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Nizam of Hyderabad

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"Nizam" redirects here. For other uses, see Nizam (disambiguation).
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad
Coat of Arms
File:Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan.jpg
Osman Ali Khan
Details
StyleHis Exalted Highness
First monarchQamaruddin Khan
Last monarchOsman Ali Khan
Formationc. 1720
Abolition17 September 1948
ResidenceChowmahalla Palace
Pretender(s)Mukarram Jah

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. From 1798 Hyderabad was one of the princely states of British India, but it retained control of its internal affairs.

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.

Family Origins

Qamaruddin Khan,Asaf Jah I

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 Siddiqi (Alam Shaikh Siddiqi) Alam ul-Ulema,son of Ayub younus Salim Siddiqi, 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)(SW), a distinguished Sayyid of Samarkand. They were direct descendants of the first Khalifa of Islam, Hazrat Abu Baker Al-Siddiq (R.A).

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 hereditary title).

Rise of the Nizams

The first Nizam ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Nizams split from the Mughals to form an independent kingdom. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states as client kings. The Nizams retained internal power over Hyderabad State until 17 September 1948, when Hyderabad was integrated into the new 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.

By tradition no Nizam has ever left India no matter how good a reason might exist for doing so, as it was said, "the Sovereign is too precious to his people ever to leave India.".

Because Hyderabad did not participate in the first war of Indian Independence of 1857 against the British, its Royal Family had been accorded by British Royalty special honours and the Nizam was given the official status of Faithful Ally.

A cover story by TIME on February 22, 1937 called the last Nizam as the wealthiest man in the world
Lineage
Nizam-ul-Mulk Reign
Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah I 31 July 1720 – 1 June 1748
Mir Ahmed Ali Khan Siddiqi, Nizam-ud-Dowlah Nasir Jang 1 June 1748 – 16 December 1750
Nawab Hidayat Mohi-ud-din Sa'adu'llah Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang 16 December 1750 – 13 February 1751
Nawab Syed Mohammed Khan Siddiqi, Amir ul Mulk, Salabat Jang 13 February 1751 – 8 July 1762
Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Nizam ul Mulk, Asaf Jah II 8 July 1762 – 6 August 1803
Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikandar Jah Siddiqi, Asaf Jah III 6 August 1803 – 21 May 1829
Nawab Mir Farkhonda Ali Khan Siddiqi Nasir-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jah IV 21 May 1829 – 16 May 1857
Nawab Mir Tahniat Ali Khan Siddiqi Afzal ud Daulah, Asaf Jah V 16 May 1857 – 26 February 1869
Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VI 26 February 1869 – 31 August 1911
Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VII 31 August 1911 – 24 February 1967
Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII 24 February 1967 – Present

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. HH Azmet Jah, the Prince of Berar (1960-). Eldest son of HEH Asaf Jah VIII.
  2. Azam Jah (1979-). Second son of HEH Asaf Jah VIII.
  3. Muffakham Jah (1939-). Younger brother of HEH 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 second son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
  7. Mir Ahmad Ali Khan (1912-); fifth son of HEH Osman Ali Khan VII
  8. Ahmad Jah. Son of Kazim Jah (1912-1952), the sixth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
  9. Sahibzada Mir Arshad Ali Khan; son of Ahmad Jah
  10. Baqir Jah; younger son of Kazim Jah (1912-1952)
  11. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jafar Ali Khan (1964-); elder son of Baqir Jah.
  12. Sahibzada Mir Kauser Ali Khan (1966-); younger son of Baqir Jah.
  13. Sahibzada Mir Banda Ali Khan (1951-); son of Abid Jah (1913-1983), the seventh son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
  14. Sahibzada Mir Mushraf Ali Khan (1969-); son of Sahibzada Mir Banda Ali Khan.
  15. Sahibzada Mir Ata'ullah Khan (1957-); eldest son of Hashmat Jah (1913-1988), the eighth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
  16. Sahibzada Mir Rahmat ‘Ali Khan; second son of Hashmat Jah.
  17. Sahibzada Mir Hassan ‘Ali Khan (1959-); third son of Hashmat Jah.
  18. Sahibzada Mir Husain ‘Ali Khan (1961-); fourth son of Hashmat Jah.
  19. Sahibzada Mir Shamsher ‘Ali Khan (1941-); eldest son of Hashim Jah (1913-1991), the ninth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
  20. Sahibzada Mir Miraj ‘Ali Khan; second son of Hashim Jah.
  21. Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan (1942-); third son of Hashim Jah.
  22. Sahibzada Mir Baktiyar ‘Ali Khan (1964-); elder son of Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan.
  23. Sahibzada Mir Sulaiman ‘Ali Khan (1980-); younger son of Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan.
  24. Sahibzada Mir Kawkab ‘Ali Khan; fourth son of Hashim Jah.
  25. Sahibzada Mir Zamin ‘Ali Khan (1948-); fifth son of Hashim Jah.
  26. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jaffar ‘Ali Khan (1978-); son of Sahibzada Mir Zamin ‘Ali Khan.
  27. Sahibzada Mir Askar ‘Ali Khan; sixth son of Hashim Jah.
  28. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Nusrath ‘Ali Khan; seventh son of Hashim Jah.
  29. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Hussain ‘Ali Khan (1970-); son of Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Nusrath ‘Ali Khan.
  30. Sahibzada Mir Karam ‘Ali Khan (1956-); eighth son of Hashim Jah.
  31. Sahibzada Mir Osman ‘Ali Khan (1985-); son of Sahibzada Mir Karam ‘Ali Khan.
  32. Sahibzada Mir Najaf ‘Ali Khan (1964-); ninth son of Hashim Jah.
  33. Sahibzada Muhammad Anas Ali Khan (2001-); son of Sahibzada Mir Najaf ‘Ali Khan.

Palaces of the Nizams

File:Chowmah alla palace night.jpg
Chowmahalla Palace

The Asaf Jahis were prolific builders. Several palaces of the Nizams were:

Other 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.

End of the Dynasty and Removal of the Last Nizam

Main article: Hyderabad Police Action

After the British left India in 1947, the princely state of Hyderabad did not accede to either of the new dominions of India or Pakistan and started taking support and arms from Pakistan. After the attempts by India to persudade the Nizam to desist failed, the Indian government launched Hyderabad 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 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.

Places and things named after the Nizam

See also

References

  • Zubrzycki, John (2006). The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback. Australia: Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-330-42321-2.
  • Regani, Sarojini (1988) [First published 1963]. Nizam-British Relations, 1724-1857. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 9788170221951.
  • Hastings, Fraser (1865). Our Faithful Ally, the Nizam. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  • Briggs, Henry George (1861). The Nizam: His History and Relations With the British Government, Volume 1. London: B. Quaritch.
  • Lynton, Harriet Ronken; Rajan, Mohini (1974). The Days of the Beloved. University of California Press. ISBN 0520024427.
  • University of Queensland feature
  • The Pied Piper of Hamelin, by Robert Browning: "I eased in Asia the Nizam Of a monstrous brood of vampyre-bats"

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 [1]

"The Days of the Beloved" Harriet Ronken Lynton and Mohini Rajan, Berkeley University Press

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