Nizam
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Nizam (Urdu: نظام), a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk (Urdu: نظامالملک), meaning Administrator of the Realm, was the title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad State, India, since 1719, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty. The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, a viceroy of the Deccan under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and who intermittently ruled under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, and After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal Empire crumbled and the viceroy in Hyderabad, the young Asaf Jah, declared himself independent.
By the middle of 18th century, the scions, known as The Nizams, had quickly surpassed the Mughals ruling a vast dominion of about 125,000,000 acres (510,000 km2) in south India. They were among the wealthiest people in the world. Seven Nizams ruled Hyderabad for two centuries until Indian independence in 1947.
The Asaf Jahi rulers were great patrons of literature, art, architecture,culture, jewelry collection and rich food. The Nizams ruled the state until its integration into the Indian Union in September 1948 after independence from the British. Nizams were Shia muslims.[1]
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[edit] Family Origins
The Asaf Jahi dynasty originated in the region around Samarkand, but the family came to India from Baghdad in the late 17th century. Shaikh Mir Ismail (Alam Shaikh Siddiqi) Alam ul-Ulema,son of Ayub younus Salim, son of Abdul Rehman Shaikh Azizan Siddiqi, fourteenth in direct decent from Sheikh Shihab-ud-din Siddiqi Suhrawardy, of Suharwada in Kurdistan, a celebrated [Sufi] mystic, or dervish, maternal (first), a lady of the family of Mir Hamadan (a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed), a distinguished Sayyid of Samarkand.
[edit] Origin of the Nizam Title
Nizām-ul-mulk was a title first used in Urdu around 1600 to mean Governor of the realm or Deputy for the Whole Empire. The word is derived from the Arabic word, nizām (نظام), meaning order, arrangement. The Nizam was referred to as Ala Hadrat /Ala Hazrat or Nizam Sarkar, meaning His Exalted Highness (The last Nizam was awarded this title. It is a heredity title).
[edit] Rise of the Nizams
The first Nizams ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. But, after the death of Aurangazeb, the Nizams split away from the Mughals to form their kingdom. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states. The Nizams retained power over Hyderabad State until September 1948 when it was integrated into the Indian Union.
The Asaf Jah dynasty had only seven rulers; however there was a period of 13 years after the rule of the first Nizam when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognized as the rulers.
A legend about the first Nizam states that, on one of his hunting trips he was offered some kulchas (an Indian bread) by a holy man and was asked to eat as many as he could. The Nizam could eat seven kulchas and the holy man then prophesied that seven generations of his family would rule the state.
The Nizams, by an honoured Hyderabad tradition that no Nizam has ever left India no matter how good a reason might exist for doing so, they believed, "the Sovereign is too precious to his people ever to leave India.".
Ever since Hyderabad stood aloof from the great first war of Indian Independence of 1857 while betraying many Indians and also at time acting against those who opposed the British such as Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, its Royal Family had been accorded by British Royalty special honours and the Nizam was given the official status of Faithful Ally.
[edit] Lineage
- Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I (1720-1748)
- Mir Ahmed Ali Khan Siddiqi, Nizam-ud-Dowlah Nasir Jang (1748-1750)
- Nawab Hidayat Mohi-ud-din Sa'adu'llah Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang (1750-1751)
- Nawab Syed Mohammed Khan Siddiqi, Amir ul Mulk, Salabat Jang (1751-1762)
- Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Nizam ul Mulk, Asaf Jah II (1762-1803)
- Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikandar Jah Siddiqi, Asaf Jah III (1803-1829)
- Nawab Mir Farkhonda Ali Khan Siddiqi Nasir-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jah IV (1829-1857)
- Nawab Mir Tahniat Ali Khan Siddiqi Afzal ud Daulah, Asaf Jah V (1857-1869)
- Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VI (1869-1911)
- Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VII (1911-1967)
- Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah Asaf Jah VIII (1967 - present)
[edit] Line of Succession
The Asaf Jah dynasty followed the policy of male primogeniture during their long rule, regardless of the mother's marital status or rank. Currently, the line of succession to the Hyderabad throne is as follows:
- 1. His Highness Azmet Jah, the Prince of Berar (1960-). Eldest son of Asaf Jah VIII.
- 2. Azam Jah (1979-). Second son of Asaf Jah VIII.
- 3. Muffakham Jah (1939-). Younger brother of Asaf Jah VIII.
- 4. Rafat Jah (1966-). Elder son of Muffakham Jah.
- 5. Farhad Jah. Younger son of Muffakham Jah.
- 6. Shahamat Jah (1957-). Son of His Highness Moazzam Jah, the paternal uncle of Asaf Jah VIII.
- 7. Mir Ahmad 'Ali Khan Bahadur (1912-). Paternal uncle of Asaf Jah VIII.
- 8. Ahmad Jah. Paternal first cousin of Asaf Jah VIII through his uncle Kasim Jah (1912-1952).
- 9. Baqir Jah. Paternal first cousin of Asaf Jah VIII through his uncle Kasim Jah (1912-1952).
- 10.Mir Arshad 'Ali Khan. Son of Ahmad Jah.
[edit] Palaces of the Nizams
The Asaf Jahis were prolific builders. Several palaces of the Nizams were:
- Chowmahalla Palace
- Purani Haveli
- King Kothi Palace
- Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
- Mahboob Mansion
- Falaknuma Palace
- Bella Vista
- Hill Fort Palace
- Chiran Palace
The princely state had one of the finest palaces in India with rich adornments. Fine objects of art and furnishings in the palaces reflect the grandeur.
The landmarks like the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Jubilee Hall, Asafia library, The Assembly building, the Osmania Arts College and the Osmania Medical College are among their notable constructions.
The Nizams liked the European style of architecture and created a fusion of European traditions with Hindu and Islamic forms and motifs.
[edit] End of the Dynasty and Removal of the Last Nizam
Main Article: Operation Polo
After the British left India in 1947, the princely state of Hyderabad did not accede to either of the new dominion of India or Pakistan and started taking support and arms from Pakistan. After all attempts by India to persudade the Nizam to see reason failed, the Indian government launched Operation Polo, a "police action", on 13 September 1948 swiftly overrunning the Nizam's forces within four and a half days. The Nizam's rule ended on 17 September 1948, his forces surrendered and he himself broadcast this over radio the same afternoon.
All Nizams are buried in the royal graves at the Makkah Masjid near Charminar in Hyderabad except for the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who willed that he be buried in his mausoleum in the Judi Mosque facing King Kothi Palace.
[edit] See also
- Hyderabad State
- History of Hyderabad
- Salar Jung family
- HMAS Nizam, a Royal Australian Naval vessel named for the Nizam prince who helped finance her construction
- Paigah
[edit] References
- Zubrzycki, John. (2006) The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback. Pan Macmillan, Australia. ISBN 978-0-3304-2321-2.
- University of Queensland feature
[edit] Further reading
- Mughal Administration of Deccan Under Nizamul Mulk Asaf Jah, 1720-48 A.D.By M. A. Nayeem, Indian Council of Historical Research, University of Poona, Dept. of History [2]
[edit] External links
- historic city noted for its many monuments, temples, churches, mosques, and bazaars
- Asaf Jahi Dynasty with Genealogical Tree and Photos
- Photos on Columbia University website
- University of Queensland
- New York Times - A Graceful City of Two Cultures
- Detailed genealogy of the Nizams of Hyderabad
- Article on some aspects of life in erstwhile Hyderabad state
- History of Hyderabad state
- Narendra Luther, An authority on History of Hyderabad
- The lost world Article by historian William Dalrymple, from The Guardian
- Rare colour footage of accession ceremony of the 8th Nizam of Hyderabad in 1967 (Youtube)
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