Asman Jah


Nawab Sir Muhammad Mazharuddin Khan Bahadur , commonly known as Sir Asman Jah or Nawab Sir Asman Jah Bahadur, was an Indian noble who served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad from 1887 to 1894. A member of the powerful Paigah family, Asman Jah built the Asman Garh Palace, Basheer Bagh Palace, and Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower. He represented Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Early life and ancestry

Asman Jah was born as Mazharuddin Khan in 1839, although his exact date of birth is not recorded. His biological father Sultanuddin Khan was the third son of Fakhruddin Khan. After Sultanuddin's death, Asman Jah was adopted by his uncle Rafiuddin Khan Shams-ul-Umra III. Jah's maternal grandmother was Bashirunnisa Begum, a daughter of Nizam Nizam Ali Khan.
Asman Jah was a member of the noble Paigah family which was hierarchically second to the Nizam of Hyderabad. The members of the family were staunch Nizam loyalists. The family descends from the Second Rashidun caliph Umar Sufi saint Fariduddin Ganjshakar is also an ancestor of the family. One of Jah's ancestor Muhammad Abu’l Khair Khan was a mansabdar during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's reign. Jah's cousin Viqar-ul-Umra also served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad.

Political career

In 1869, Asman Jah was appointed as Minister for Justice and served in that position until 1888. After the death of Sir Salar Jung I in 1883, Jah was made a member of the Council of Regency. He also went on to become the administrator of the Hyderabad State during the Nizam's visit to Kolkata during the same year.
In 1887, Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan chose Jah to represent him at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Queen Victoria held at the Windsor Castle. After returning from England, he was appointed Prime Minister of the state. He was replaced by his cousin Viqar-ul-Umra in 1894.

Architecture

Jah built the Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower in 1892. The clock tower had clocks on its four sides and was constructed in the middle of a garden. He also built the Basheer Bagh Palace at a cost of about in. Jah also constructed the Asman Garh Palace in 1885 at the top of a hillock in Hyderabad. It was built in the Gothic architecture style and had pointed arches supported by Corinthian pillars. Jah's brother-in-law and Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan enjoyed living in the palace and he later gifted it to the Nizam. The building presently houses the St. Joseph’s Public School.

Personal life

Jah was married to Parwarishunnisa Begum, the daughter of the fifth Nizam Tahniyath Ali Khan. They had one son Muinuddin Khan who was born in 1891. Jah died at Basheer Bagh Palace on 16 July 1898 and is buried at Paigah Tombs. Jah brought up cricketer Syed Mohammad Hadi after his father died. Hadi scored the first-ever century in the Ranji Trophy.
Asman Jah's full name with titles is Asman Jah, Amir-i-Akbar, Azam-ul-Umra, Umdat-ul-Mulk, Bashir-ud-Daulah, Nawab Sir Muhammad Mazharuddin Khan Bahadur, Rifat Jung KCIE.