The Great Personality of his times H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan
75H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan
Banknotes of Hyderabad (before 1953)
The Great Personality Of His Times H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan
Osman Ali Khan Bahadur Fateh Jung (April 8, 1886 - February 24, 1967) , His Exalted Highness (the British conferred this upon him), also named Fath Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah VII, was the last Nizam (or Ruler) of the PRINCELY STATE of HYDERABAD in southern India. He ruled Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948, when it was merged with the dominion of India. During his days as Nizam, he was reputed to be the richest man in the world, even featuring on the cover of TIME magazine, portrayed as such.
Personal life
H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan was born in Hyderabad on April 5, 1886 at Purani Haveli in Hyderabad city, the second son of Mir Mahboob Ali Khan (Asaf Jah VI), Nizam of Hyderabad, by his first wife Amat-uz-Zahrunnisa Begum. The death of his elder brother in 1887 rendered H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan the heir apparent of Hyderabad. Great attention was paid to his education, and eminent scholars were engaged to teach H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan English, Urdu and Persian. He was also tutored in Islamic studies by Hafiz Anwarullah Faruqi of the Jami`ah Nizamiyyah of Hyderabad.
On April 14, 1906, H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan married Dulhan Pasha Begum, daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung. She was the first of his seven wives and the mother of at least the two eldest of his sons. Their eldest son, Azam Jah, was married to Durru Shehvar, daughter of Abdul Mejid ll the last caliph and sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Although he was one of the richest men in the world with his brother Nawab Sakawath Jung Bahadur, the Nizam led a very simple life. His lifestyle was frugal, and many stories about his parsimony have become apocryphal in Hyderabad. He would use the 185-carat JACOB DIAMOND as a paperweight.
Ruler of Hyderabad
A cover story by TIME in February 22, 1937 called the Nizam the Richest man in the world.
H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan acceeded as Nizam of Hyderabad upon the death of his father in 1911. The state of Hyderabad was the largest of all princely states in pre-independence India. With an area of 86,000 square miles (223,000 km²), it was roughly the size of UK and SCOTLAND together. It's ruler, who was the highest-ranking prince in all of British India, was entitled to a 21-gun salute, held the unique title of "Nizam" and was styled "His Exalted Highness," a distinction reserved for him alone.
H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan was the absolute ruler of this principality. In some accounts, he is held to have been a benevolent ruler who patronized education, science and development. Indeed, compared to his predecessors, H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan`s 37-year rule witnessed progress: electricity, railways, roads and airways were developed, the Nizamsagar lake in Hyderabad city was excavated and some irrigation projects on the Tungabhadra river were undertaken. Nearly all the major public buildings in Hyderabad city, such as the Osmania General Hospital, Andhra Pradesh High Court, Asafiya Library now called as State Central Library, Town Hall now called as Assembly Hall, Jubilee Hall, Hyderabad Museum now called as State Museum and other buildings were built during his rule. Up to 11% of the Nizam's budget was spent on education: Osmania University was founded, schools and colleges (and even a "Department for Translation") was set up. Primary education was made compulsory and provided free to poor sections of society. However, the Nizam (as also his predecessors) have been criticised for largely ignoring the native languages of the areas ruled by them, and according primacy to Urdu, a language popularly associated with Muslim culture in India. H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan donated generously to many worthy institutions in India and abroad, recipients of his largesse included educational institutions such as the Jamia Nizamia, the Dar-Ul-Uloom Deoband and the Banaras Hindu University.
Events of 1947/48
India gained its independence in 1947. At the same time, the country was partitioned on communal lines and Pakistan was carved out as a Muslim nation. The princely states were left free to make whatever arrangement they wished with either India or Pakistan. While virtually every other state acceded unto one or the other of the two countries shortly after independence, the Nizam sought to gain recognition for Hyderabad as an independent constitutional monarchy within the British Commonwealth. This proposal was rejected unambiguously by the British government. The Nizam then resolved upon exploring the possibility of independence. 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 on a similar vein. He also concurrently encouraged the activities of the Razakars, a Volunteer Muslim organization that was opposed to any agreement with the government of India.
Finally, under the political leadership of prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Home Minister of India, India launched a Police Action(code-named "Operation Polo") in September 1948 to forcibly acquire and merge the state of Hyderabad into the Dominion of India. The Police Action achieved success within a matter of days. Hyderabad ceased to exist as a sovereign political entity and became a state within the Union of India. After these events, the Nizam was appointed "Rajpramukh" (constitutional, figurehead Governor) of the state by the government of India. He continued in this office until 1956, when the state was dismembered pursuant to the linguistic reorganization of states. It's territory is now distributed between the Indian states of Andhrapradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
H.E.H.Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, died on Friday, February 24, 1967. It was the end of a princely era. His funeral procession was one of the largest in Indian history, a testimony to his popularity. His Exalted Highness had willed that he be buried in the Judi Mosque that faced his fabulous residence, that is, the King Kothi palace is his final resting place.
Source: internet
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
former rulers were great .Hyderabad is a lovely cityu and has lots of historical sites to see.Among them palaces of the Nizam(CHOWMAHALLA PALACE)...........Its fantastic.
Thankx for the comment Shahid.
exceptional ruler with a heart of gold,very compassionate of his subjects and the polity at large
Please read the book "The Last Nizam' authored by John Zubrzycki to get true picture of Osman. I am too old to read but my dear and lovely wife read it to me. I have my interview in it.
Mr. Khudrath Ali Khan, Mr. Mujeeb Yar Jung thankx for the comments made.
Prince. M.A.A.K
We belong to the mighty house of Roshan-ud-dowla. Khudrath Ali Khan is my nephew and Mr. Mujeeb Yar jung is Khudrath Ali Khan's esteemed father-in-law. We are all proud to belong to this family of Mir Osman Ali Khan. Good job Prince MAAK.
its a lovely summary of an esteemed ruler who i am proud to call my great grandfather. thanks prince makk for writing it. it shall endeavour all of us to go through the history of the late ruler who once ruled my hometown, his priceless kingdom hyderabad. thank you once again. we are his legacy but the origin is he. legacy is just a trait which lives on with very few traces of royal blood.
Great website. A great king who called Hindu and Muslim his two eyes. But alas, his "legacy" has become a myth with no person of his calibre to carry the load. Every person of his family should strive to become "him" and just not live on the arrogance of his fame. Birth is a chance not a choice. Feeling "royal" because you belong to a great ruler's family is prehistoric and extremely ignorant. Becoming like him and then saying I did what my ancestor king did is a sign of virtue. Legacy is not a trait and it never lives on. Can you tell me any descedent alive of Alexander the Great ? Its just giving satisfaction to your inner self and builds an abstract self esteem. This is useless to you and the society. Work hard and make the world change with what you are but not with the family who you had a "chance" to be born in.
Well said, Mr. Agarwal. Prince MAAK kudos to your great work. Comments by Nizam family members are very informative. Nizam Dora (as we use to and still call) has done a lot to Hyderabad state. He was a great administrator and an icon of development. He was very far sighted. He gave a lot of jagirs to our ancestors. My father was a Desmukh. It is sad to see how this great person's "legacy" could not be carried on by any person from his vast family after him. None are associated with any developmental project since 1947. Tell them to work hard you will not see a soul, tell them there are few jewels belonging to this noble king found in a safe, they will flock like hungry jackals to tear apart each other. My personal gratitude and thanks to this great soul and may his soul rest in peace.
Too pleased to know about the past of our Indian history. Sadly though it is currently run by mean minded politicians who may not be having the slightest knowledge of the history of their own state. Indian govt which is democratic is the worst i can see that being an Indian who has travelled to few countries. Democracy is misused to the utmost in our country. Also, the Indian govt has done little to preserve the heritage... instead it has sold out most of the ornaments n important treasurable items to foreigners to see monetary benefits. Nor is India trying to preserve historic monuments or buildings. Only becoz it was built during ancient times it is still standing on its own. Shame on Indian govt who are not capable to protect such a great legacy. It is upto the current generation to think wisely before casting their votes. i would say its better to boycott voting unless a new system is formed which can help the growth of our nation.
Ganesh, you seem to get too emotional with this issue of ornaments, monuments, legacy etc. Please be advised that Nizam was a great ruler but his legacy has been reduced to ashes not by the Indian government but by his own family himself. Not a single member of his family is their to this date tto be compared to his even shoes. They are extremely selfish, opportunistic, money minded. They have sold the land illegaly to get quick money. When you yourself go and spit on your legacy what interest will the governement have ? Blaming the Government is stupid. Try to put your own house in order first. Why are you advising to boycott the polls ? Just for the sake of ornaments, monuments ...thats so childish. The politicians are mean minded, but the family is evil minded and is mainly responsible for destroying the legacy of this great ruler. There is no link with preserving legacy and growth of nation. Ganesh , you are confused. Think about those road side Dargahs. It is so difficult to demolish in roadside widening. Because there so many people actively involved. The monuments are the way they are, because first of all Nizam's family has not that of an education to appreciate the "legacy". They are illiterates, back ward and very lazy. Now do not blame the government for that. Atleast, I will advise them to go and buy education from many of those commerical educational instiutions which are available nationwide and then form a forum and speak up.
please let us know about the earlier nizams from the first nizam himself
Prince MAAK has done a outstanding job. The comments are well taken. Unfortunately, let me inform the readers regarding the unfortunate death of Nawab Mujeeb Yar Jung in April 208. May God rest his soul in peace. The discussions started out by in a healthy note but have urned somewhat ugly. Ramesh Reddy seems to be an extremely ignorant person. He seems to be the likes of that wild human eating gorilla which Pundit Nehru and Gandhiji kept as a pet. He was let loose before Operation Polo to curb and kill remaining muslims who were left over in Hyderabad after most left to Pakistan. Instead he created a havoc killing many innocent muslims, hindus like Ramesh Reddy called him Iron Man. He should have ben the named a hybrid man ( cross between a human female and male gorrilla).Stop this idiotic dung slinging on Nizam's family and indirectly on Muslims. If Hindus like you have been fair and honest at heart, Pakistan would not have been ever formed. Because of your evil intentions great leaders like Jinnah took the step. The recent Gujrat kiings are nothing but because of the progeny of this hybrid man.
Boycott hanging the Bald Vallabh killer Patel's pictures in Hyderabad, India. He was a muslim hater. He was the Hitler with his "Kazi" camps where he would kill muslims systematically. He use to call mulsims as Kazees. His illegal progeny from animals is the current CM of Gujrat (cross between Patel's grandmother and a male bull dog)
Unfortunate events after 47/48 are really pathetic; the downfall of the mighty dynasty; the shifting of power; above all killing of innocent muslims and forcefull seizure of their assets; especially from nawabs of hyderabad. Indian congress led by Mr. Nehru is the mastermind behind all these acticities happened in Hyderabad deccan. Despite being an IAS Mr. Reddy is not truthfull in his comments; his comments are absolute biased; this is not about religion; this is about power. Nehru family was absolute power hungry family and they remain so till this day.
Mr. Reddy the land which are talking was for them; they have all their rights to sell whosoever they want; however people like are not able to digest this. You being an IAS should know more about the democracy.
Moreover being an IAS you are culprit in letting in thriving the so called commercial education institutes; since you are bribed by the so called institutes for giving them license; you are to be blamed and not who goes and buy them. So please Mr. Reddy please do some soul soothing job; instead of taking bribes.
the site has taken unfortunately a very ugly toll. you should be here to commend the historic king not abuse each other on grounds of race AND creed. please let this site remain an educative info, on history of hyd.let it not portray your feelings and HIGH emotions regarding the so political scenario.AND contiuning for all your so knowlege about the nizam's family there is still prince khudrath ali khan bearing the torch high with establishing schools and colleges ,and also providing a fund for poor girls and boys towards free education.thus blaming the entire family is not just at all. INSTEAD OF ABUSING OTHERS FIRST THINK BACK WHAT U HAVE DONE FOR YOUR SOCIETY.
As`Salaam Alaikum,
Everyone is welcome to post their views on this page, and I request all the readers to comment on the subject instead of abusing others.
Abusive comments will be deleted.
Prince. M.A.A.K
Thanks MAAK for stopping this tirade against us by this corrupt IAS officer. "Anonymous" has rightly said Mr. Khudrath Nawab is doing an exceptional job by establishing the engineering college in collaberation with his uncles Ahmed Ali Khan and Azam Ali Khan and cousins Moazzam Ali Khan, Karamath Ali Khan and Dilshad Jah (who comprise the Asifia Trust). Asifia was inspired by our vision to form on the lines of Osmania University. The college is established in Ibrahimpatnam on the land donated by Ahmed Ali Khan Saheb. The furniture of the college is donated by Moazam Ali Khan. The Asifia trust has appointed Khudrath Ali Khan as a caretaker for a period of 10 years. The Asifia trust plans to open a Medical College besides its Harrow School campus on the land currently leased out to the caretaker Khudrath Nawab for his residential purposes. It is worthwhile comparing the simplicity of last Nizam with Late Mujeeb Yar Jung. The last Nizam inspite of all wealth lived in a small room in King Kothi. Late Mujeeb Yar Jung inspite of owning the whole land housing the Harrow school and the residential permises of the caretaker, use to live in a tiny cottage with his wife. He spend his life reading books and looking out for his enstranged daughter to show up on his footsteps.
Get your facts right Mr. Mighty House of Roshan-ud Daula. Asifia Trust was started and is solely owned and run by Khudrath Ali Khan and he has no partners whatsoever in his campaign to keep up the good work of his Grand father Mir Osman Ali Khan.
The whole entire Nizam's family knows this. It looks like you have very little knowledge about the family and their assets. So, please do not express wrong comments extensively with little and wrong information.
A great article being overrun by false information & certain 'megalomaniacs'. Here we are talking about the Great Nizam & suddenly the 'Mighty House' of Roshan-ud Daula appears. Who are they and what has made them so Mighty? Distorted facts are best left aside. Maybe the Mighty House would publish their legacy on a different page for comment. Please keep the 'Mighty' House in order and stop living in 'Coockoo Land'. Comments regarding the great personality, The Nizam is appreciated from those in the know.
Lets not all forget the great job by Prince MAAK in highlighting the above article.
very well addressed Mr.Not "so Mighty" Roshan-ud-dowla.
(an article from TIME 1959) The Nizam's DaughterOf the Nizam of Hyderabad it can be truly said that he is the man who has everything. In his 72 years, he ruled a state of 18 million people, bossed a brilliantly uniformed army of 22,000 men, had a fortune estimated at $2 billion. In his sprawling King Kothi palace, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls and lesser gems are stored in $3 steel trunks fastened with "English-made padlocks."
He has had an eye for women ever since his teens, when his doting mother began giving him beautiful girls as birthday presents. As a devout Moslem, he had four legal wives as well as 42 zenana companions, who have all the benefits and privileges of marriage except legality. With the help of legal wives, begums, concubines and birthday presents, the Nizam has sired more than 50 children.
The Favorite. Some 20 years ago, the Nizam met the love of his life—a dancing girl named Leila who became one of his begums, has since presented him with five sons and two daughters. Last week, in the familiar role of father of the bride, the Nizam presided over the wedding of Mash-Hadi, the 19-year-old eldest daughter of Favorite Leila.
Like many another wealthy man, the Nizam keeps his billions because he is careful of his pennies. He decreed that the wedding was to be a simple family affair and did not illuminate the walls of his palace with the multicolored electric lights that are a feature even of middle class Indian weddings. The bridegroom, Nawab Mahmood Jung, who comes of an aristocratic Hyderabad family that ranks just below the Nizam, drove up to the palace in a 100-car motorcade, wearing a cloth-of-gold coat and a sun-sparkling necklace of diamonds and emeralds. His face was delicately veiled by strings of orange blossoms and arum lilies specially flown in from Bangalore, 300 miles away.
The bride, according to Moslem custom, waited in another room during the wedding ceremony, attired in a rose-pink silk sari heavy with gems and gold embroidery, and wearing a pearl necklace and earrings. She had been bathed in rose water, massaged with scented sandalwood oil, perfumed with attar of roses; her nails, the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet were stained with henna.
Palace of One's Own. In honor of the young couple, the happy Nizam proudly recited three Persian odes that he had composed himself. He garlanded them with flowers, after first pointing out that never before had a Nizam so bedecked a bride and groom, and in a burst of generosity made a cash grant of $21 a month to two local orphanages. The Nizam also promised to build the couple a palace next to his own, and settled on them a trust fund of undisclosed size—something he did not do for any of the five other begum daughters he has married off.
The wedding had a special meaning for another of the Nizam's offspring, Shahazadi Pasha, his eldest daughter by a legal wife. She had also been betrothed to a nawab long ago, but the Nizam abruptly canceled the wedding when he was warned by a passing holy man that he would not long survive her marriage. Shahazadi Pasha, now a 40-year-old spinster, often used to drive around Hyderabad with her father in one or another of the old cars he thriftily uses, but she is seldom seen any more.
in the year 2001 in the city of Frankfurt, in germany it was mid summer i saw in my dream, H.E.H FAATHE JUNG MIR OSMAN ALI ASAF JAH VII, there was a function in the purani haveli mosque and all da visitors of da mosque had eaten food later he MIR OSMAN ALI ASAF JAH VII came into the mosque and i invited him to the dinner (dastar) and the prediction of that dream is i would invite the royal family members towards ALLAH (SWT) & HIS RASOOL (pbuh),
so most probably every day i recite qur'an for his(MIR OSMAN ALI ASAFJAH VII) blessings ..... may allah provide him peace in the grave & after resurrection. Ameen.
i am his (MIR OSMAN ALI ASAFJAH VII) huge fan, i doesn't belong to his royal family but i belong to his dynasty.
I dont belong to his family either, but I belong to his dynasty.
Im proud we had such a great king.
By the way Ramesh Reddy's (IAS) English is so flawed., and so bad. No wonder it speaks about the quality of people selected for IAS ! Reservation will lead to such likes occupying higher positions., and thereby ruining the administration. Job for one man but Curse for Society. This is Affirmative Action. Very good.
I dont know about Roshan-ud-dowlah., but i guess., Harrows school is run by Dastagir Pasha... son of Nazeer Pasha (i had seen the lady...).. who was Ameera Begum Sahiba (Nizam VII's wife) 's daughter... i had seen Nazeer Pasha and Dastagir Pasha... at the Palace of that truly great lady., Iqbal Begum Sahiba (Wife of Nizam VII., and hence the Queen). She was so simple... a queenly woman, and a womanly queen.
As-salamu Alaikum wrwb .
I thanx to Prince MAAK who had done a great job .
Realy its great to read the history of our Nizam who is such a great person , who had look forward for the people of his dinesty.
Wipe out this culture. It has made any humans poor, many kids orphans and many women getting abused. We need another Operation Polo
It is so sad to read comments by Ganesh and Ramesh. You are two very biased. Nizam VII was the KING. Khudrath Ali Khan is grandson of Nizam. Do not call him by names. Baba has set up so fine schools. He is grown big in size because of tension from his wife who is instrumental in breaking his side of the family. We all love him to death. Dont call any person by names. My son runs a great site of Nizam VII and his inheritors who are legitimate children and grand children of Nizam VII and entitled to all property which is under litigation.
We want aother Qasim Rizvi who can take out Ramesh, Ganesh, and Sardar Valabhai Patel II. Sardar Valabhai Patel was an illigetimate son from Haji Mastan's dad and a gujrati girl. Hence he acted like a smuggler.
HUMTO RAZAKAR HAI, MULK-E-HYDERABAD KE MUKHTAR HAI
Razakar movement is all in full force. We sacrificed cows all over Hyderabad in broad day light during Bakrid 2009. BJP can massacare muslims in Gujrat but want to protect cows but they want to go to Shehran at night and eat beef biryani. What hypocrites.
As`Salaam Alaikum every1,
Mr.Sardar Vallabhai Patel II, It is so sad to hear tht ur DHOKLA brothers cnt mk their woody stnd fr a lng tym, I think, this is da reason Y ur wmn run to othrs, ur wmn hvn`t been abused in pst bt Hydis hlpd thm to fulfl their desires.
And your OPERATION POLO... oops.... wht a PITY... R U ppl dare to do tht?
'BARKING DOGS SELDOM BITES'
Thanks, MAAK for snapping this dhokla. I am the original NIZAM IX. I will come to power as soon as my uncle dies who is breathing his las few breaths in Turkey. Khudrath Manzil, Azam Manzil will all be consolidated in to the grand
RAZAKAR PALACE which will be built by a turkish architect.
Janaab Ahmed Ullah Khan Saahab, m descendant of Samsam Jung, Samsam Ud Doula, Samsam Ul Mulk (I)
You don`t have the authority to write H.E.H, even our Prince cannot write H.E.H. You sounds like a Bogus Nizamiite.
Divya says:
2 years ago
Prince you are encouraging us to go through the history of Hyderabad.