the nizam's

The seven rulers of the Asif Jahi Dynastry

In
1724 Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jah I founded the Asif Jahi Dynasty and seven
generations of the family ruled the Deccan for 224 years up to 1948.
During this period several buildings of archaeological and public
importance were built. Notable among them are: Purani Haveli, Chow
Mahalla Palace, Osmania University, Jubilee Hall, Assembly Building,
Asifia Library, Osmania Hospital, High Court, and all the buildings in
the public garden

The origins of the Asif Jahi dynasty can be
traced to Chin Qalich Khan who was the grandfather of the first Nizam
and the commander of the Mughal army during  Auranzeb's
reign. Chin Qalich Khan led the attack of the Mughal army into the
Deccan under his Emperor’s ambitious plans of expanding the Mughal
empire. During Aurangzeb’s last siege of Golconda in 1687, 

Chin Qalich Khan was wounded. He died in Atapur
village near Himayath Sagar. Chin Qalich Khan’s son, Nawab Ghaziuddin
Khan, married the daughter of Sadullah Khan,  prine minister  
of Aurangzeb. A son was born, and the Emperor named him Mir Qumaruddin.
At the age of six, Mir Qumaruddin accompanied his father to the Mughal
court. Aurangzeb awarded him a mansab, and said to his father, "The
star of destiny shines on the forehead of your son". Mir Qumaruddin
displayed considerable skill as a warrior and at the age of nineteen,
the Emperor bestowed on him the title "Chin Fateh Khan". At 26, he was
appointed Commander in Chief and Viceroy, first at Bijapur, then Malwa
and later of the Deccan. 

Subsequently,
the Mughal empire declined. There was much confusion after the death of
Aurangzeb, and Mir Qumaruddin established his position as Viceroy
Farukh Siar who was the Mughal Emperor 
for a brief tenure conferred on Mir Qumaruddin the title Fateh Jung. He
thus became the first Nizam. A subsequent Emperor, Muhammad Shah
bestowed on him the title Asif Jah. The dynasty of the Nizam's of
Hyderabad thus came to be known as the Asif Jahi Dynasty. 

Unrest and claims to the throne continued after the death of Aurangzeb,
and amidst the general confusion, Asif Jah had little difficulty in
asserting his independence from the weak occupants of the Delhi throne.
At that time, Asif Jah was the Sudedar of Malwa. However, his
independence was the cause of much jealousy, and the Delhi court
secretly instructed Mubrez Khan, the Subedar of the Deccan, to oppose
him. A battle was fought at Shakar-Khelda in the district of Berer in
1724, where Mubrez Khan was defeated and killed. This battle
established Asif Jah's supremacy in the Deccan. After gaining
independence, Asif Jah came to be known as Nizam-ul-Mulk. He first set
up his capital at Auragabad but later moved to Hyderabad, which became
the capital of the Asif Jahi dynasty. 

Nizam-ul-Mulk's greatest achievement was
the foundation of the Hyderabad Dominion. He attained his object by
waging a struggle against the Marhattas and by the policy of
non-involvement in the rivalry for power between the British and the
French. His policy has been justified by later events as Hyderabad
state survived right through the period of British rule up to the time
of  Indian Independence.

Asif Jah ruled wisely and established an independent state in the
Deccan. He was one of the ablest statesmen. However, his death at
Burhanpur on 21st May 1748 at the age of 78, was followed by a struggle
for the throne. By this time, foreign powers were spreading their
tentacles. Asif Jah's second son Nasir Jung was supported by the
British whereas Muzafar Jung, grandson of Asif Jah, was supported by
the French. Nasir Jung succeeded; but after a brief rule he was slain
in 1750 in an encounter with the French troops at Arcot. Thereupon,
Muzafar Jung ascended the throne. In the following year he was murdered
and his son Salabath Jung was put on the throne. In 1762 Salabeth Jung
was dethroned by his brother Nizam Ali Khan, and confined at Bidar
where he died in 1793. 

Hence, Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and
Salabath Jung, who were contestants for the sovereignty of the Deccan
in the short span of thirteen years between the death of Asif Jah and
accession of Nizam  Ali Khan
have not been historically recognised as reigning Nizams. If they had
been, Nizam Ali Khan would have been known as the fifth Nizam and not
the second. 

Nizam Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1763 and he ruled Hyderabad for
almost forty years. This was one of the eventful periods in the history
of India. Foremost among competitors for supremacy in the Deccan were
the Marhattas and it was during this period that the famous French
adventurer Monsieur Raymond was employed by Nizam Ali Khan. 

Nizam Ali Khan died in August 1803 at the age of 72 years after a long and strenuous reign. 

The succession of Sikandar Jah as Nizam
was undisputed and he appointed Mir Alam as his Prime Minister. With
the accession to the throne by Sikander Jah and end of war with the
Marhattas, there commenced an entirely new era for Hyderabad.
Unfortunately in 1808 the able Minister Mir Alam died and it was he who
was responsible for maintaining good relations wit the British. In
1809, Mir Alam’s son Munir-ul-Mulk was appointed as Minister. 

Sikander Jah died in May 1829 at the age
of 62 after reigning for almost 26 years. Secunderbad was named after
him. Sikander Jah was succeeded by his eldest son Nasir-ud-Dowla. It
was during his reign that Salar Jung was appointed as the Minister in
1853. Salar Jung guided the affairs of the Deccan with great wisdom and
introduced several reforms to improve the finances of the Dominion. 

On 17 May 1857 Nasir-ud-Daula died and his
son Afzal-ud-Daula became the fifth Nizam. This was the first time the
first war of Indian Independence was fought in the North and there was
general disorder in the Deccan. 

After a reign of 12 years ,
Afzal-ud-Daula expired on 26 February 1869 at the young age of forty
three years, leaving behind the infant prince Mir Mahboob Ali Khan who
was hardly three years old. 

Mir Mahboob
Ali Khan, who was born on 18 August 1866, was the only son of
Afzal-ud-Dowla. He was installed on the masnad by the British Resident
and Sir Salar Jung, who also acted as the co-regent. Salar Jung died in
1883 and a provisional council, consisting of five members, with
Mahboob Ali Khan as president and Mir Laiq Ali Khan, son of Salar Jung,
as secretary was appointed for administrative purposes. 

Special attention was paid to the
education of Mahboob Ali Khan. With the concurrence of Salar Jung,
Capt. John Clerk was appointed as his tutor. However, the personality
of Salar Jung had a great influence on his life. Brought up under the
guidance of this great statesman, Mahboob Ali Khan grew in his later
years to be one of the greatest rulers of his time. He was a respected
and dignified personality and was popularly know as ‘Mahboob Ali
Pasha’. He died on Tuesday 31 August 1911. 

Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and the
last Nizam of Hyderabad ruled for 37 years (1911 - 1948). His dominion
was lager than England and Scotland put together, with an area of
86,000 Sq. miles. 

The seventh Nizam led a very simple life,
yet he was one of the richest men in the world. He donated generously
to every cause in India as well as abroad irrespective of caste and
religion. If it was the Muslim theological school at Deoband which
received financial help, it was also the privilege of the Benaras Hindu
University. His list of donations included Rabindranth Tagore’s
Shantiniketan and several other institutions including hospitals,
schools, for famine relief, etc. The golden temple in Amritsar also
enjoyed an annual donation. 

The Nizam’s rule saw the growth of
Hyderabad economically and culturally. Electricity, railways, roads and
airways developed. Huge reservoirs and irrigation projects such as the
Tungabhadra, and Nizamsagar were completed. The early work on
Nagarjunasagar was undertaken. The Osmania University, Colleges and
Schools were founded throughout the state. Nearly all the public
buildings currently in such as the Osmania General Hospital, High
Court, Central State Library, Assembly Hall, Jubilee Hall and other buildings in the Public Garden were built during Osman Ali Khan’s reign. 

Soon after India gained independence in 1947, all princely states were
invited to join the Republic. Nizam VII was reluctant to do so; but in
1948, after the  Police Action ,
his state was merged into the Indian Union. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the
last Nizam, died on Friday 24 February 1967. It was the end of the
princely era.