His Exalted Highness Nizam Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Asaf Jah VII GCSI, GBE, born
Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, was the last Nizam 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.
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. He was portrayed on the cover of TIME magazine on 22 February
1937, described as the world's richest man. 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. Calculating his modern-day worth, accounting for inflation,
the Nizam was worth $236 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people to have ever
lived. 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 19th century.
Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi 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, 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. Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi 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 Siddqi Bahadur started his own bank, the Hyderabad State
Bank 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.
Nearly all the major public buildings in Hyderabad city, such as the Osmania General Hospital,
Andhra Pradesh 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 have been criticised for largely ignoring
the native languages in favour of Urdu. Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi 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 commissioned in 1940.
Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi 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 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 with codename 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 mercenary
soldiers called Razakars gave up easily. However it is estimated that 27,000 to 40,000 civilians
were massacred during and following the invasion. Marriages and children
On 14 April 1906 Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur married Azmathunnisa Begum, 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 The first brother-in-law of Mir Osman Ali
Khan Siddqi Bahadur was Nawab Khudrath Nawaz Jung son of Nawab Jahangir Jung,Sahebzada
Mir Jahangir Ali Khan and younger brother of Dulhan Pasha Begum first wife of Osman
Ali Khan Their eldest son, Azam Jah, married Durru
Shehvar, daughter of Abdul Mejid II. 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.
Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur had at least 149 children, including:
Sahebzadi Yawar un-nisa Begum Sahiba Sahebzadi Hidayat un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Nizam uddin bahadur Azam Jah Sahebzada Mir Himayath ali khan
Muazzam Jah Sahebzada Mir Shujayath Ali Khan Sahebzada Mir Osman 'Ali Khan Bahadur
Sahebzada Mir Kazim Ali Khan, Kazim Jah Sahebzada Mir Abid Ali Khan, Abid Jah
Sahebzada Mir Hashmat Ali Khan, Hashmat Jah Sahebzada Mir Hashim Ali Khan, Hashim Jah
Sahebzada Mir Taqi Ali KHan, Taqi Jah Sahebzadi Hurmat un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzadi Karim Osman Murat un-nisa Begum Sahebzadi Jamal un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzadi Behbood un-nisa Begum Sahiba Sahebzadi Mahmood un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzada Mir Basharat Ali Kha, Basharat Jah Sahebzadi Mehar un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzadi Ghaffoor un-nisa Begum Sahiba Sahebzadi Aleem un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzadi Nazeer un-nisa Begum Sahiba Sahebzada Mir Rajjab Ali Khan, Rajjab Jah
Sahebzada Mir Saadat Ali Khan, Sa'adat Jah Sahebzadi Faruq un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzadi Kabir un-nisa Begum Sahiba Sahebzadi Masud un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzadi Asmat un-nisa Begum Sahiba Sahebzaid Bashir un-nisa Begum Sahiba
Sahebzadi Ramzani Begum Sahiba Sahebzada Mir Jawad Ali Khan, Jawad Jah
stillborn son Sahebzadi Mashadi Begum Sahiba
Sahebzada Mir Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Zulfiqar Jah
Sahebzada Mir Imdad Ali Khan, Imdad Jah Sahebzada Mir Nawazish Ali Khan, Nawazish
Jah Sahebzada Mir Fazal Ali Khan, Fazal Jah
Sahebzada Mir Bhojat Ali Khan, Bhojat Jah Sahebzada Mir Shabbir Ali Khan, Shabbir Jah
Sahebzadi Sayida Begum Sahiba Malta Sahebzada Wahid Ali Khan
Sahebzada Mohammed Ali Khan Sahebzada Sardar ali Khan
Sahebzada Wajid ali Khan 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 Judi 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. His titles 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
British Empire Delhi Durbar Gold Medal, 1911
GCSI: Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, 1911
GCStJ: Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John, 1911
GBE: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, 1917
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 1935 King George VI Coronation Medal, 1937
Royal Victorian Chain, 1946 Educational reforms
During the reign of Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi, Bahadur introduced some educational reforms.
He was the founder of Osmania university in Hyderabad.
In 1936 Osmania University established post-graduate courses and research facilities in all the
sciences: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, Engineering, Metallurgy as well as Law, Education
and Teacher training courses. By 1948 its degrees were accepted by Indian universities
and British universities. Notes
References University of Queensland
Further reading The Splendour of Hyderabad : The Last Phase
of an Oriental Culture By M.A. Nayeem ISBN 81-85492-20-4
The Nocturnal Court: The Life of a Prince of Hyderabad By Sidq Jaisi
Developments in Administration Under H.E.H. the Nizam VII By Shamim Aleem, M. A. Aleem
[1] Jewels of the Nizams by Usha R. Krishnan ISBN
81-85832-15-3 Fabulous Mogul: Nizam VII of Hyderabad By
Dosoo Framjee Karaka Published 1955 D. Verschoyle, Original from the University of Michigan [2]
The Seventh Nizam: The Fallen Empire By Zubaida Yazdani, Mary Chrystal ISBN 0-9510819-0-X
The Last Nizam: The Life and Times of Mir Osman Ali Khan By V.K. Bawa, Basant K. Bawa
ISBN 0-670-83997-3 The Seventh Nizam of Hyderabad: An Archival
Appraisal By Sayyid Dā'ūd Ashraf [3] Misrule of the Nizam By Raghavendra Rao [4]
Photographs of Lord Willingdon's visit to Hyderabad in the early 1930s By Raja Deen
Dayal & Sons [5] External links
http:www.deccanchronicle.comnews-current-affairsimdad-jah-nizam%E2%80%99s-son-dies-cancer Photos of
Mir Osman Ali Khan TIME Cover Story 1937
Nizam's fabled jewels dazzle Delhi Jacob Diamond – The Jacob Diamond of the
Nizam Nizam's cabinet – a real whodunit
The enigma that was Mir Osman Ali Khan 1911 Encyclopedia
The lost world Article by historian William Dalrymple, of The Guardian – Dec' 2007
Frank Herbert Brown. "Hyderabad, Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan, 7th Nizam of". Encyclopædia
Britannica.