Hyderabad Heritage Structures

[Babji]

AREA: 213,190 km2 PRIVY PURSE: 5,000,000R ACCESSION: 25th January 1950
STATE: Hyderabad DYNASTY: Qamarid/Asaf Jahi RELIGION: Muslim (Sunni)
PRESENT RULER: H.E.H. Nizam al-Molk Fath Jang BARKAT ALI KHAN MUKARRAM JAH ASAF JAH VIII (1967/-)(Bella Vista Palace, Hyderabad -500082, Andhra Pradesh, India)

born 1933, educated at Harrow School 1948/1952, married 1stly 1959 (div.), Esra Birgin, born 1938, married 2ndly, 1979 (div.), Helen Simmons [Ayesha Jah], born 26th August 1948, died 13th May 1989, married 3rdly August 1990 (div. 1994) (as her second husband), Manolya Onur, born 1954, a former Miss Turkey (1975), married 4thly (div. 1995), Jamila, a 22 year old from Morrocco, married 5thly, Orchid, a Turkish lady, and has issue.

Sahibzada Azmet Jah (by Esra), born 1960.
Sahibzadi Shehkyer Jah (by Esra), born 1964.
Sahibzada Alexander Azam Jah (by Helen), born 1979.
Sahibzada Mohammad Umar Jah (by Helen), born 1983.
Sahibzadi Nilofur Jah (by Manolya), born 27th March 1991.



(1) Hyd Princely State ......... (2) Asaf Jah 1 .......... (3) Asaf Jah 2 ........... (4) Asaf Jah 3

PREDECESSORS and SHORT HISTORY: Founded circa 1725. Rulers were...
QAMAR ad-DIN CHIN QILIJ KHAN NIZAM ul-MULK FATEH JUNG ASAF JAH I 1725/1748 , born 11th August 1671, Governor of Bijaipur, subedar of six provinces of the Deccan and faujdar of Karnatak. Nizam-Ul-Mulk never openly claimed independence of the Deccan from the central government. From 1724 he carried on the government of the six subas of the Deccan without any reference to Delhi, unhampered in the exercise of all the sovereign attributes of a state., he advised his successor to keep intact the traditional relations of loyalty with the imperial government, married and had issue, six sons. He died 22nd May 1748 and was buried at Khuldabad.
MUHAMMED NASIR JANG MIR AHMAD (qv)
ASAJ ad-DOWLA MIR ALI SALABAT (qv)
GHAZI ad-DIN (qv)
Mir Basalat Jang

Mir Mughal, died 1775.
NIZAM ALI KHAN ASAF JAH II (qv)
Daughter, married and had issue.
MUHYI ad-DIN MUZAFFAR JANG (qv)
1a. MUHAMMED NASIR JANG MIR AHMAD 1748/1750, died 5th December 1750.
1b. MUHYI ad-DIN MUZAFFAR JANG 1750/1751, died 1751.
1c. GHAZI ad-DIN 1751/1752 (in rebellion), died 16th October 1752. Ancestor of the Nawabs of Baoni.
1d. ASAJ ad-DOWLA MIR ALI SALABAT 1751/1763, died 1763.

NIZAM ALI KHAN ASAF JAH II 1763/1803 , born 24th February 1734. After the treaty of 1798 Bolarum became one of the largest British cantonments in the south. Nizam Ali Khan was the absolute sovereign of the state as mughal Subedar of the Deccan. Territories were given on contracts and the contractors were known as Taluqdars. They maintained troops for the protection of the Nizam in the Districts. The whole territory of the state was divided mainly into three categories namely "Khalsa", "Paigah" and Jagirs, married and had issue. He died 6th August 1803 and was buried at Mecca Masjid by the side of his mother Umda Begum.
MIR AKBAR ALI KHAN SIKANDER JAH ASAF JAH III (qv)
Mir Ali Jah, died 1795.
Mir Subhan Ali
Mir Ahmad Ali
Bashirunissa Begum, married Fakhruddin Khan Amir-e-Kabir Shams ul-Umra II, born 1781, died 1863 and had issue.
Mir Zulfiqar Ali Khan Taymur Jang Nasiruddaula Zulfiqar Malik-e-Jan-Dar-Jha, married and had issue...

MIR AKBAR ALI KHAN SIKANDER JAH ASAF JAH III 1803/1829 , born 11th November 1768. There was no treaty between the Nizam and the British for the maintenance of the Contingent. He allowed the state to go into debt , borrowing money at 25% interest, which resulted in the Nizam losing a substantial amount of territory to William Palmer & Company. The Nizam wavied the Peshkash (tribute) of Rs.7 lakh per annum, which the company was paying on account of Northern Circars. The death of his favorite daughter in 1826 gave Sikander Jah a great shock that slowly led to his death on Thursday 21st May 1829, 9 sons and 10 daughters survived him, including.
NASER ad-DOWLA FARKHUNDA ALI KHAN ASAF JAH IV (qv)
Mir Gawhar Ali Khan Mubarizuddaula, died 1854.
Zulfiqar ul-Mulk
Sham samul-Mulk


NASER ad-DOWLA FARKHUNDA ALI KHAN ASAF JAH IV 1829/1857 , born 25th April 1794 in Bidar. In 1853 when General Fraser left Hyderabad and in his place General C.B. Low took over as the Resident, he received a message from Lord Dalhousie to inform the Nizam to pay sixty-four lakh rupees which were due to the British for maintaining the Contingent. On 20th May 1853 a new treaty was concluded by which the strength of the Contingent force was settled for its payments. The Contingent ceased to be a part of the Nizam's Army and became an auxiliary force kept by the British Government for the benefit of Hyderabad State, married and had issue. He died 18th May 1857.
MIR TAHNIATH ALI KHAN AFZAL ad-DOWLA MAHBUB ALI KHAN ASAF JAH V (qv)
Roshanuddaula


MIR TAHNIATH ALI KHAN AFZAL ad-DOWLA MAHBUB ALI KHAN ASAF JAH V 1857/1869 , born 11th October 1827. On 31st August 1861 the order of the Star of India was conferred on Nawab Afzal-ud-Daula. Dominion was divided into five Subas and sixteen districts. Each Suba was headed by a Subedar and each district was under a Taluqdar. During the reign of Nawab Afzal-ud-Daula, the reforms carried out by Sir Salar Jung included the establishment of a Government central treasury in 1855. He died 26th February 1869.

Lt.Gen. HH MUZAFFAR ul-MAMALIK NIZAM ul-MULK NIZAM ad-DOWLA Nawab Mir Sir MAHBUB ALI KHAN Bahadur Fath Jang ASAF JAH VI 1869/1911 (son), born 17th August 1866, G.C.B., G.C.S.I., Lt.Gen. (Hon.) 1910. On 5th November 1902 an agreement was signed by the Nizam's government assigning Berar districts to the British on lease on payment of Rs.25 lakh per annum. "In the Nizam's dominion, medical treatment and medical education reached a high standard of excellence. Here was held the famous chloroform commission which was due to the liberality and scientific interest of the Nizam and the energy and enthusiasm of Dr.Lawrie, the presidency surgeon". "British Medical Journal 1895". In 1893 Mahboob Ali Khan announced a major reform in the constitution of the government through an edict called "Qanunche Mubarick". On 5th May 1905 Victoria Memorial Orphanage was established in memory of Queen Victoria. In 1878 Madrasa-I-Aliya was founded and in 1908 the Mahboobia girls school was set up. On Tuesday 28th September 1908 Hyderabad witnessed disastrous floods of the river musi, flowing through the city. On 5th February 1885 her majesty the queen empress conferred upon his highness the honour of grand commander of the star of India. His highness had a sudden stroke of paralysis and succumbed to it at 12:30 p.m at Falaknuma palace on Tuesday, August 29 1911 at the age of 46 years. He married a number of times and had issue.
Lt.Gen. H.E.H. Asaf Jah Muzaffar-ul-Mamalik Nizam-ul-Mulk Nizam-ud-Daula Nawab Mir Sir OSMAN ALI KHAN Bahadur Fath Jang ASAF JAH VII (by Amat uz-Zehra Begum) (qv)
Sahibzadi Dawudunissa Begum (5th daughter), married Monaziruddin Khan Nazir Jung Paigah and had issue.


(5) Mir Osman Ali Khan ......... (6) Mukarram Jah ................. (7) Mukarram Jah

Lt.Gen. H.E.H. Asaf Jah Muzaffar-ul-Mamalik Nizam-ul-Mulk Nizam-ud-Daula Nawab Mir Sir OSMAN ALI KHAN Bahadur Fath Jang ASAF JAH VII 1911/1967, Mir Osman Ali Khan was born in Hyderabad on 6th April 1886 at Purani Haveli, educated privately, G.C.S.I. [cr.1911], G.B.E. (civil) [cr.1917]. Mir Osman Ali Khan was a great scholar and wrote poetry in Urdu and Persian. On 14th April 1906 he was married to Dulhan Pasha Begum, daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung at Eden Bagh at the age of 21. In 1911 Mir Osman Ali Khan was proclaimed the Nizam by Nawab Shahab Jung, the Minister of police.In 1912 Maharaja sir Kishen Pershad resigned as the Prime Minister and in his place Nawab Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III was appointed as the Prime Minister. In 1914 Salar Jung resigned and the Nizam took the administration. Under the first head may be mentioned the despatch of the Hyderabad Imperial Service cavalry to Egypt in 1914. His exalted highness was the honorary Colonel of the 20 Deccan Horse. In 1918, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan was elevated by King George V from "His Highness" to "His Exalted Highness". In a letter dated 24th January, 1918, the title "Faithful Ally of the British Government" was conferred on him, married and had issue. He died 24th February 1967.
HH Walashan Nawab Sir Mir Himayat Ali Khan Azam Jah, Prince of Berar, born 22nd February 1907, married 12th November 1931 in Nice, HIH Princess Dürrühsehvar Sultana of Turkey, died 7th February 2006 in London, and had issue. He died 9th October 1970.
H.E.H. Nizam al-Molk Fath Jang BARKAT ALI KHAN MUKARRAM JAH ASAF JAH VIII (qv)
Mir Keramat Ali Khan Muffakham Jah, born 1935, educated at Harrow School 1952/1957
Sahibzada Nawab Muazam Jah, born 22nd December 1907, married 12th November 1931 in Nice, Princess Nilüfer Hanim Sultana of Turkey, and had issue.
SON, married Fatima Fouzia, and had issue.
Sahibzada Himayat Ali Mirza
Sahibzada Dilshad Jah


H.E.H. Nizam al-Molk Fath Jang BARKAT ALI KHAN MUKARRAM JAH ASAF JAH VIII (see above)

[Babji]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1657879.stm
By Omer Farooq in Hyderabad

Arrangements have been made in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad for the display of the spectacular collection of jewels owned by the Nizams of Hyderabad.

The jewellery collection has returned to its home for public display after more than four decades.



Nizams' gems
Jacob Diamond - valued at $84.89m
One necklace has 370 pearls
A diamond belt weighs 640 carats
A ring is made of the rare Alexandrite

The jewels will be displayed at the world famous Salar Jung Museum.

The Director of the Museum, A K V S Reddy, said all possible steps are being taken to ensure that the visitors get a close look at the 173 piece collection of gems and jewellery.

The market value of the jewels is estimated at $2bn.

The exhibition is due to begin on 24 November and continue for two months.
"Special attention would be paid to bring out the beauty and glorious history of this collection," Mr Reddy said.
He said the visitors would also be shown slides explaining the background and the history of each jewel on the collection.

The museum has imported a special fibre optic lighting system for the exhibition from the US and 29 show cases have been imported from Belgium for the display, he said.

The Museum has spent about Rs 20m (approx $500,000) on the arrangements.

Police and soldiers:

Tight security arrangements have been made around the museum.
The Jacob Diamond is nearly twice the size of the Kohinoor
Police and soldiers of the paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force have been deployed to guard the jewels.
The collection belonged to the Nizams, once the rulers of the princely state of Hyderabad.

One of the highlights of the collection is the Jacob Diamond - ranked seventh in the world. it is almost twice the size of the famous Kohinoor diamond in London.

The Indian Government has fought a long legal battle to stop the collection being sold overseas.
The jewels have been brought in from Delhi where they were on display for six weeks.

[Babji]

The Telegraph Issue Date: Saturday, January 29, 2005
Nizam opens his palace gates, for Rs 50

Hyderabad, Jan. 28: The last Nizam of Hyderabad, Prince Mukaram Jah, threw open the doors of a palace this evening to give commoners a peek into royal life. For a price, of course.

The Chow Mohalla Palace, with its long corridors woven around four bungalows, stands in the heart of the walled city of Hyderabad, a stone’s throw from Charminar and Mecca Mosque.

“The rich heritage of my ancestors and the Deccan lie hidden in the closed vaults of my palaces,” said the prince. But necessity could well have been the mother of his move to allow outsiders into the palace precinct.

Visitors to Chow Mohalla during the day will have to pay Rs 50 for entry and Rs 100 in the evenings. Foreigners would be charged Rs 150...

Accompanied by his fourth wife, Princess Esra, and children Azmath Jah and Shekyr, Mukaram Jah formally launched a grand exhibition at the palace this evening.

But whatever the reason behind the opening of the palace doors, what is on offer is tantalising.

At the centre of the complex is Khilawat Mubarak, the durbar hall on which flutters the Nizam’s flag and the marble throne replete with gold and silver work...

“The palace had a vast garden giving a clear view of the Charminar and Mecca Mosque.” Not any longer.

On display at Chow Mohalla from today would be gold and silver-embroidered dresses that the Nizams and their wives wore. “Some of them weigh over 10 kg,” says Rahul Mehrotra, one of the curators...

The total value of the paintings, crockery, arms, costumes, furniture and automobiles in the palace is conservatively assessed at over Rs 220 crore.

At a programme attended by members of the family and top officials, the princess hinted that Falaknuma Palace, nestled on a hillock about 5 km from Charminar, is also likely to be thrown open. A part of the palace is now in the custody of the Taj group of hotels and another portion with the government, where official dinners are hosted for foreign dignitaries
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URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/04/s...0417160200.htm

Court seeks status report on construction around Chowmohalla

Hyderabad Collector, Director of Archaeology and Museums visit two palaces on directive from High Court
Chowmohalla's chief coordinator asked to furnish a list of the articles within three days

Hyderabad: Was it a wild goose chase? In retrospect, it appeared so. There were no startling revelations. An intense four-hour inspection of the Nizam's palaces disclosed nothing, which was not already known.

Hyderabad Collector R. Chandravadan, and Director, Archaeology and Museums, Kedareswari, made a detailed inspection of the famed Chowmohalla palace and the Chiran palace on Monday following a directive by the Chief Justice of the High Court. In response to a petition, the court ordered the Collector to personally visit the palace within 72 hours to ensure that all the artefacts were preserved and protected.

Status report sought
It all happened when the court was dealing with a writ petition filed by conservation architect Vasanta Sobha Turaga, seeking declaration of the former British Residency complex at Koti as a national protected monument. At this juncture, senior advocate K.G. Kannabiran brought to the court's notice that a few vintage cars, horse-drawn carriages and artefacts were lying in the Chowmohalla palace which were likely to be `damaged, stolen or fettered away.'

The court also took notice of the construction activity around Chowmohalla palace and directed MCH standing counsel G. Rama Rao to submit a comprehensive status report. The case was posted for Tuesday.

Mr. Chandravadan and Ms. Kedareswari went round the sprawling Chowmohalla palace and saw the restoration of the `buggies'. They also visited the Darbar hall and examined the huge chandeliers. But in the absence of an inventory of the palace articles they were at a loss to crosscheck what was originally present and now missing. The palace's chief coordinator, Bakhtiar A. Ansari, was asked to furnish a list of the articles within three days.

No satisfactory reply
The Collector couldn't get a satisfactory reply about the contents of eight huge safes present in the verandah. "I don't have the keys and I am not aware what is contained in them," Mr. Ansari said.

He said some of the articles were kept in stores and once the renovation of the palaces was complete they would be displayed. Mr. Ansari also said that six cars were shifted from here to the Chiran palace for protection.

The Chowmohalla palace was not protected but the court had asked the Government to take steps to protect all heritage whether protected or not, the Collector said.

[Babji]

http://www.deccan.com/home/homedetai...ods%20villages
Rats live in Nizam’s cars
(another version of the same story as in previous posting - with some more interesting details)

Hyderabad, July 3: An AP High Court-ordered visit to the Chiran Palace left Hyderabad collector R.V Chandravadan and commissioner (archaeology and museums) J. Kedareshwari shocked at the plight of Prince Mukarram Jah’s most prized possessions — his collection of vintage cars. Parked in a huge shed with a leaking roof and broken door were a 1909 Rolls Royce, two Napiers, a Fiat and a Wellesley. The vehicles were covered with plastic, the rich upholstery had been eaten away by rodents which seem to be living there and the chassis was rusting.

Besides these vintage vehicles there were six cars including two Fords and a Buick convertible locked up in other garages. They were in comparatively better condition. A Michigan Loader too stood outside the garage. Prince Mukarram Jah was fond of working in the fields with the loader, family sources said. The palace authorities said “all these cars will be repaired and restored and placed at Chowmohalla Palace.”

The two government officials had visited the Chiran Palace after their trip to Chowmohalla. The High Court had ordered the two government officials to undertake a surprise visit to the Chowmohalla Palace and inspect the valuables there. They were told by a Chowmohalla official that the cars were kept in Chiran Palace for “security reasons.”

The government officials had little information on the ownership of Chiran properties which is now located inside the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park. A source close to the Nizam’s family told this correspondent that Prince Mukarram Jah, while he was in Hyderabad, used to keep his vintage cars in good condition and “inspect them personally.”

Authorities have sought an inventory of artifacts and objects of antique value in the Chowmohalla Palace to ensure their ‘protection and preservation’. Mr Chandravadan and Ms Kedareshwari demanded the list within three days. This surprised palace custodians who wondered whether the government had the right to seek such an inventory. Ms Vasanta Sobha Turaga, a conservation architect, had filed a public interest litigation last March complaining about the neglect of the palace. After inspecting the palace, the collector interacted with Bakhtiar A. Ansari, in-charge of the palace restoration project. Mr Ansari had no clue as to the where the keys to the eight huge iron safes were kept.

However, he informed officials that six vintage cars had been shifted to Chiran Palace for security reasons. Following this, the collector and the commissioner visited Chiran Palace and found five vintage vehicles including a Rolls Royce and six other cars. At Chowmohalla Palace, where restoration work is in progress, Mr Ansari took the officials around and showed them the condition of various artifacts. He also informed the officials that at the orders of Prince Mukarram Jah a palace restoration project of Rs 10 crore was launched about four years ago.

Though the custodians agreed to present the list, they pointed out that the palace was the private property of Prince Mukarram. “How will they verify what is missing in the absence of other records?” asked a palace official. “Is the Prince legally bound to present a record of privately-owne valuables?” Initially, palace officials thought that the collector had come to examine the illegal constructions that have been coming up adjacent to the palace walls.

MCH Commissioner Sanjay Jaju said that efforts to prevent illegal construction had resulted in confrontation with the local population. “We are trying to find a solution to the problem,” he said.
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as always, the Nizam's information in GoAP's books is alwyas minimal and ambiguous and incomplete.
Poor Govt officials - they could only do so much. We can't blame them.
The responsible citizens (and the netas) of the gretest democracy should cooperate with the Govt too!.

[Babji]

The life and times of HEH
SHINE DIGHE AND CHARISMA MURARI
[ Monday, July 03, 2006 11:05:25 pmTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

Sarkar to many, HEH to most, the eighth Nizam of Hyderabad is as much an enigma as he is the beloved king who is the focus of many conversations these days.

The Person

While his admirers describe Mukkaram Jah as being extremely private, simple, forthright, innovative and refined, his detractors say he did nothing for Hyderabad, instead squandered his rich inheritance in a bid to settle family disputes.

Subhash Patel, a retired manager with the department of tourism who was born when Hyderabad was a state in its own right, says, "I take great pride in being born when Hyderabad was not under the government of India. We had our own currency, our own language, culture and heritage. Mir Osman Ali Khan did a lot for the State.

He set up universities, hospitals, waterworks etc. When HEH (His Exalted Highness) Mukarram Jah got his inheritance, he was easily one of the richest men of all time. It baffles me as to how he got into such a financial mess."

Indeed the wealth has dwindled, but the man once again became the focal point of coffee table discussions after the settlement hearing with his third wife Princess Manolya Onur concluded in a family court.

Writer/poet and former advisor to HEH Nizam VIII, Scheherazade Javeri, states, "Fourteen crore (the agreement reached) is still not a sum that would be difficult for the Nizam to pay up.

Of course, the agreement was made 12 years ago and the sum was decided then, but the cost and standard of living have changed now."

Privy purses may have been revoked decades ago, but the HEH is still the beloved king to many Hyderabadis. "The greenest patch in the heart of the city — the KBR Park — was his creation but he has not been given credit for making it.

To me, after God he is the creator," says Faiz Khan, member of the Paigah family who is also an ardent admirer. The Purani Haveli is used as the Mukkaram Jah School of learning.

Historian and author Narender Luther narrates an instance when he met the Nizam who was in his 30s at that time. "I met him when he was presiding over a school function.

He was polite and struck an instant rapport with people, who stood in awe of him." Mukkaram Jah's love for weapons, cars and machinery is legendary. He was known to spend hours working on the machinery in his ranch in Australia...

A very hands-on man, the former Nizam was also very strong and could lift a jeep unaided. He could speak many languages and he enjoyed a close proximity to Pandit Nehru.

"The Nizam could make no trip directly to Hyderabad from London without a stopover at Delhi. Panditji would insist on this," says a family friend. Mukkaram Jah also is highly regarded and respected by the current royal family of Saudi Arabia.

The Nizams of Hyderabad financed the Saudi rulers during their early days, and even had a trust to support them. In fact, even today the Nizam's Rubath (boarding facilities) for Haj pilgrims in Mecca and Madina is one of the best.

People close to him talk about his subtle sense of humour that is very typical of the British. Recalls a trustee of the Nizam's Trust, "When people wished him on his 50th birthday, reminding him of his age, he said, '50 is the youth of the old age'."

Apparently, Jackie Kennedy, wife of the late US president John F Kennedy was among those who attended that party. A teetotaler, Mukkaram Jah enjoyed good food.

"Even if he is dining by himself, he likes to see an exhaustive spread. He would be dressed for the occasion, and would be seated at the dinner table on the dot," says another trustee of the Nizam's trust.

The King

Described as a very modern member of the royal family, Mukkaram Jah was chosen by his grandfather as the heir-apparent. However, unlike his grandfather who was a simple man, Mukkaram Jah was exposed to the world and had the best education.

He lived in London, studied at Cambridge and travelled the world. He married five times. Interestingly, contrary to popular belief that suggests that he was never married to more than one woman at one time, Javeri points out, "He had to divorce Princess Esra to marry Helen because he had married her under civil law, which does not allow polygamy. He also married Helen under Australian civil law.

There was a nikah with Princess Manolya in Hyderabad under the Muslim Law, and he gave her a talaaq-e-awwal, which is revocable. During the marriage to Princess Manolya, he married Princess Jamilia also under the Muslim Law.

He divorced Jamilia in Australia by giving her a full and final talaaq, and subsequently Princess Orchid under the Muslim Law in Hyderabad.

While he was not one to scoff at the pomp that was associated with royalty, he accepted that times were changing and was aware that royalty was only symbolic in this day and age.

"He was born to rule, not to do business," says an admirer when questioned about the various business ventures started by the Nizam had failed. The Nizam never stayed in Hyderabad for long periods.

"Former chief minister Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, once asked him to come back and settle in Hyderabad. 'I can't work with my hands here' was his prompt reply," elaborates the trustee.

He started living in Antalya, Turkey after his sheep farm in Australia was taken over. He was declared bankrupt in Australia in 1990. A close aide says, "He owes a lot of people a lot of money in Australia but he is owed billions by lots of people too...

...


The British government owes him money in lieu of the loans he offered during the World Wars, and the Indian government in lieu of loans he offered during the China war."

The Wealth

"I don't think even His Highness knows the value of his assets and properties," says a close aide of the Nizam. "Jab haathi baithta hai, tab bhi ghode se uncha hotha hai," is how he explains the magnitude of his wealth.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad (1886-1967) was the richest man in the world for the first 50 years of the 20th century, and he bequeathed a lion's share of all his wealth to his grandson, Mukkaram Jah.

Also, in the 1930's the last Nizam was said to have 100 million (GBP) worth of gold and silver, and a further 400 million pounds worth of jewels.

He placed his collection of jewels, stated unofficially at the time to have been worth between 13,000,000 and 15,000,000 pounds, under trust, dividing them into two groups: the first was made up of forty pieces which the trustees could sell; the second and slightly larger group consisted of pieces that were not for sale, unless, in the Nizam's own words, some unforeseen calamity should befall his family.

After a series of legal wrangles, the Indian government bought the famed Nizam's jewellery collection for Rs 218 crores of which 180 was Mukkaram Jah's share. The government has now declared it to be worth Rs 20,000 crore."

He is reported to be the owner of seven palaces in India and has assets worth hundreds of million dollars. The Murchison sheep station in Perth, Australia where Mukkaram Jah lived for 21 years with his Australian wife Helen Simmons was a sprawling estate.

At the farm, he had the largest bulldozer ever ordered by a civilian. A family friend of the Nizam pointed out that it took a helicopter about 20 minutes to cross the ranch.

Nizams of Hyderabad

QAMAR ad-DIN CHIN QILIJ KHAN NIZAM ul-MULK FATEH JUNG ASAF JAH I 1725-1748

NIZAM ALI KHAN ASAF JAH II 1763-1803

MIR AKBAR ALI KHAN SIKANDER JAH ASAF JAH III
1803-1829

NASER ad-DOWLA FARKHUNDA ALI KHAN ASAF JAH IV 1829-1857

MIR TAHNIATH ALI KHAN AFZAL ad-DOWLA MAHBUB ALI Pasha ASAF JAH V
1857-1869

Lt.Gen. HH MUZAFFAR ul-MAMALIK NIZAM ul-MULK NIZAM ad-DOWLA Nawab Mir Sir MAHBUB ALI Pasha Bahadur Fath Jang ASAF JAH VI 1869-1911

Lt.Gen. H.E.H. Asaf Jah Muzaffar-ul-Mamalik Nizam-ul-Mulk Nizam-ud-Daula Nawab Mir Sir OSMAN ALI KHAN Bahadur Fath Jang ASAF JAH VII

Nawab Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah Bahadur Nizam VII

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/...2500270300.htm

The prince and the palace

From palace to guesthouse to management college, Bella Vista has played host to royalty and commoner alike



FROM A luxurious palace known for a philandering prince's daily dose of revelries and his infamous "nocturnal courts", to the country's premier management training college where practising managers hone their managerial skills, is quite an eye-brow raising transformation.

That's Bella Vista for you, the Indo-European building standing on a ten-acre verdant campus, housing the prestigious Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), our own "Hussain Sagar Lake front Henley" (ASCI is modelled after a similar college, Henley-on-Thames in England). The palace was christened "Bella Vista" by the French architect, as its location, close to Khairatabad junction on Raj Bhavan Road, afforded a "beautiful view" of the lake, now of course obstructed by a large slum and a flyover.

It was in this palace that the heir apparent to the masnad (throne) of Hyderabad, Prince of Berar, Nawab Mir Himayat Ali Khan, Azam Jah Bahadur, the elder son of the Seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, stayed. The palace played host to all the dramatic events that typified the royalty of yore - luxuries with "women swarming all around", intrigues, failed coups, shattered dreams and a disgusted princess leaving the palace in a huff with her children in tow.

Built in 1910, a lot of modifications and additions were made to the original building that belonged to a judge. The first addition was when Sir Ali Imam, the Prime Minister was allotted the bungalow. When it was turned over to the Prince, it was refurbished and expanded, adding two tennis courts, a regular swimming pool for the Princess and "a baby pool" for the Prince who had a phobia for water. While the pool and tennis courts remain intact, the "baby pool" has made way for the library while a few more hostel buildings have come up, a little away from the main building.

The two-storeyed listed building is characterised by its sweeping semi-circular arches and perfect proportions. No permanent changes were made to its interiors and a concerted effort is made to retain the original character, a good enough reason for it to get the HUDA-INTACH award. The building still has parquet flooring in its major halls, earlier used as dance floors. One of them is now used as a dining hall and another, a lecture hall. Tree-lined manicured lawns on the rear side of the building lend a soothing effect to the campus. A feature of the campus is the air-raid shelter with an underground passage from the Prince's room to the exit gate. Some classic photographs taken by Raja Deen Dayal now decorate the walls of deep corridors.

The principal player of all the goings-on at Bella Vista, some of which left the Nizam red-faced, was Prince Azam Jah. "The Prince born to rule, became the Nizam who wasn't and his frustration showed in all his actions," recalls, Narendra Luther, former IAS officer and noted writer, who brought out an interesting booklet on the Prince and his stay at Bella Vista. "The Prince turned it into a pleasure house and there was no end to the revelries. Night became day and day, night. There were rooms specially made to create darkness at noon".

Pampered to the hilt, Azam Jah born in February 1907 was groomed to become the next Nizam. He was granted the title of Prince of Berar in 1936 under an agreement with the British, though Berar ceased to be part of Hyderabad State in 1853. Obviously it was the British way of satisfying the ego of the Nizam. As a young prince, he led an impressive parade and he was made Commander-in-Chief, a post that enabled him to live in the `official residence' Bella Vista.

The Prince married Dur-e-Shehvar, arguably one of the most beautiful women of her times, the daughter of the former Sultan of Turkey and the last Caliph , Abdul Majid Khan at Nice in France. Simultaneously, his brother, Prince Moazzam Jah, got married to Dur-e-Shevar's cousin, the equally beautiful Niloufer, also at Nice. The Nizam could not attend the marriage but a holiday was declared in Hyderabad. Newspapers brought out special editions. When the couples returned after a tour of Europe, a grand banquet was hosted at Chow Mohalla Palace, where the British Resident, Lt. Col. T.H. Keyes proposed the toast. A few years after the marriage, both cousins, realised their incompatibility with the Princes. Dur-e-Shehvar left with her children, Mukkaram Jah and Muffakham Jah, to London where she still stays and comes to Hyderabad occasionally.

Having got the grand title, the post and the palace, Prince Azam Jah nurtured the dream of becoming the next Nizam. But somewhere down the line, his wayward and lavish lifestyle and his game plans, were frowned upon by the Nizam, who disinherited him and named Azam Jah's elder son, Mukkaram Jah, as his successor. The Prince ended up fighting with his father and later, his son. The Nizam had to issue a farman (royal order) to make the "women of Bella Vista" leave the palace. A famous visitor to the palace during Azam Jah's time was Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

After the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, Bella Vista became a State Guest House. "We continued to hear juicy tales of the Prince and his women," Narender Luther, who stayed there, reminisced. A year later, it was sold to the ASCI and Bella Vista's story took a turn for the better. But it had its share of controversy when it used to be described, in a lighter vein, as "the only college attached to a bar" and the bar was ordered shut on the eve of a visit by the former Prime Minister, Morarji Desai.

How does it feel operating a management college from a heritage building? "It adds to the brand image. Participants prefer it for its old world charm and are prepared to share rooms to be able to stay in the campus," said E.A.S. Sarma, Principal of ASCI. "It is an enchanting place where the memories of a bygone era linger on," his wife Rani Sarma, an ardent heritage aficionado, added.

[Babji]

Nizam to come back?
[ Thursday, July 06, 2006 02:28:55 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: Mukarram Jah is not happy with the recent family court verdict granting mehr to his third wife Manolya Onur. The Nizam who was on a fleeting one-day visit to Hyderabad on Monday, proposes to move the higher courts against this judgement.
The 73-year-old former prince is also toying with the idea of shifting back to Hyderabad with a view to protect Chiran Palace that the forest department wants to acquire.

Speaking to TOI, the Nizam's lawyer Vijay Shankardass who flew in to the city with his client said: "He is obviously not happy with the judgment. He has given a lot to Onur already. He will take appropriate action and challenge all the claims made by her."

The lawyer added: "He is also planning to settle down here, provided he gets the desired privacy. The Chiran Palace is not in a habitable condition. A lot of renovation work is needed. If this is done, the Nizam would be settling here."

The France-born Nizam lives in Turkey at a resort near the Caspian Sea. Although he holds an Indian passport, he has never stayed for long stretches in India since 1980.

The Nizam's decision to shift base comes simultaneously with the forest department's initiative to acquire the Rs 334-crore Chiran Palace and its surrounding land and integrate them into the KBR National Park in the upmarket Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad.

It also comes at a time when Manolya Onur proposes to move court with a fresh petition seeking the Chiran Palace for her daughter Niloufer. Again, the Nizam's visit coincides with a petition being heard in the High Court on the heritage status of Chiran Palace artifacts.

In fact the day Mukarram Jah was in town, the collector of Hyderabad and the director of archaeology under court orders were making an inventory of the belongings in the Palace.

Lawyer Shankardas said his client would move the court as Chiran Palace is private property and its belongings could not be tagged heritage or taken over by the government.

Shankardass also sought to clarify that though the forest department wanted to consolidate the scattered pieces of Nizam property within the KBR Park, the Nizam had made no promises to give up the Chiran Palace and the surrounding land inside to the government in return for the same amount of land elsewhere.

The Chiran Palace was home for Mukarram Jah during his early school days, between 1965-1980
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome home, Prince Mukarram Jah!

[Babji]

Mir Osman Ali Khan (Nizam 7) ... Prince Mukarram Jah (Nizam 8) ... Manolya Onur and daughter Niloufer

The Chiran Palace! The least known treasure and the most closely gaurded fortress of Hyd.
Looks like there is long and interesting story building up around the Chiran Palace.
Lets wait and see how it unfolds!.

[Babji]

04/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/04/s...0417180200.htm

Timeless classics gone to seed

Five vintage cars of the Nizam are stashed away in a rundown tiled garage inside the Chiran Palace at Jubilee Hills Five vintage cars of the Nizam are stashed away in a rundown tiled garage inside the Chiran Palace at Jubilee Hills


AGELESS BEAUTY: The Rolls Royce used by the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, being inspected by Hyderabad Collector R. V. Chandravadan at the Chiran Palace on Monday. The insignia of the Nizam is seen on the bonnet of the car. - Photo: P.V.Siva kumar


Hyderabad: They still set hearts aflutter. They may not be gleaming, but ravishing they are. Timeless classics. Yes, five vintage cars are stashed away in a rundown tiled garage inside the Chiran Palace at Jubilee Hills.

Just a kilometre inside the sprawling palace is the old `motorkhana'. The upholstery is in tatters, the shine has faded and yet they carry the stamp of royalty. Hyderabad Collector R. Chandravadan, and Director, Archaeology and Museums, Kedareswari, visited the Chiran Palace on Monday to inspect the vintage cars following the directive of the High Court.

Royal insignia
The old beauties include a Rolls Royce and a Fiat with the Nizam's `dastar' on the bonnet and his insignia engraved on the door.

There were also a Nissan, a green Buick, a jeep and a black Ford with the plaque `King Kothi' inscribed in other garages. Ms. Kedareswari detectd a silver insignia of the Asaf Jahis on a broken car. The officials took pictures of the vehicles for presenting to the court.

Securitymen prevented the Collector from entering the palace gate stating that it was private property. There was some confusion with the Divisional Forest Officer maintaining that it was Government land and the security men stating that it was not. An irate Collector asked the officials to remove the iron gate at the entrance of the palace as it was erected on Government land.

Position explained
The DFO explained that Mukarram Jah Bahadur, grandson of the seventh Nizam, had five acres in his possession in the huge palace, including 19 structures spread at different places.

Earlier, the security personnel refused to allow presspersons to accompany the officials.

It was only after intervention of their higher-ups that they relented.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/05/s...0506430200.htm

Court seeks status report on construction around Chowmohalla

Hyderabad Collector, Director of Archaeology and Museums visit two palaces on directive from High Court
Chowmohalla's chief coordinator asked to furnish a list of the articles within three days

Hyderabad: Was it a wild goose chase? In retrospect, it appeared so. There were no startling revelations. An intense four-hour inspection of the Nizam's palaces disclosed nothing, which was not already known.

Hyderabad Collector R. Chandravadan, and Director, Archaeology and Museums, Kedareswari, made a detailed inspection of the famed Chowmohalla palace and the Chiran palace on Monday following a directive by the Chief Justice of the High Court. In response to a petition, the court ordered the Collector to personally visit the palace within 72 hours to ensure that all the artefacts were preserved and protected.

Status report sought
It all happened when the court was dealing with a writ petition filed by conservation architect Vasanta Sobha Turaga, seeking declaration of the former British Residency complex at Koti as a national protected monument. At this juncture, senior advocate K.G. Kannabiran brought to the court's notice that a few vintage cars, horse-drawn carriages and artefacts were lying in the Chowmohalla palace which were likely to be `damaged, stolen or fettered away.'

The court also took notice of the construction activity around Chowmohalla palace and directed MCH standing counsel G. Rama Rao to submit a comprehensive status report. The case was posted for Tuesday.

Mr. Chandravadan and Ms. Kedareswari went round the sprawling Chowmohalla palace and saw the restoration of the `buggies'. They also visited the Darbar hall and examined the huge chandeliers. But in the absence of an inventory of the palace articles they were at a loss to crosscheck what was originally present and now missing. The palace's chief coordinator, Bakhtiar A. Ansari, was asked to furnish a list of the articles within three days.

No satisfactory reply
The Collector couldn't get a satisfactory reply about the contents of eight huge safes present in the verandah. He said some of the articles were kept in stores and once the renovation of the palaces was complete they would be displayed. Mr. Ansari also said that six cars were shifted from here to the Chiran palace for protection.

The Chowmohalla palace was not protected but the court had asked the Government to take steps to protect all heritage whether protected or not, the Collector said.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/13/s...1318520400.htm

Bid to get world heritage tag for Qutb Shahi tombs


SHIMMERING IN GLORY: With the Government initiating efforts to get World Heritage status, the architectural splendour of the tombs will get a major boost. - Photo: Satish H .


HYDERABAD: Quli Qutb Shahi tombs, a popular heritage-cum-tourist site, will be promoted as one of heritage sites for World Heritage status.

Though renowned monuments such as the Charminar and Mecca Masjid are awaiting the prestigious recognition, the Government has initiated efforts to include Quli Qutb Shahi cluster too in the list to be submitted to the world body.

A unique heritage monument where six of seven Quli Qutb Shahi dynasty rulers were buried, the tombs and gardens are acclaimed for their historical and architectural significance, says Archaeology Department Director J. Kedareswari. More importantly, the cluster includes the famous Golkonda fort.

The Secretary, Tourism, Archaeology and Culture deputed two officials from the Department of Archaeology for a seminar organised by the Archaeological Survey of India in Chennai to make a representation on the cluster that also comprises Taramati Baradari, Premavathi mosque, Hakimpet Sarai and Sheikpet Sarai.

[Babji]

Move to get world heritage tag for Qutub Shahi tombs

HYDERABAD: The Central Government has given its nod to the State Government to propose the architectural marvel of Qutub Shahi Tombs for World Heritage Site status. It has already approved of the State’s proposal to put forth Golconda Fort for the same status.

This was disclosed by principal secretary (Archaeology, Tourism & Culture) Chitra Ramachandran at a two-day seminar on ‘Conservation Management and Cultural Tourism: Challenges faced by the Heritage Managers.’ The two-day seminar organised by the Department of Archaeology in collaboration with the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) concluded here on Sunday.

Participating in the seminar on the first day, Hossein Ravesh, Consul-General of Islamic Republic of Iran, Hyderabad, said that the government of Iran was keen on extending the expertise of its culture and archaeology departments for preserving historical monuments in the city.
He pointed out that the Iranians were actively engaged in construction of several monuments in the city and the Indo-Iranian relationship dated back to hundreds of years. The government of Iran was also looking forward to a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh Archaeology Department and would extend all necessary help, Hossein Ravesh said.

Earlier, inaugurating the seminar, chief secretary TK Dewan said the State Government was according top priority to conservation of heritage and ecological balance. He welcomed Iran’s offer of assistance and expertise. The government was very keen on the MoU which would help boost cultural and heritage tourism in the State, he said.

He also pointed out that the State Government was equally committed to restoring ecological balance. It had demolished all the illegal encroachments in the Kolleru lake which would be developed on the lines of the famous Chilka lake.

NUMISMATICS MUSEUM
During the course of the meeting, director of Archaeology Department J Kedareshwari announced that the department would soon set up a numismatics museum in the city. The museum would house around 2.5 lakh coins, including 500 gold coins, she said.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/...3100980200.htm

Chronicling history behind coins

A consortium of coins and currencies, in the form of a sprawling International Numismatics Museum and Research Centre (INMRC) likely to be set up in Hyderabad at the earliest, will prove invaluable to all.



COIN CHRONICLES: Crowds thronged the exhibition to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Saidabad. — Photo: Mohd Yousuf
IN 1919, `Egypt' - a ship on its way from London, sank in a place 100 kilometres off the coast of Marseilles, France. Along with the huge shipment of gold, the ship was carrying an equally huge consignment of `unsigned' currency notes printed at London, for the Nizam of Hyderabad.

In 1933, a different crew salvaged the ship for the gold, and out with it came the currencies - soiled but not spoilt! To mark their accomplishment, the crew members signed all the notes, which would have otherwise been signed by the Nizam's finance minister.

Along with the display of these retrieved notes, the proposed International Numismatics Museum and Research Centre (INMRC), would also showcase badges, that were driving licences issued in 1903 by the Nizam's police department, to be worn on the right hand by the driver. There were only eight cars in Hyderabad then!

Coin moulds in Brahmi script dating back to the seventh century, seals of British Governor Generals, Mughal emperor Akbar's gold half-mohur that depicts Rama and Sita, Jehangir's zodiac coins, watermark papers that were being imported from London to print Indian currencies at Nasik during the time of King George VI, and undated primitive coins from Mohenjedaro and Harappa, are among the thousands of other rare historically inestimable collections that the INMRC will house. In addition to the rarities, the research centre will also contain other fascinating objects such as beads, wampum, dentalia and other commodities, once used as money.

Disclosing that the proposal submitted to the Central Government on setting up a modern numismatics museum in Hyderabad is under "active consideration", Academy for Promotion & Research in Numismatics (APRN) managing trustee, Kanti Kumar Sevak says, "About 60,000 sq.ft. of area is under consideration for the museum, which will be the first and the only one-of-its kind museum in the world."

The APRN had submitted the proposal in 2001, after which it started corresponding with different museums of the country, and even abroad, to form a consortium to help compile and create the exclusive numismatic museum. "Coinage history is very vast. Unless there is coordination and assemblage of knowledge and resources, the research centre can never come to a pass," says Sevak, a professional numismatist, who had recently organised an exhibition of his personal collection at the Saifabad mint which completed 100 years.

The INMRC, besides attracting tourists, is expected to be extremely resourceful for numismatists worldwide who can come and study the different facets of coinage history, seals, medals, tokens and arrange for their proper classification to provide scope for further research.

"We are also pressing our demand to introduce an optional course on numismatic science for college students. In case of that, the research centre will prove invaluable," explains the APRN managing trustee. A state-of-the-art library on the same subject has also been proposed by the academy.

In the blueprint of the proposal are massive halls, where regular exhibitions, film/video shows and slide displays will be held. "We shall also organise periodical seminars, symposiums, conferences, lectures and workshops, on the subject of Numismatics to create public interest in the hobby," says Sevak as he gets enthusiastic, "Just let it come about."

[Babji]

Coins of Hyderabad



Hyderabad

The Princely State of Hyderabad was founded around 1724 when Mir Qamar-ud-Din, the Mughal Viceroy of the Deccan, assumed independence under the title of Asaf Jah and founded the dynasty of the Nizams of Hyderabad. In the post 1857 era, the State of Hyderabad was one of the largest Princely States in India and later came to be known as the 'Dominion of His Exalted Highness, the Nizam'. The State which covered territories presently included in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka was assimilated into the Indian Union in September 1948. In matters of currency and coinage, the coins of the Nizams were issued in the name of the Mughal Emperor till 1858 when a coin legend was introduced with the name of the founder of the state, Asaf Jha. Thereafter, they were struck independently and the new coins were termed the 'Hali Sicca', i.e., the current coins. In 1903-04 coins were machine struck for the first time. These coins featured the Charminar on the obverse with Persian inscription Nizam-ul-mulk Bahadur Asaf Jah around it. The reverse carried the value. These coins confirmed to the British coins in denominations and metals.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/16/s...1623070100.htm

Onur `not very happy'

A SAGA: Manolya Onur, mother of Niloufer, is a picture of emotion on Saturday. Photo: K. Gajendran

Hyderabad: The voice gets choked. Eyes turn misty. "Why should my kid alone suffer when her stepbrothers are having a whale of a time?" she asks talking of her daughter.

It is the moan of Manolya Onur, former wife of the 7th Nizam's grandson, Mukarram Jah Bahadur. She flew into the city on Saturday morning along with her teenaged daughter, Niloufer, to claim her dues. They are visiting the city for the first time after winning the long-drawn legal battle against Mukarram Jah in the Family Court here.

"I am happy that after 11 long years there is some relief. But it is nothing to befit the daughter of the Nizam," she says.

How soon does she expect to get the money? She shrugs and looks up, meaning God-alone-knows. "We are yet to get the written order of the court," remarks Onur looking at her close friend, Sheherazade Javeri.

Plea for equality
The former Miss Turkey pleads `equality' for her daughter with the other children of Mukarram Jah. All his other children were well settled in life and living a luxurious life. "Jah is even paying the expenses of his stepson from Ayesha Orchide, his fifth wife. "Why can't he pay for his own daughter?" wonders Ms. Onur and dubs him selfish.

She recounts the problems in bringing up her daughter in a way befitting a princess. She is taking lessons in piano and riding besides learning several foreign languages. "I am sending her to summer school in Switzerland and it costs heavily," she says.

Ms. Onur blames Esra Birgan, Jah's first wife, for her plight. Till she became his general power of attorney in 1998, they were getting some maintenance and now it had all stopped.

[Hindustani]

Falaknuma Palace / Hyderabad / India is up for Polls

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/19/s...1910870400.htm

Survey reveals rich heritage of Telugu
2.6 lakh manuscripts found; plan to preserve finds through digitisation



ANCIENT TREASURE: A rare collection of manuscripts in Telugu recovered from Rajahmundry.

HYDERABAD: In a survey conducted last February under the National Manuscripts Mission, the Government recovered 262,439 ancient and recent manuscripts written on palm leaves, copper plates and hand-made paper.

A majority of them are in Telugu script and are 300 to 400 years old, indicating the rich heritage of the language. Some are in Persian, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu. The manuscripts, passed on from generation to generation, have been secured from individual families who preserved them all these years and responded to the notice issued by the Government as part of the mission.

Two books in leaves -- Bhisma Parvam of Tikkana Bharatam and Pothana Bhagavatham -- found with two families in Nellore and Warangal, and a `parmana' issued by Chatrapathi Shivaji turned out to be major attractions. The families had kept them in mandirs in the house and worshipped them for years. Enumerators found that some families, unable to preserve such treasures, reluctantly immersed them in tanks.

Among the rare finds are styluses used for engraving letters on the leaf and scrolls.

Other important finds include a manuscript in Devanagari script from Kandakurthi in Nizamabad district, 60 pieces from Hindupur, Dwipada and Gond Bharatam in Gond script from Gumjala in Adilabad distict.

Nizamabad topped the districts with 73,056 manuscripts and Chittoor ranked second with 69,580.

Displaying some of the manuscripts at a press conference on Tuesday, Archaeology and Archives Minister N. Rajyalakshmi and Director of Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Institute Jayadhir Tirumala Rao said some manuscripts could not be immediately acquired.

Another survey

So, another survey would be taken up shortly to know the willingness of the families to part with these pieces of `immeasurable value' to the State's history.

An ambitious plan has been drawn up by the institute to preserve the finds for posterity through digitisation and other means after ascertaining their antiquity.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/s...1221180200.htm

History comes alive at Chowmohalla Palace

Princess Esra, wife of the eighth Nizam, inaugurates the sound and light show



RELIVING GRANDEUR: Artistes taking part in the sound and light show at the Chowmahalla Palace on Thursday. -Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Bathed in moonlight and a rich tapestry of words and music narrating the story of its past, Chowmahalla Palace in the old city shone with the glory and grandeur of the past.

Needless to say, it took people back in time when the palace throbbed with life.

Princess Esra, wife of Mukkaram Jah, eighth Nizam of Hyderabad, inaugurated the sound and light show at Chowmahalla Palace here on Thursday watched in awe by old timers and cultural torchbearers of Hyderabad.

Restoration work: A part of the sprawling 12-acre palace was opened last January while restoration works of the huge southern courtyard still on. "It took five years of painstaking work to restore the palaces of the first courtyard back to their old glory. Efforts are on to make it what it once was, the centre of Hyderabadi cultural life," maintained the Creative Director of Chowmahalla Palace and the man credited with the creation of Shilparamam crafts village, G. Kishen Rao.

Show on weekends: The sound and light show would be organised on the weekends to enable people relive the grandeur of the palace, built in the late eighteenth century and once the seat of power of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

[Babji]

Khaleej Times Online >> News >> SUBCONTINENT

HC orders demolition of illegal structures around Nizam palace

19 July 2006
HYDERABAD — The erstwhile Nizam family of Hyderabad, fighting to save its heritage specially magnificent palaces received a shot in the arm yesterday with the Andhra Pradesh High Court ordering the authorities to pull down the illegal encroachment around the historic Chowmahalla Palace.

Vast stretches of lands were grabbed around the complex of beautiful palaces, once of the seat of power of the Asafjahi rulers of Hyderabad. In some cases the encroachers even used the parapet wall of the palace to build their houses on them.

A division bench comprising of the Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Sitapati ordered the municipal corporation to demolish the illegal structures with the help of the police.

On a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a conservation architect Vasantha Sobha, the court had already issued a stay order last week against any further construction around the palace as they were threatening the very existence of the palaces.

In a criminal act some of the encroachers had even let drains open in the palace area, causing immense damage to the property.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/19/s...1917890200.htm

Buggies are back with a bang


READY FOR THE ROAD! The restored buggies used by the Nizam at the palace. --PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad: They smack of power and pelf. They may be passé, but they still draw sighs of ecstasy.

As a mode of transport, they have long gone out of fashion, but in the `shahi' palaces of Hyderabad the `buggies' are back with a bang.

Elegant and graceful, this symbol of royalty is being revived in the Chowmahalla Palace. Nine horse-drawn carriages and two hand-pulled rickshaws of yore have got a new lease of life. Several others are in various stages of restoration. In sparkling hues of white and yellow, the buggies which once carried the Nizam and his consorts will now be available for lesser mortals to ride.

The bewitching Chowmahalla palace is in the process of being restored to its pristine glory and the buggies are part of this endeavour.

D. Vithal Chary and his team of eight artisans are putting in their best efforts to bring the buggies to their original self.

In bad shape: "They were in pretty bad shape with several parts missing or broken," says Chary, whose father and grandfather worked for the seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan.

Just adjacent to the Afzal palace, a small workshop is set up complete with all carpentry tools. Vithal Chary, Ahmed Ali and Chandulal carefully study the hoary carriages, assess the damage and go about rebuilding them. The operation restoration is on for the last eight months.

The restored buggies speak of the high degree of workmanship that went into their restoration. The buggies have plush insides. There is a leather suspension at the back to give cushioning effect in case the buggy runs into a rough road.

The buggies carry the manufacturer's name - Norwich C. Thorn, England.

There is a ladies special too. This 12-seater carriage has sliding window panes and cute vents for air circulation. The `Shikar' buggy is simply great. It has three doors and is accessed by a ladder.

The Nizam used it for hunting. It has an emergency exit at the rear and a secret chamber inside. "In case of an animal attack, one could duck and slip into the chamber and make an emergency exit," says Adam Sharif, PRO, Chowmahalla palace.

A huge `howda' placed on the Nizam's elephant, Albert, and a dining chowki are also being restored. The latter has a rolling frame with provision to place the food containers.

To reach a particular dish one has jut to spin the frame and your favourite dish will come rolling.

How about taking a peek at the palaces ensconced in the buggy? Wait a while, the royal experience is just round the corner.