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'Nizam-ul-Mulk', commonly shortened to 'Nizam', was the title taken by the Asaf Jahi rulers of Hyderabad state in India, founded by Nizam-ul-Mulk Mir Qamar-ud-Din, was viceroy of the Deccan under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and who resumed the rule under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, and almost became independent immediately from the mughals. He founded the dynasty of the Nizams of Hyderabad.
Both the Qutub Shah and Asaf Jahi rulers were great patrons of literature, art, architecture,culture, Jewelry collection and rich food.
The Nizams ruled the state until its annexation into the Indian Union in 1948.

Contents

Origin of the title

Rise of the Nizams

Operation Polo and the fall of the Nizams

List of Nizams of Hyderabad

References

See also

Further reading

External links

Origin of the title

Nizām-ul-mulk was a title first used in Urdu around 1600 to mean "governor of the realm" or "Deputy for the Whole Empire". It derives from the Arabic word, nizंām (نظام), meaning "order, arrangement". The Nizam was, and often still is, referred to as Ala Hadrat/Ala Hazrat or Nizam Sarkar, meaning "His Exalted Highness".

Rise of the Nizams

The first Nizams ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. But, after the death of Aurangazeb, the Nizams split away to form their own state. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states. The Nizams retained power over Hyderabad State until its annexation into the Indian Union after Indian independence.
It is said that the Asaf Jahi dynasty had only seven rulers; however there was a period of 13 years after the rule of the first Nizam when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognized as the rulers. A myth about the first Nizam states that on one of his hunting trips he was offered some kulchas (an Indian bread) by a holy man and was asked to eat as many as he could. The Nizam could eat seven kulchas and the holy man then prophesied that seven generations of his family would rule.

Operation Polo and the fall of the Nizams

After the British left India in 1947, Hyderabad state did not accede to either of the new dominions of India or Pakistan. In September 1948, the Indian government launched Operation Polo, swiftly overunning the Nizams forces and annexing the state. Following this, Hyderabad became part of India.
Each of the Nizams is buried in the royal graves at the Makkah Masjid, near Charminar, except for the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who is buried in his mausoleum in the Judhi Mosque opposite "The King Kothi" (or summer palace, in the heart of present-day Hyderabad city).

List of Nizams of Hyderabad

★ Mir Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam ul Mulk, 'Asaf Jah I' (1720-1748)

★ Mir Ahmed Ali Khan, Nizam-ud-Dowlah 'Nasir Jang' (1748-1750)

★ Nawab Hidayat Mohi-ud-din Sa'adu'llah Khan Bahadur, 'Muzaffar Jang' (1750-1751)

★ Nawab Syed Mohammed Khan, Amir ul Mulk, 'Salabat Jang' (1751-1762)

★ Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur, Nizam ul Mulk, 'Asaf Jah II' (1762-1803)

★ Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikandar Jah, 'Asaf Jah III' (1803-1829)

★ Nawab Mir Farkhonda Ali Khan Nasir-ud-Daulah, 'Asaf Jah IV' (1829-1857)

★ Nawab Mir Tahniat Ali Khan Afzal ud Daulah, 'Asaf Jah V' (1857-1869)

★ Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, 'Asaf Jah VI' (1869-1911)

★ Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, 'Asaf Jah VII' (1911-1948)

References

★ Zubrzycki, John. (2006) ''The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback''. Pan Macmillan, Australia. ISBN 978-0-3304-2321-2.

See also

★ Hyderabad State

★ Salar Jung family

Further reading

★ ''Mughal Administration of Deccan Under Nizamul Mulk Asaf Jah, 1720-48 A.D.''By M. A. Nayeem, Indian Council of Historical Research, University of Poona, Dept. of History [1]

External links

★ Detailed genealogy of the Nizams of Hyderabad

★ Article on some aspects of life in erstwhile Hyderabad state