KEY PERSONALITIES
MIR NIZAM ALI KHAN - ASAF JAH II (1734-1803)
- Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II, son of Asaf Jah I, rose to power after succession problems.
- The chaos of succession paved the way for British and French powers to establish their own foothold in the Asaf Jahi politics by supporting rival contenders.
- The French supported Salabat Jung to become the Nizam and the British incited Nizam Ali Khan, his brother, to rise in rebellion against him.
- In 1763, Nizam Ali Khan succeeded to the throne and became the second Asaf Jah.
- After becoming the Nizam, he shifted the capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad.
- During Nizam Ali Khan’s reign, the British gained political prominence in the Deccan. In 1795, Nizam Ali Khan was defeated in a battle by Marathas.
- To safeguard his position, he entered into the Subsidiary Alliance with the British in 1798 which made him subservient to the British power.
- From 1799, a British Resident was stationed in Hyderabad who supervised the governance of the state.
In the third Anglo-Mysore War (1789-1792), the Nizam supported the British against Tipu Sultan.
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NIZAM MAHBOOB ALI KHAN - ASAF JAH VI (1866-1911)
- Mahboob Ali Khan was merely two and a half years old when he was declared the sixth Nizam.
- He was formally acknowledged as the Nizam again after attaining majority in 1884.
- He is remembered for his extravagant lifestyle.
- He went on elaborate hunts and hosted royal guests like the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Connaught, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, Grand Duke Alexander of Russia amongst others.
- He was the first Nizam who wore western clothes and conversed in English.
- An entire wing of his palace was dedicated to his magnificent wardrobe, the largest in the world. It is said that he never wore the same suit twice!
- He was called ‘Mahboob Pasha’ or 'Beloved King' by the common people who also believed that the Nizam’s spirit was so holy that a mere invocation of his name could ward off the poison of snake bite.
- In 1908, when a disastrous flood hit Hyderabad killing 15,000 people, the Nizam provided refuge to his subjects in his palace.
- He also tried to appease the Hindu goddess Bhavani by paying homage to the deity as it was popularly believed that her anger incited the calamity. Being a Muslim ruler, this was an unusual move.
- He died at the age of 45 in 1911.
NIZAM OSMAN ALI KHAN - ASAF JAH VII (1886-1967)
- Mahboob Ali Khan was succeeded by his son, Mir Osman Ali Khan, as the seventh and the last Nizam in 1911.
- He was one of the richest men in the world.
- A significant chunk of his wealth was accumulated through nazar or valuable gifts offered to the ruler by court attendees as an expression of respect and loyalty.
- Nizam Osman Ali Khan made some significant contributions to the Hyderabad state like the building of Osmania University, Osmania Hospital, the State Central Library and the High Court.
- He was one of the five Indian Princes who was granted the highest salute of 21 guns by the British.
- For his support to the British in the First World War, he was conferred with the title of ‘His Exalted Highness.’
- Nizam Osman Ali Khan decided to declare Hyderabad an independent state on June 11 1947. This was not supported by the Indian National Congress.
- The Indian government negotiated with the Nizam to incorporate the Hyderabad State into India but it failed to work out.
- Thus, it launched an action code named ‘Operation Polo,’ in Hyderabad in 1948 following which the Nizam’s troops surrendered and the Hyderabad State was integrated into the Union of India.