Mir Osman Ali Khan


Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VII , was the last Nizam of the Princely State of Hyderabad, the largest princely state in British India. He ascended the throne on 11 August 1911, at the age of 25 and ruled the Kingdom of Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948, until it was annexed by India. The Nizam had 149 children.
He was styled as His Exalted Highness- the Nizam of Hyderabad. He was one of the wealthiest people of all time. In 1937, he was featured on the cover of Time magazine as the richest person at the time. He was the fifth-richest man in history of mankind and the richest Indian who ever lived. On taking the throne, he studied and understood all the State papers that his father sent to him.
He was a benevolent ruler who patronised education, science and development. During his 37-year rule, electricity was introduced, railways, roads and airways were developed. He was known as "Architect of modern Hyderabad" and is credited with the establishment of numerous public institutions in the city of Hyderabad, including the Osmania University, Osmania General Hospital, State Bank of Hyderabad, Begumpet Airport, and Hyderabad High Court to name a few. Two reservoirs, namely Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar were built during his reign, to prevent another great flood in the city.
He was also a philanthropist, donating millions of rupees to various educational and religious institutions all over India. He also donated money towards the compilation of holy Mahabharata. Apart from his wealth, he was known for his eccentricities, as he used to knit his own socks, and borrow cigarettes from guests.
The Nizam originally wanted to join India. However, after India's independence in 1947, the Nizam did not wish to accede his state to the newly formed nation. By then, his power had weakened due to the Telangana movement and the rise of a radical militia known as the Razakars who he couldn't get rid off. In 1948, the Indian Army invaded and annexed Hyderabad State, and the Nizam had to surrender. Post-independence, he became the Rajpramukh of Hyderabad State between 1950 and 1956, after which the state was partitioned and became part of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Even after losing the throne, he continued his efforts to serve the people. In 1951, he not only started the construction of Nizam Orthopedic hospital and gave it to the government on a 99-year lease on monthly rent of just Re.1. But he also donated 14,000 acres of land from his personal estate to Vinobha Bhave's Bhoodan movement for re-distribution of land to the landless farmers.

Early life

Mir Osman Ali Khan was born 5 April 1886, the second son of Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI and Amat-uz-Zahra Begum at Purani Haveli, he was educated privately and was fluent in Urdu, Persia, Arabic and English. Mir Osman Ali Khan received court ethics and military training under Nawab Muhammad Ali Beg, and in 1899 Sir Brian Egarton was appointed as his English tutor.

Accession

Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan the VI Nizam died on 29 August 1911 and on the same day Mir Osman Ali Khan proclaimed The Nizam VII under the supervision of Nawab Shahab Jung a Minister of Police and Public works. His official coronation was held on 12 September 1911.

Reign

The infamous mines of Golconda were the major source of wealth for the Nizam's, with the Kingdom of Hyderabad being the only supplier of Diamonds for the global market in the 18th century.
Mir Osman Ali Khan acceded as the 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, it was roughly the size of the present-day United Kingdom. The Nizam 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 titled "His Exalted Highness" and "Faithful Ally of the British Crown".

Early years (1911 to 1918)

In 1908, three years before the Nizam's coronation, the city of Hyderabad was struck by a major flood that resulted in the death of thousands. The Nizam, on the advice of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, ordered the construction of two large reservoirs, namely the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar to prevent another flood.
He was given the title of "Faithful Ally of the British Crown" after World War One due to his financial contribution to the British Empire's war effort. He also paid for a Royal Navy vessel, the N-class destroyer, commissioned in 1940 and transferred to the Royal Australian Navy.
In 1918, the Nizam issued a firman that brought into existence the Osmania University, the first university to have Urdu as a medium of instruction. The present campus was completed in 1934. The Firman also mentioned the detailed 'Mission' and 'Objectives' of the University.

Post-World War (1918 to 1939)

In 1919, the Nizam ordered the formation of the Executive Council of Hyderabad, presided by Sir Sayyid Ali Imam, and with eight other members, each in charge of one or more departments. The President of the Executive Council would also be the Prime Minister of Hyderabad.
The Begumpet Airport was established in the 1930s with the formation of Hyderabad Aero Club by the Nizam. Initially it was used as a domestic and international airport for the Nizam's Deccan Airways, the earliest airline in British India. The terminal building was created in 1937.

Final years of reign (1939 to 1948)

He arranged a matrimonial alliance between his first son Azam Jah and Princess Durrushehvar of the Ottoman Empire. It was believed at that time that the matrimonial alliance between the Nizam and the deposed Caliph would lead to the emergence of a Muslim ruler who could be acceptable to the world powers in place of the Ottoman Sultans. After India's Independence, the Nizam made vain attempts to declare his sovereignty over the state of Hyderabad, either as a protectorate of the British Empire, or as a sovereign monarchy. However, his power weakened due to the Telangana Rebellion and rise of the Razakars, a radical Muslim militia who wanted Hyderabad to remain under Muslim rule. In 1948, India invaded and annexed Hyderabad State, and the rule of the Nizam ended wherein the Nizam became the Rajpramukh and served from 26 January 1950 to 31 October 1956.

Educational iniatives

From giving donations to major educational institutions throughout India, he introduced many educational reforms during his reign. Up to 11% of his budget was spent on education.
He made large donations to many institutions in India and abroad with special emphasis given to educational institutions such as the Jamia Nizamia and the Darul Uloom Deoband.
Arts College, c. 1937.
He founded the Osmania University in 1918 through a royal firman; today it is one of the biggest universities in India. Schools, colleges and a Department for Translation were set up. Primary education was made compulsory and provided free for the poor.

Donations towards Educational institutions

He also donated Rs 1 million for the Banaras Hindu University, Rs. 500,000 for the Aligarh Muslim University, and 300,000 for the Indian Institute of Science.

Contributions to society

Construction of major public buildings

Nearly all the major public buildings and institutions in Hyderabad city, such as Hyderabad High Court, Jubilee Hall, Nizamia Observatory, Moazzam Jahi Market, Kachiguda Railway Station, Asafiya Library, Town Hall now known as the Assembly Hall, Hyderabad Museum now known as the State Museum; :Category:Hospitals established by Nizams|hospitals like Osmania General Hospital, Nizamia Hospital and many other monuments were built under his reign. He also built the Hyderabad House in Delhi, now used for diplomatic meetings by the Government of India.

Establishment of Hyderabad State Bank

In 1941, he started his own bank, the "Hyderabad State Bank" as the state's central bank. It was established on 8 August 1941 under the Hyderabad State Bank Act. The bank managed the "Osmania Sikka", the currency of the state of Hyderabad. It was the only state in India which had its own currency, the Hyderabadi rupee. Hyderabad was the only state in British India where the ruler was allowed to issue currency notes. In 1953, the bank absorbed, by merger, the Mercantile Bank of Hyderabad, which Raja Pannalal Pitti had founded in 1935.
In 1956, the Reserve Bank of India took over the bank as its first subsidiary and renamed it State Bank of Hyderabad. The Subsidiary Banks Act was passed in 1959. On 1 October 1959, SBH and the other banks of the princely states became subsidiaries of SBI. It merged with SBI on 31 March 2017.

Flood prevention

After the Great Musi Flood of 1908, which killed an estimated 50,000 people, the Nizam constructed 2 lakes to prevent another great flood, namely Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar named after himself, and his son -Mir Himayat Ali Khan respectively.

Agricultural reforms

The foundation of agricultural research in Marathwada region of erstwhile Hyderabad State was laid by the Nizam with the commencement of the Main Experimental Farm in 1918 in Parbhani. 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 the Indian government which was renamed as Marathwada Agriculture University on 18 May 1972.

Contribution to Indian aviation

India's first airport - the Begumpet Airport was established in the 1930s with the formation of the Hyderabad Aero Club by Nizam.
Initially, it was used as a domestic and international airport by Nizam and was known as "Deccan Airways Limited" - the first airline during British India. The airport building was built in 1937.

Wealth

The Nizam possessed such enormous wealth that he was portrayed on the cover of TIME magazine on 22 February 1937, being described as the world's richest man. He used the Jacob Diamond, a 185-carat diamond that is part of the Nizam's jewellery, a precious collection running into several thousand crores of rupees today, as a paperweight. 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 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.
The Nizam is known to have remained as the richest man in South Asia until his death in 1967, but his fortunes fell to US$1 billion by then as more than 97% of his wealth, including jewellery belonging to his family including his daughter's and grand daughters, was taken away by the newly formed Indian Government. Just prior to his death, the Nizam's personal fortune was roughly estimated to be £110 million, including £40 million in gold and jewels
The Indian government still exhibits the jewellery as Nizam's jewellery Exhibition. There are 173 jewels, which include emeralds weighing nearly, and pearls exceeding 40 thousand chows. The collection includes gemstones, turban ornaments, necklaces and pendants, belts and buckles, earrings, armbands, bangles and bracelets, anklets, cufflinks and buttons, watch chains, and rings, toe rings, and nose rings.

Gift to Queen Elizabeth II

In 1947, the Nizam made a gift of diamond jewels, including a tiara and necklace, to Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her marriage. The brooches and necklace from this gift are still worn by the Queen and is known as the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge has also been spotted wearing the necklace on a few occasions.

Philanthropy

Donations towards Hindu temples

The Nizam donated Rs. 82,825 to the Yadagirigutta temple at Bhongir, Rs. 29,999 to Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam and Rs. 8,000 to Tirupati Balaji Temple.
He also donated Rs. 50,000 towards the re-construction of Sitarambagh temple located in the old city of Hyderabad.
He also donated a grant of 100,000 Hyderabadi rupees towards the reconstruction of Thousand Pillar Temple.
After hearing about the Golden Temple of Amritsar through Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Mir Osman Ali Khan started giving yearly grants towards it.

Donation towards the compilation of Holy Mahabharata

In 1932, there was a need for money for the publication of the Holy Mahabharata in the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute located in Pune. A formal request was made to the 7th Nizam who granted Rs. 1000 per year for a period of 11 years.
He also gave Rs 50,000 for construction of the guest house which stands today as the "Nizam Guest House".

Donation in Gold to the National Defence Fund

There is myth that Nizam of Hyderabad donate 5000 kg of gold in 1965 and it was clarified in one of the article in The Hindu, in which the National Defence Fund Functions under the Prime Minister's Office, answered these questions that were posted through RTI saying no information of such a donation has been recorded.
In fact, the Nizam invested 425,000 grams of gold in the National Defence Gold Scheme, floated in October 1965 with a generous 6.5% interest, to tide over the economic crisis.

Operation Polo and abdication

After Indian independence in 1947, the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. 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 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 independent kingdom within the British Commonwealth of Nations.
This proposal for independence was rejected by the British government, but the Nizam continued to explore it. 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. 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 code-named Operation Polo. Under the supervision of Major General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri, one division of the Indian Army and a tank brigade invaded Hyderabad.

Personal life

The Nizam 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.
Unlike his father, he was not interested in fine clothing or hunting. His hobbies rather included along the likes of poetry and writing Urdu ghazals.
He revered his mother a lot, visiting her every day till she was alive; and later used to visit her grave almost every day of his life.

Family

At the age of 21 on 14 April 1906 he married AzamUnnisa Begum a daughter of the noble member Nawab Jahangir Jung. Nawab Mir Khudrath Nawaz Jung Bahadur was the first brother-in-law of the Nizam VII.
The Nizams first son - Azam Jah married Durru Shehvar, daughter of Abdul Mejid II. They had two children, Mukarram Jah and Muffakham Jah.
Whereas, his 2nd son Moazzam Jah married Princess Niloufer, a princess of the Ottoman empire. In total the Nizam had 149 children or 34 children:.
Mir Najaf Ali Khan is another grandson of the last Nizam who is a well known figure as he represents several trusts of the last Nizam, including the H.E.H. the Nizam's Charitable Trust and the Nizam Family Welfare Association.

Final years and death

The Nizam continued to stay at the King Kothi Palace until his death. He used to issue firmans on inconsequential matters in his newspaper, the Nizam Gazette.
He died on Friday, 24 February 1967. He had willed that he be buried in Masjid-e Judi, a mosque where his mother was buried, that faced King Kothi Palace. The government declared state mourning on 25 February 1967, the day when he was buried. State government offices remained closed as a mark of respect while the National Flag of India was flown at half-mast on all the government buildings throughout the state. The Nizam Museum documents state :
"The streets and pavements of the city were littered with the pieces of broken glass bangles as an incalculable number of women broke their bangles in mourning, which Telangana women usually do as per Indian customs on the death of a close relative."

"The Nizam's funeral procession was the biggest non-religious, non-political meeting of people in the history of India till that date."

Millions of people of all religions of different parts of the State entered Hyderabad in trains, buses and bullocks to see the last glimpse of their king's mortal remains in a coffin box in the King Kothi Palace Camp in Hyderabad. The crowd was so uncontrollable that barricades were installed alongside the road to enable people to move in a queue. D. Bhaskara Rao, chief curator, of the Nizam's Museum stated that an estimated one million people were part of the procession.

Title and salutation

Salutation style

The Nizam was the honorary Colonel of the 20 Deccan Horse. In 1918, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi 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.

Full Titular Name

The titles during his life were:
1886–1911: Nawab Bahadur Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi.

1911–1912: His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI

1912–1917: Colonel His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI

1917–1918: Colonel His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE

1918–1936: Lieutenant-General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE

1936–1941: Lieutenant-General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, GCSI, GBE

1941–1967: General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman ‘Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, GCSI, GBE.

Honours and legacy