Nizam Dynasty - Mir Osman Ali Khan (7th Nizam)

Nizam Dynasty (నిజాం రాజ్యం)

Source: T-SAT Lecture
Presenter: Bhooshan Govindula
Topic: Modern Telangana - Focus on 7th Nizam

Mir Osman Ali Khan - 7th Nizam (ఏడవ నిజాం)

Key Details

• Full Name: Mir Osman Ali Khan (మీర్ ఉస్మాన్ అలీ ఖాన్).
• He was the 7th and last ruling Nizam of Hyderabad.
• Considered the last Sultan of Hyderabad State.
• Parents: Mother - Zehrunisa (జహ్రునీసా), Father - Mir Mahboob Ali Khan (6th Nizam).
• Born: April 6, 1886.
• Reign Period: 1911 to 1948 (End of Nizam rule with Operation Polo).
• Ascended the throne in 1911.
• Had 7 wives; First wife was Dulhan Pasha Begum (దుల్హన్ పాషా బేగం).

Understanding "Nizam" Title (Recap)

• Title originated during Mughal era, meaning "Deputy" (డిప్యూటీ), a rank/status (హోదా).
• Ruled independently from 1724 (Nizam-ul-Mulk) to 1948.
• Initially under Mughal authority, later under British influence post-1857.
• Only 7 rulers officially held the title "Nizam".

Social Reforms and Actions

• Abolished social evils (దురాచారాలు):
  • Vetti Chakiri (వెట్టి చాకిరి - Forced Labour).
  • Devadasi System (దేవదాసి).
  • Begar (బేగర్ - Another form of forced labour/service).
• Issued a Farman (ఫర్మానా - Royal Decree) in 1920 prohibiting Cow Slaughter (గోవధ). (Note: Implementation was limited).
• Controlled/regulated practices like Cockfights (కోడి పందాలు) and Bullfights (ఎద్దుల పందాలు).
• Banned Smoking (పొగ తాగడం) in courtrooms (కోర్టు గదిలో), deeming it disrespectful to the judicial system (న్యాయ వ్యవస్థకు భంగకరం).
• Mandated a dress code for court officials (న్యాయస్థానాలలో అధికారులు): required wearing Talapaga (తలపాగా - Turban) and Dastar (దస్తర్ - Official Sash/Attire).

Administrative & Constitutional Reforms

• 1938: Established an official body/committee (అధికారిక సభను) with 85 members to formulate laws (చట్టాలను ఏర్పరిచి) – moving towards a more structured legislative process.
• Appointed the Bala Mukund Committee (బాలముకుంద్ అధ్యక్షతన కమిటీ) to recommend reforms for the legislative system (శాసన వ్యవస్థలో సంస్కరణల కోసం).
• 1922: Separated the Judiciary (న్యాయ వ్యవస్థను) from the Executive/Legislative (శాసన వ్యవస్థ) branch. This occurred when Sir Ali Imam (సర్ అలీ ఇమామ్) was the Diwan (దివాన్ - Prime Minister).
• 1937: Appointed the Bahadur Aravamudu Ayyangar Committee (బహదూర్ అరవముదం అయ్యంగార్ కమిటీ) for political and constitutional reforms (రాజకీయ, రాజ్యాంగ సంస్కరణల కోసం). This was likely influenced by the growing political awareness and movements (like the 1909 & 1919 Indian Council Acts).
• 1912: Established the City Improvement Board (CIB) (సిటీ ఇంప్రూవ్మెంట్ బోర్డు) under the chairmanship of Prince Muazzam Jah (ముజాంజా) for the development of Hyderabad city (హైదరాబాద్ నగర అభివృద్ధి కోసం).

Tribal Welfare

• Established Girijan Panchayats (గిరిజన పంచాయితీలను) to address issues specific to tribal communities (గిరిజనులకు).
• Appointed noted anthropologists Grigson (గ్రిగెన్స్) and Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf (హైమన్ డార్ఫ్) to study tribal conditions and problems.
• Context: Telangana has 32 tribal groups (గిరిజన జాతులు), of which 4 are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). India has approx. 705 tribes, 75 PVTGs. The Gond (గోండులు) are a significant tribe in the region (associated with figures like Ramji Gond and Komaram Bheem).
• Based on Haimendorf's report, the Nizam's government enacted the Dastur-ul-Amal law to protect tribal lands and rights.

Industrial & Economic Developments

• 1929: Established the Industrial Trust Fund (ఇండస్ట్రియల్ ట్రస్ట్ ఫండ్) with an initial capital of 1 crore rupees to provide financial assistance to industries (పరిశ్రమలకు ఆర్థిక సహాయం కోసం).
• 1918: Established the Commerce and Industries Department (కామర్స్ మరియు ఇండస్ట్రీస్ డిపార్ట్మెంట్) to promote trade and industry.
• 1940: Introduced the first Double Decker Buses (డబులు డెక్కర్ బస్సులు) in India.
• 1932: Established the Nizam State Road Transport Department (NSRRTD) (నిజాం స్టేట్ రోడ్ ట్రాన్స్పోర్ట్ డిపార్ట్మెంట్) - predecessor to modern RTC.
• 1945: Established Deccan Airways Limited (దక్కన్ విమాన సంస్థ లిమిటెడ్) in partnership (ఉమ్మడి భాగస్వామ్యంతో) with Tata Airlines.
  • Nizam Government share: 52%
  • Tata Airlines share: 48%
  • Operated from Begumpet Aerodrome (Dole Drum).
• 1920: Bahadur Ram Gopal Mill established near Tank Bund (ట్యాంక్బండ్ కేంద్రంగా). Known as BRG Mill or DBR Mills (డిబిఆర్ మిల్లు).
• 1920: Karkhana Zinda Tilismath (కార్ఖానా జిందా తిలిస్మాత్) established by Mohiuddin Farooqui in Amberpet (అంబర్పేట).
• 1920: Singareni Collieries Company Limited (సింగరేణి కాలరీస్ కంపెనీ లిమిటెడ్) formally established (coal deposits known earlier).
• 1916: Vazir Sultan Tobacco (VST) Company (వజీరు సుల్తాన్ టొబాకో) established by Vazir Sultan in Vittalwadi (విఠల్వాడి), Hyderabad.

Educational Reforms & Osmania University

• The need for a university was advocated by groups like the Old Boys Association (ఓల్డ్ బాయ్స్ సంఘం) of Dar-ul-Uloom College (formed 1913). They submitted proposals (ప్రతిపాదనను) regarding the necessity of a university (విశ్వవిద్యాలయ ఆవశ్యకత) to the Nizam.
• A series of Educational Conferences (విద్యా సదస్సు) were held:
  • 1st: 1915 in Hyderabad (హైదరాబాద్ కేంద్రంగా), presided by Sir Akbar Hydari.
  • 2nd: 1916 in Aurangabad (ఔరంగాబాద్ కేంద్రంగా).
  • 3rd: 1917 in Hyderabad (హైదరాబాద్ కేంద్రంగా).
  • 4th: 1919.
• These conferences and proposals influenced the decision to establish Osmania University.
• A Farman (decree) for the establishment of Osmania University was issued on April 26, 1917.
• Classes commenced on August 28, 1919, initially located in Abids.
• The medium of instruction (బోధన మాధ్యమంగా) was Urdu (ఉర్దూ).

Religious Patronage / Secular Outlook

• Provided annual donations/grants (విరాళాలు) to prominent Hindu temples:
  • Bhadrachalam Temple (భద్రాచలం).
  • Tirupati Temple (తిరుపతి దేవాలయాలకు).
• Funded the construction of the Nanded Gurudwara (నాందేడ్ లోని గురుద్వారాను) for the Sikh community and provided a Jagir (జాగీర్) for its maintenance (పోషణ నిమిత్తం).
• Took measures to protect important temples:
  • Indore Grishneshwar Temple (ఇండోర్ లోని గృష్ణేశ్వర దేవాలయానికి).
  • Hanumakonda Thousand Pillar Temple (హనుమకొండ లోని వేయి స్తంభాల గుడి).
  • These were brought under the supervision of the Public Works Department (PWD) (పబ్లిక్ వర్క్స్ డిపార్ట్మెంట్ ఆధీనంలోకి) for their protection and upkeep (రక్షణకు).
• These actions suggest a degree of secularism (లౌకిక తత్వం) and respect for different faiths.

Titles (బిరుదులు)

• His Exalted Highness (హిస్ ఎగ్జాల్టెడ్ హైనెస్): Upgraded from 'His Highness' in 1918 by British King George V.
• Star of India (స్టార్ ఆఫ్ ఇండియా): Awarded by the British.
• Rustum-i-Dauran (రుస్తుమీ దౌరాన్).
• Sultan-ul-Uloom (సుల్తానుల్ ఉలూమ్ - Sultan of Knowledge/Sciences, likely linked to OU establishment).
• Faithful Ally (విశ్వాసనీయ మిత్రుడు / ఫెయిత్ ఫుల్ అలీ): Title given by the British, reflecting his support during World War I (1914-18) and World War II (1939-45).

Miscellaneous

• Recognized as the world's richest man by TIME Magazine on its cover dated February 22, 1937.
• Famously used the valuable Jacob Diamond (జాకబ్ డైమండ్) as a paperweight (పేపర్ వెయిట్ గా ఉపయోగించాడు).
• The letter 'Z' (జెడ్ అనే అక్షరం) was used on state RTC bus numbers (రాష్ట్ర ఆర్టీసీ బస్సు నెంబర్ల మీద) in honour of his mother, Zehrunisa. Associated location: Imlibun (ఇమ్లీబన్ - Tamarind Grove).
• Quote attributed to Sarojini Naidu praising his intelligence:
  "దేవుడు దిగవంత రాజుకు దిల్ ఇచ్చాడు, మీకు దిమాక్ ఇచ్చాడు" (God gave the past king heart, but gave you 'Dimakh' [brain/intellect]).