In 1763, after a gap of nearly seventy six years Hyderabad regained its lost glory when Nizam Ali Khan, the second Asaf Jahi ruler moved the capital back from Aurangabad to Hyderabad. The family of the Asaf Jah (Nizams) of Hyderabad is one of the most illustrious that ever came to India. The Asaf Jahi dynasty, familiar to all the by title of its representative-the-Nizam-owes its origin to Mir Qamaruddin Chin Qilij Khan, better known as Asaf Jahi.
FEATURE Osman Ali Khan Bahadur Fateh Jung, His Exalted Highness (the British conferred this upon him), also named Fath Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah VII was born in Hyderabad at Purani Haveli, the second son of Mir Mahboob Ali Khan (Asaf Jah VI), Nizam of Hyderabad, by his first wife Amat-uz-Zahrunnisa Begum. He was the last Nizam (or Ruler) of the PRINCELY STATE of HYDERABAD in southern India. He ruled Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948, when it was merged with the dominion of India. During his days as Nizam, he was reputed to be the richest man in the world, even featuring on the cover of TIME magazine, portrayed as such.
TULIP
Between the fall of the Qutub Shahi dynasty and the rise of the Asaf Jahis dynasty, the city of Hyderabad steadily deteriorated.
to collect taxes. All princely states large and small agreed to join the Union of India, except Hyderabad. In June 1947, the Nizam issued a Firman or a proclamation declaring independence from the Indian Union. On the 15th of August 1947, India attained independence from the British, but Hyderabad stood defiant as an independent state. On 29th November 1947, the Nizam signed a ‘standstill agreement’ with the Indian Union for a period of one year. In the months following the signing of the Standstill Agreement, suspicion and misgivings between the Nizam and the Indian government grew. Relations between the two were far from amicable. Led by the zealous Kasim Razvi, the Razakars compelled the Nizam to maintain his independence and not relent to pressure from the Indian government. Claiming his right to remain independent in accordance with the Indian Independence Act, the Nizam declared Hyderabad a free, self-governing independent state but the Government of India refused to accept his point of view.
Asaf Jahi dynasty ruled the state of Hyderabad for seven generations (A.D. 1724 - 1948) establishing it as the largest and foremost Muslim princely state in India. Hyderabad’s existence and development was intrinsically linked to the rule of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and their contributions were foundational to not only the States but the Deccan’s social, economic and cultural milieu.
On the 10th of July 1947, the ‘Declaration of the Indian Independence’ bill was introduced by Harold Macmillan. To the Nizam’s dismay, no mention or decision was taken regarding the state of Hyderabad. All princely states were given the option to either join India, Pakistan or remain independent. All states that would join the Indian Union would have to surrender their sovereignty and their right
Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the deputy Prime Minister of India insisted that the state had to merge with the Indian union and to further tighten the noose, an economic blockade was imposed on Hyderabad. On the 10th of September 1948, the Nizam sent Nawab Moin Nawaz Jung to the Security Council to represent Hyderabad’s case before the United Nations. This was the last straw. All channels of communication were severed and the Government of India contemplated military action against the defiant state. On the 13th of September 1948, the Indian Army initiated its Police Action Against Hyderabad. Five days later, on the 18th of September, 1948, the Indian army entered Secunderabad Cantonment. Military rule was imposed. A reluctant Hyderabad finally merged with the Union of India. SEPTEMBER, 2012 29