Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII

Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
میر عثمان علی خان، آصف جاہ ہفتم మీర్ ఉస్మాన్ ఆలీ ఖాన్
The Nizam of Hyderabad
Reign Nizam: 1911–1948
Titular Nizam: 1948–1967
Coronation 18 September 1911
Predecessor Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI
Successor Monarchy abolished
(Pretender:Mukarram Jah)
Born (1886-04-06)6 April 1886
Purani Haveli, Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British India
(now in Telangana, India)
Died 24 February 1967 (age 80)
King Kothi Palace, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
(now in Telangana, India)
Burial Judi Mosque, King Kothi Palace, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
(now in Telangana, India)
Spouse Dulhan Pasha Begum, among many others
Issue Azam, Moazzam, and at least 18 other sons and 19 daughters
Urdu میر عثمان علی خان
House Asaf Jahi Dynasty
Father Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI
Mother Amat-uz-Zahrunnisa Begum
Religion Sunni Islam

His Highness Nizam Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Asaf Jah VII GCSI GBE (Urdu: آصف جاہ‎), born Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur (Urdu: عثمان علی خان صدیقی بہادر‎; 6 April 1886 – 24 February 1967), was the last Nizam (or ruler) of the Princely State of Hyderabad and of Berar. He ruled Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948, until it was annexed by India. He was styled His Exalted Highness The Nizam of Hyderabad.[1] Later he was made the Rajpramukh of Hyderabad State on 26 January 1950 and continued until 31 October 1956, after which the state was partitioned on linguistic basis and became part of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.[2]

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 ($33.8 billion today)[3] or 2 per cent of the US economy then. At that time the treasury of the newly independent Union government of India reported annual revenue of US$1 billion only. He was portrayed on the cover of TIME magazine on 22 February 1937, described as the world's richest man.[4] The Nizam is widely believed to have remained as the richest man in South Asia until his death in 1967, though his fortunes fell to US$1 billion by then and became a subject of multiple legal disputes between bitterly fighting rival descendants.

He built the Hyderabad House in Delhi, now used for diplomatic meetings by the Government of India.

Reign

The Nizam's vast inheritance was accumulated as mining royalties rather than land revenue. Hyderabad State in British India was the only supplier of diamonds for the global market in the 18th century.

Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur acceded as Nizam of Hyderabad upon the death of his father in 1911. The state of Hyderabad was the largest of the princely states in pre-independence India. With an area of 86,000 square miles (223,000 km²), it was roughly the size of the present-day United Kingdom. Its ruler was the highest-ranking prince in India, was one of only five princes entitled to a 21-gun salute, held the unique title of "Nizam", and was created "His Exalted Highness" and "Faithful Ally of the British Crown" after World War One due to his financial contribution to the British Empire's war effort. (For example, No. 110 Squadron RAF's original complement of DH.9A aircraft were Osman Ali's gift. Each aircraft bore an inscription to that effect, and the unit became known as the Hyderabad Squadron.[5])

Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur was the absolute ruler of this principality. In some accounts, he is held to have been a benevolent ruler who patronised education, science and development. During his 37-year rule electricity was introduced, railways, roads and airways were developed, the Nizamsagar lake in Hyderabad state was excavated and some irrigation projects on the Tungabhadra river were undertaken.

In 1941, Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur started his own bank, the Hyderabad State Bank (now State Bank of Hyderabad) as the state's central bank, which managed the Osmania sikka, the currency of the Hyderabad state. It was the only state which had its own currency, the Hyderabadi rupee, which was different from the rest of India. Hyderabad was the only state in British India where the ruler was allowed to issue currency notes. A 100 rupee note was introduced in 1918.

In 1947, the Nizam made a gift of diamond jewels, including a tiara and necklace, to Princess Elizabeth on the occasion of her marriage. The brooches and necklace from this gift are still worn by the Queen and is known as Nizam of Hyderabad necklace.[6]

Nearly all the major public buildings in Hyderabad city, such as the Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad High Court, Asafiya Library now known as State Central Library, Town Hall now known as Assembly Hall, Jubilee Hall, Hyderabad Museum, now known as State Museum, Nizamia Observatory and many other monuments were built during his reign. Up to 11% of the Nizam's budget was spent on education. Osmania University was founded, and schools, colleges and a "Department for Translation" were set up. Primary education was made compulsory and provided free for the poor. The Nizam (as well as his predecessors) have been criticised for largely ignoring the native languages in favour of Urdu.

Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur donated to many institutions in India and abroad. Recipients included educational institutions such as the Jamia Nizamia, the Darul Uloom Deoband, Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University.

He also paid for a Royal Australian Navy vessel, N-class destroyer, HMAS Nizam (G38) commissioned in 1940.

Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur lived at King Kothi Palace—bought from a nobleman—for all his life from age 13. He never moved to Chowmahalla Palace, even after his accession to the throne.

Operation Polo and abdication

After Indian independence in 1947, the country was partitioned on religious lines and Pakistan was established as a Muslim nation. 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 82,698 square miles (214,190 km2) of territory when the British withdrew from the sub-continent in 1947. The Nizam refused to join either India or Pakistan, preferring to form a separate kingdom within the British Commonwealth of nations.

The proposal for independence was rejected by the British government, but the Nizam continued to explore this possibility. 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. He also concurrently encouraged the activities of the Razakars. The Nizam cited the Razakars as evidence that the people of the state were opposed to any agreement with India.

Ultimately the new Indian government decided to invade and capture Hyderabad in 1948, in an operation codenamed Operation Polo. Under the supervision of Major General Choudhry, one division of the Indian army and a tank brigade invaded Hyderabad. The battle was quick and the Nizam's troops and the Razakars gave up easily.

Marriages and children

On 14 April 1920, Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur married Azmathunnisa Begum (Dulhan Pasha Begum) (1889–1955),[7] daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung, at Eden Bagh now known as Eden Garden at King Kothi, Hyderabad at the age 21. She was the first of his seven wives and 42 concubines, and the mother of his two eldest sons Azam Jah and Moazzam Jah. His second wife was Iqbal Begum, daughter of Nawab Nazir Jung Bahadur (Mirza Nazir Beg).

Azam Jah married Durru Shehvar, daughter of Abdul Mejid II (the last Ottoman Caliph and cousin and heir to the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire) while Moazzam Jah married Princess Niloufer, a princess of the Ottoman empire.

It has been suggested that through these dynastic marriages, Osman Ali hoped to acquire the Caliphate for his descendants.

Osman Ali had at least 34 children and 104 grandchildren,[8] including:

Later life

Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur died on Friday, 24 February 1967. It was the end of a princely era. His funeral procession was one of the largest in Indian history. He had willed that he be buried in the Mosque that faced King Kothi Palace.

Official name and titles

His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamalik, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar-ul-Mulk-Wal-Mamalik, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Saula, Fateh Jung, Nizam of Hyderabad and of Berar, Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Royal Victorian Chain, Honorable General in the Army, Faithful Ally of the British Government.

The Nizam was the honorary Colonel of the 20 Deccan Horse. In 1918, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur was elevated by King George V from His Highness to His Exalted Highness. In a letter dated 24 January 1918, the title Faithful Ally of the British Government was conferred on him.[9]

His titles were:

Honours and legacy

British Empire

Educational reforms

Main article: Osmania University

During his reign, Osman Ali Khan introduced some educational reforms. He was the founder of Osmania university in Hyderabad.[10]

The foundation of agricultural research in Marathwada region of erstwhile Hyderabad state was laid by Nizam with commencement of the Main Experimental Farm in 1918 in Parbhani. Though during Nizam's rule agricultural education was available only at Hyderabad, crop research centres for sorghum, cotton, and fruits existed in Parbhani. After Independence, this facility was developed further by Indian government which turned into Marathwada Agriculture University on 18 May 1972.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ "HYDERABAD: Silver Jubilee Durbar". Time. 22 February 1937.
  2. ↑ [url://http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/fmay2000/f230520001.html]
  3. ↑ His Fortune on TIME
  4. ↑ The Nizam on the cover of Time Magazine
  5. ↑ Squadron history for no. 110 sqn on RAF Website
  6. ↑ "The Nizam of Hyderabad Rose Brooches and Necklace". From Her Majesty's Jewel Vault.
  7. ↑ "Deccani tehzeeb is history". The Times of India. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  8. ↑ Mohla, Anika. "From richest to rags in seven generations". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  9. ↑ University of Queensland
  10. ↑ "Welcome to Osmania University". Osmania.ac.in. 1917-04-26. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  11. ↑ "MAU". mkv. Retrieved 24 May 2015.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asaf Jah VII.
Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
Born: 8 April 1886 Died: 24 February 1967
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI		 Nizam of Hyderabad
1911–1948 		Annexed by
Union of India
Titles in pretence
New title — TITULAR —
Nizam of Hyderabad
1948–1967		 Succeeded by
Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah
Government offices
Preceded by
Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III		 Prime Minister of Hyderabad
1914–1919 		Succeeded by
Sir Sayyid Ali Imam
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