defence Fund, set up in the wake of the Indo-Chinese skirmish.
In response, the Nizam announced that he would contribute five tonnes (5,000kg) of gold to augment the war fund. In terms of today’s gold price in the international market, this donation translates to a whopping Rs 1,500 crore.
Donations to educational institutions
The Nizam donated Rs 1 million for the
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) IAST: kāśī hindū viśvavidyālaya IPA: /kaːʃiː hɪnd̪uː ʋɪʃwəʋid̪jaːləj/), is a collegiate, central, and research university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, and founded in 1916 ...
,
Rs. 500,000 for the
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University (abbreviated as AMU) is a Public University, public Central University (India), central university in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, which was originally established by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as the Muhammadan Anglo-Orie ...
,
and 300,000 for the
Indian Institute of Science
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a public, deemed, research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is located in Bengaluru, in the Indian state of Karnataka. The institute wa ...
.
He also made large donations to many institutions in India and abroad with special emphasis given to educational institutions such as the
Jamia Nizamia
Jamia Nizamia more properly, Jami'ah Nizamiyyah, is one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of higher learning for Muslims located in Hyderabad, India. It is named after its founder- the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad.
History
It was founded by Shaykh ...
and the
Darul Uloom Deoband
The Darul Uloom Deoband is an Islamic seminary (darul uloom) in India at which the Sunni Deobandi Islamic movement began. It is located in Deoband, a town in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh. The seminary was established by Muhammad Qasim ...
.
Restoration of Ajanta Ellora caves
During the early 1920s, the Ajanta site was in the territory of the
princely state
A princely state (also called native state or Indian state) was a nominally sovereign entity of the British Raj, British Indian Empire that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule, ...
of the
Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
and Osman Ali Khan (the
Nizam of Hyderabad
The Nizams were the rulers of Hyderabad from the 18th through the 20th century. Nizam of Hyderabad (Niẓām ul-Mulk, also known as Asaf Jah) was the title of the monarch of the Hyderabad State ( divided between the state of Telangana, Mar ...
) appointed experts to restore the artwork, converted the site into a museum and built a road to enable tourists come to the site.
The Nizam's Director of Archaeology obtained the services of two experts from Italy, Professor
Lorenzo Cecconi, assisted by Count Orsini, to restore the paintings in the caves. The Director of Archaeology for the last Nizam of Hyderabad said of the work of Cecconi and Orsini:
Operation Polo and abdication
After Indian independence in 1947, the country was partitioned into India and
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. The princely states were left free to make whatever arrangement they wished with either India or Pakistan. The Nizam ruled over more than 16 million people and of territory when the British withdrew from the sub-continent in 1947.
But unlike the other princely states, Nizam refused to sign the instrument of accession. Instead he opted to sign a 1-year standstill agreement agreed upon by the British, and signed by then viceroy Lord Mountbatten. The Nizam refused to join either India or Pakistan, preferring to form a separate independent kingdom within the British
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the Co ...
.
This proposal for independence was rejected by the British government, but the Nizam continued to explore it. Towards this end, he kept up open negotiations with the Government of India regarding the modalities of a future relationship while opening covert negotiations with Pakistan in a similar vein. The Nizam cited the
Razakars Razakar (رضا کار) is etymologically an Arabic word which literally means volunteer. The word is also common in Urdu language as a loanword. On the other hand, in Bangladesh, razakar is a pejorative word meaning a traitor or Judas.
In Pakista ...
as evidence that the people of the state were opposed to any agreement with India.
The one year standstill agreement turned out to be a severe blow to the Nizam as it gave all foreign affairs, communication and defense power to the Indian government. The new Indian government wasn't happy that a sovereign state would exist right at the center of India. In accordance to this, they ultimately decided to invade Hyderabad in 1948, in an operation code-named
Operation Polo
Operation Polo was the code name of the Hyderabad "police action" in September 1948, by the then newly independent Dominion of India against Hyderabad State. It was a military operation in which the Indian Armed Forces invaded the Nizam-rule ...
. Under the supervision of Major General
Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri
General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri (Bengali: জয়ন্তনাথ চৌধুরী; 10 June 1908 – 6 April 1983) was a General Officer in the Indian Army. He served as the 6th Chief of Army Staff from 1962 to 1966 and the Military Gove ...
, one division of the
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...
and a tank brigade invaded and captured Hyderabad.
The annexation was over in just 109 hours or roughly 4 days. Due to no foreign connections and no real defense the war was a losing cause for Hyderabad from the start. After the annexation the territory came under Indian rule and Nizam was removed from his position but allowed to keep all personal wealth and title.
Wealth
The Nizam was so wealthy that he was portrayed on the cover of
''Time'' magazine on 22 February 1937, being described as the world's richest man. At its peak, the wealth of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII was worth (all his conceivable assets combined) in the early 1940s, while his entire treasure of jewels, would be worth between US$150 million and US$500 million variously in today's terms. He used the
Jacob Diamond, a 185-carat diamond that is part of the
Nizam's jewellery, as a paperweight.
During his days as Nizam, he was reputed to be
the richest man in the world, having a fortune estimated at US$2 billion in the early 1940s
( US$ in dollars) or two per cent of the US economy then.
The Nizam's personal fortune was estimated to be roughly £110 million, including £40 million in gold and jewels (equivalent to £ in ).
The Indian government still exhibits the jewellery as the Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad (now in Delhi). There are 173 jewels, which include
emerald
Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr. and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991) ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York, p ...
s weighing nearly , and
pearls
A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle (mollusc), mantle) of a living animal shell, shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pea ...
exceeding 40 thousand
chows. The collection includes
gemstone
A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semiprecious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, ...
s,
turban
A turban (from Persian دولبند, ''dulband''; via Middle French ''turbant'') is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Communities with promine ...
ornaments, necklaces and
pendant
A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, which may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. Its name stems from the Latin word ...
s,
belts and buckles,
earrings
An earring is a piece of jewelry attached to the ear via a piercing in the earlobe or another external part of the ear (except in the case of clip earrings, which clip onto the lobe). Earrings have been worn by people in different civilizations ...
,
armbands
An armband is a piece of material worn around the arm. They may be worn for pure ornamentation, or to mark the wearer as belonging to group, or as insignia having a certain rank, status, office or role, or being in a particular state or conditi ...
, bangles and
bracelets
A bracelet is an article of jewellery that is worn around the wrist. Bracelets may serve different uses, such as being worn as an ornament. When worn as ornaments, bracelets may have a supportive function to hold other items of decoration, suc ...
,
anklets,
cufflinks
Cufflinks are items of jewelry that are used to secure the cuffs of dress shirts. Cufflinks can be manufactured from a variety of different materials, such as glass, stone, leather, metal, precious metal or combinations of these. Securing of ...
and
button
A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole.
In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood, o ...
s,
watch chain
A pocket watch (or pocketwatch) is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed to a wristwatch, which is strapped to the wrist.
They were the most common type of watch from their development in the 16th century until wristwatc ...
s, and rings,
toe ring
A toe ring is a ring made out of metals and non-metals worn on any of the toes. The second toe of either foot is where they are worn most commonly. This is because proportionately it is the longest toe and thus the easiest toe to put a ring o ...
s, and
nose rings
A nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which receive and expel air for respiration alongside the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes thr ...
.
Along with the Nizam’s jewels, two Bari gold coins worth hundreds of crores, were considered the rarest in the world. Himayat Ali Mirza has requested the central government to bring these coins, which were made in the
Arabic script
The Arabic script is the writing system used for Arabic and several other languages of Asia and Africa. It is the second-most widely used writing system in the world by number of countries using it or a script directly derived from it, and the ...
should be brought back to
Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
.
Gift to Queen Elizabeth II
In 1947, the Nizam made a gift of diamond jewels, including a tiara and necklace, to
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
on the occasion of her marriage. The brooches and necklace were still worn by the Queen until her death and the necklace is known as the
Nizam of Hyderabad necklace.
Personal life
The Nizam lived at
King Kothi Palace
King Kothi Palace or Nazri Bagh Palace is a royal palace in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was the palace where the erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad State, Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan, lived.
Etymology
Initially, Kamal Khan constructed this palace f ...
—bought from a nobleman(Kamal Khan an architect of those times)—from age 13 until his death. He never moved to
Chowmahalla Palace
Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat (from ''chār mahallāt'', in Dakhini Urdu) is the palace of the Nizams of Hyderabad State in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Niza ...
, even after his
accession to the throne.
Unlike his father, he was not interested in fine clothing or hunting. His hobbies rather included poetry and writing ''
ghazals
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a p ...
'' in Urdu.
He revered his mother and visited her every day she was alive; he used to visit her grave almost every day after she died.
Family
At the age of 21, on 14 April 1906, he married Azam Unnisa Begum (Dulhan Pasha Begum), a daughter of the noble Nawab Jahangir Jung.
His first son
Azam Jah
Azam Jah, Damat Walashan Sahebzada Nawab Sir Mir Himayat Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur Bayaffendi ( ur, اعظم جاہ داماد والاشان صاحب زادہ نواب سر میر حمایت علی خان بہادر بے آفندی) (21/22 Feb ...
married
Durru Shehvar, daughter of the
Ottoman caliph
Abdul Mejid II, while his second son
Moazzam Jah
Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Sir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Siddiqui Bahadur, KCIE (21 December 1907 – 15 September 1987), was the son of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII and his first wife Dulhan Pasha Begum. ...
married
Niloufer, a niece of the Ottoman sultan.
The Nizam had a total of 34 children; 18 sons and 16 daughters.
Azam Jah and Durru Shehvar had two sons,
Mukarram Jah
Nizam Mir Barkat Ali Khan Siddiqi Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII (born 6 October 1933), less formally known as Mukarram Jah, has been the titular Nizam of Hyderabad since the death of his grandfather in 1967.
He currently chairs the H.E.H. The Niz ...
and
Muffakham Jah
Colonel Muffakham Jah Nawab Walashan Sahebzada Mir Karamath Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafendi Bahadur (born 27 February 1939) is the son of Prince Azam Jah and Princess Durru Shehvar, and grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad.
An engineering colleg ...
, with the former succeeding his grandfather as the de jure Nizam.
Another grandson was
Mir Najaf Ali Khan
Mir Najaf Ali Khan is a grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. He manages a few trusts of the last Nizam, including the Nizam's Trust.
He is also an enthusiast of the Heritage of Hyderabad, and has also criticized the ...
,
who represents several trusts of the last Nizam, including the
H.E.H. the Nizam's Charitable Trust and the Nizam Family Welfare Association.
In total, the 7th Nizam had 34 children from his 8 wives, 6 of whom died during childbirth/infancy.
At the age of 21, on 14 April 1906, his first marriage was with Azam Unnisa Begum (Dulhan Pasha Begum), daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung Bahadur.
His first son
Azam Jah
Azam Jah, Damat Walashan Sahebzada Nawab Sir Mir Himayat Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur Bayaffendi ( ur, اعظم جاہ داماد والاشان صاحب زادہ نواب سر میر حمایت علی خان بہادر بے آفندی) (21/22 Feb ...
married
Durru Shehvar, daughter of the
Ottoman caliph
Abdul Mejid II, while his second son
Moazzam Jah
Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Sir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Siddiqui Bahadur, KCIE (21 December 1907 – 15 September 1987), was the son of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII and his first wife Dulhan Pasha Begum. ...
married
Niloufer, a niece of the Ottoman sultan.
Azam Jah and Durru Shehvar had two sons,
Mukarram Jah
Nizam Mir Barkat Ali Khan Siddiqi Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII (born 6 October 1933), less formally known as Mukarram Jah, has been the titular Nizam of Hyderabad since the death of his grandfather in 1967.
He currently chairs the H.E.H. The Niz ...
and
Muffakham Jah
Colonel Muffakham Jah Nawab Walashan Sahebzada Mir Karamath Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafendi Bahadur (born 27 February 1939) is the son of Prince Azam Jah and Princess Durru Shehvar, and grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad.
An engineering colleg ...
, with the former succeeding his grandfather as the ''
de jure
In law and government, ''de jure'' ( ; , "by law") describes practices that are legally recognized, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. In contrast, ("in fact") describes situations that exist in reality, even if not legally ...
'' Nizam.
His second son HH Moazzam Jah had three wives - first being princess Nilofer. Since princess Niloufer couldn't bear a child, Moazzam Jah married Razia Begum and had three daughters princess Fatima Fouzia, princess Amina Merzia and princess Oolia Kulsum. Prince Moazzam Jah also married Anwari Begum and had a son prince Shahmat Jah.
Another socially prominent grandson is
Mir Najaf Ali Khan
Mir Najaf Ali Khan is a grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. He manages a few trusts of the last Nizam, including the Nizam's Trust.
He is also an enthusiast of the Heritage of Hyderabad, and has also criticized the ...
,
who represents several trusts of the last Nizam, including the
H.E.H. the Nizam's Charitable Trust and the Nizam Family Welfare Association.
Lately, Nizam's name was being used by various parties for political gains. Another great grandson, Himayat Ali Mirza wrote to prime minister in this regard along with Election Commission of India, requesting political parties not to use Nizam's name in today's politics as it is both disrespectful to such a great personality.
The Nizams' daughters had been married traditionally to young men of the
House of Paigah
Paigah is a noble family in the senior aristocracy of Hyderabad State, who were associated with the ruling Nizam since its inception and each maintained his own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand troops, ...
. This family belonged to the Sunni sect.
Final years and death
The Nizam continued to stay at the King Kothi Palace until his death. He used to issue ''
firman
A firman ( fa, , translit=farmân; ), at the constitutional level, was a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in an Islamic state. During various periods they were collected and applied as traditional bodies of law. The word firman com ...
s'' on inconsequential matters in his newspaper, the Nizam Gazette.
He died on Friday, 24 February 1967. In his will, he asked to buried in Masjid-e Judi, a mosque where his mother was buried, that faced
King Kothi Palace
King Kothi Palace or Nazri Bagh Palace is a royal palace in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was the palace where the erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad State, Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan, lived.
Etymology
Initially, Kamal Khan constructed this palace f ...
.
The government declared state mourning on 25 February 1967, the day when he was buried. State government offices remained closed as a mark of respect while the
National Flag of India
The national flag of India, Colloquialism, colloquially called the tricolour, is a horizontal rectangular tricolour flag of Saffron (color)#India saffron, India saffron, white and Variations of green#India green, India green; with the ', a 24 ...
was flown at half-mast on all the government buildings throughout the state.
The Nizam Museum documents state :
"The streets and pavements of the city were littered with the pieces of broken glass bangles as an incalculable number of women broke their bangles in mourning, which Telangana
Telangana (; , ) is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian subcontinent, Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India b ...
women usually do as per Indian customs on the death of a close relative."
"The Nizam's funeral procession was the biggest non-religious, non-political meeting of people in the history of India till that date."
Millions of people of all religions from different parts of the state entered Hyderabad in trains, buses and bullocks for a last glimpse of their king in a coffin in the
King Kothi Palace
King Kothi Palace or Nazri Bagh Palace is a royal palace in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was the palace where the erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad State, Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan, lived.
Etymology
Initially, Kamal Khan constructed this palace f ...
Camp in Hyderabad.
The crowd was so uncontrollable that barricades were installed alongside the road to enable people to move in a queue.
D. Bhaskara Rao, chief curator, of the
Nizam's Museum
Nizam's Museum or H.E.H Nizam's Museum is a museum located in Hyderabad at Purani Haveli, a palace of the erstwhile Nizams. This museum showcases the gifts that the last Nizam of Hyderabad State, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII received on his silve ...
stated that an estimated one million (1 million) people were part of the procession.
Title and salutation
Salutation style
The Nizam was the honorary Colonel of the 20 Deccan Horse. In 1918,
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...
elevated Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur from "His Highness" to "
His Exalted Highness
His Exalted Highness is a rare hybrid of the title style Highness. It is used as a salutation style ''only'' for the Nizams of Hyderabad and Berar conferred by the British Government.
See also
*Mir Osman Ali Khan
Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah ...
". In a letter dated 24 January 1918, the title "Faithful Ally of the British Government' was conferred on him.
Full Titular Name
The titles during his life were:
1886–1911: Nawab Bahadur Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi.
1911–1912: His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI
1912–1917: Colonel His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI
1917–1918: Colonel His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE
1918–1936: Lieutenant-General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE
1936–1941: Lieutenant-General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, GCSI, GBE
1941–1967: General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, GCSI, GBE.
Honours and Eponyms
*
Delhi Durbar Gold Medal, 1911 as part of the
1911 Delhi Durbar Honours,
* GCSI:
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (GCSI)
# Knight Commander ( KCSI)
# Companion ( CSI)
No appointmen ...
, 1911
* GCStJ: Bailiff Grand Cross of the
Order of St John, 1911
* GBE:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
, 1917
*
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 1935
*
King George VI Coronation Medal
The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal, instituted to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Issue
This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir of King George VI's coronation. It was awarded to t ...
, 1937
*
Royal Victorian Chain
The Royal Victorian Chain is a decoration instituted in 1902 by King Edward VII as a personal award of the monarch (i.e. not an award made on the advice of any Commonwealth realm government). It ranks above the Royal Victorian Order, with which it ...
, 1946
List of Eponyms
*
Osmania General Hospital
Osmania General Hospital (OGH) is one of the oldest hospitals in India located at Afzal Gunj, Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. I ...
*
Osmania Biscuit
*
Osman Sagar
Osman Sagar is a reservoir in the Indian city of Hyderabad. The lake is around 46 km², and the reservoir is around 29 km², with total level of 1,790 feet and a capacity of 3.9 tmc ft.
History
Osman Sagar was created by damming the M ...
, a reservoir in Hyderabad
*
Osmanabad
Osmanabad (; pronounced as ''Usmānābād''),is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Osmanabad derives its name from the last ruler of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Osmanabad city is the adm ...
* The
Nizam of Hyderabad necklace
* The
Nizam Gate of
Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Ajmer Sharif Dargah (also Ajmer Dargah, Ajmer Sharif or Dargah Sharif) is a Sufi tomb (''dargah'') of the revered Sufi saint, Moinuddin Chishti, located at Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. The shrine has Chishti's grave (Maqbara).
Location
Ajmer Shari ...
See also
*
Establishments of the Nizams
*
Hospitals established by the Nizams
*
Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway
Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway (NGSR) was a railway company operating in India from 1879 to 1950. It was owned by the Nizams of Hyderabad State, and its full name was ''His Exalted Highness, The Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway''. The compan ...
References
Further reading
* ''The Splendour of Hyderabad: The Last Phase of an Oriental Culture (1591–1948 A.D.)'' By M.A. Nayeem
* ''The Nocturnal Court: The Life of a Prince of Hyderabad '' By Sidq Jaisi
*''Developments in Administration Under H.E.H. the Nizam VII'' By Shamim Aleem, M. A. Alee
Developments in Administration Under H.E.H. the Nizam VII* ''Jewels of the Nizams (Hardcover)'' by Usha R. Krishnan (Author)
* ''Fabulous Mogul: Nizam VII of Hyderabad'' By Dosoo Framjee Karaka Published 1955 D. Verschoyle, Original from the University of Michiga
Fabulous Mogul: Nizam VII of Hyderabad* ''The Seventh Nizam: The Fallen Empire'' By Zubaida Yazdani, Mary Chrystal
* ''The Last Nizam: The Life and Times of Mir Osman Ali Khan'' By V.K. Bawa, Basant K. Bawa
* ''The Seventh Nizam of Hyderabad: An Archival Appraisal'' By Sayyid Dā'ūd Ashra
The Seventh Nizam of Hyderabad: An Archival Appraisal*
*
*
External links
"The Nizam often used to call Muslims and the Hindus as his two eyes" in Siasat
{{DEFAULTSORT:Osman Ali Khan
1886 births
1967 deaths
Rajpramukhs
Hyderabadi Muslims
20th-century Indian philanthropists
India MPs 1957–1962
India MPs 1962–1967
Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh
20th-century Indian educational theorists
Monarchs who abdicated
People from Marathwada
20th-century Indian royalty
Madhya Bharat politicians
Founders of Indian schools and colleges
Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Indian Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Bailiffs Grand Cross of the Order of St John
Asaf Jahi dynasty
Nizams of Hyderabad