Mir Kamaruddin founded ASAF
JAHIS dynasty.
He was one of the
Ministers of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and the latter
conferred on him the title of Asaf Jah. He negotiated a peace
treaty with Nadirshah, the Iranian invader. Mir Kamaruddin got
disgusted with the intrigues that prevailed in Delhi. He
assumed the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk, conducted himself as an
independent prince of Deccan, where he was a Subedar earlier.
The Asaf Jahis rule over Golconda started with Auranganbad as
its Capital.
The Nizams of
Asafjahi dynasty who ruled the Deccan:
(1)
Mir Kamaruddin
(Nizam-ul-Mulk - Asaf Jah I) (AD 1724-1748)
(2)
Nasir Jung (AD
1748-1751)
(3)
Muzaffar Jung (AD
1750-1751)
(4)
Salabat Jung (AD
1751-1761)
(5)
Nizam Ali Khan -
Asaf Jah II (AD 1762-1803)
(6)
Nizam III Sikandar
Jah (AD 1803-1829)
(7)
Nizam IV --
Nasir-ud-Daula (AD 1829-1857)
(8)
Nizam V --
Afzal-ud-Daula (AD 1857-1869)
(9)
Nizam VI -- Mir
Mahaboob Ali Khan (AD.1869-1911)
(10) Nizam VII --
Mir Osman Ali Khan (AD.1911-1948
September).
The
Hyderabad was founded in AD 1590 and built by Muhammad
Quli, the fifth king of the Qutbshahi dynasty. The rule of the
Nizams lasted not only from AD 1724 to 1948 but also concerned
a large territory with diverse language groups. The State of
Hyderabad extended from Narmada to Trichinapally and from
Machilipatnam to Bijapur under Asaf Jah I. During the period
of Afzal-ud-Daula (AD 1857-1869), it was estimated to be
95,337 sq.miles, which was more than 450 miles each way. After
Nizam I, Asaf Jah, died in AD 1748, there was tussle for power
among his son, Nasar Jung, and his grandson Muzaffar Jung. The
British supported Nasar Jung whereas Muzaffar Jung got support
from the French. These two heirs were subsequently killed by
Nawabs of Kurnool and Cuddapah in AD 1750 and AD 1751
respectively. The third son of Nizam I, Salabat Jung became
the ruler as Nizam.
Hostilities remained
in India between the French and the English in AD 1758 on the
outbreak of seven-year war in Europe in AD 1756. As a result,
the French lost their power in India and consequently the
French also lost their influence at Hyderabad. Nizam Ali Khan
(Nizam II) dislodged Salabat Jung and proclaimed himself as
Nizam in AD 1762. The Nizam II moved the capital of the Deccan
from Aurangabad to Hyderabad in 1763. Nizam's sovereignty had
declined considerably in the later part of 18th
century and he was compelled to sign six treaties with
British.
The British agreed
to furnish Nizam Ali Khan with a force when required and pay
Rs. 9 lakhs when troops are not required, in return for the
Northern Circars in AD 1766. He signed another treaty
conferring the Northern Circars to the British and the payment
by the British was reduced to Rs.7 lakhs in AD 1768. He also
signed another treaty, in which he surrendered the Guntur
circar in AD 1788. The Nizam had conspired with Hyder Ali of
Mysore and the Peshwa of the Marathas to drive away the
British. The British learned about his designs and they
marched against the Nizam, who had to sue for peace agreeing
to the presence of British army, artillery and cavalry at
Hyderabad. The Nizam was compelled to disassociate himself
from Hyder Ali through another treaty. He signed another
treaty with the British altering the earlier treaties to
increase the strength of the English army in Hyderabad in AD
1800. The Nizam had to cede to the company an area comprising
the districts of Rayalaseema and Bellary, in lieu of the cost
of maintenance of the force. The Nizam lost not only the
territory but also reputation and
power.
The Telugu land was
divided into major divisions: one that came to be popularly
called Telangana under the feudal rule of the Nizam,
accounting approximately one-third of the entire land and the
other, broadly designated as Andhra, in British India. The
English cantonment, raised on the other side of Hussain Sagar,
was named after Nizam III - Sikandar Jah (AD 1803-1829) as
Secunderabad. The Afzal Gunj Bridge or the Nayapul, over the
river Musi was constructed and established a General Hospital
under the rule (AD
1857-1869) of Nizam V,
Afzal-ud-Daula.
The modern era of the development of the
twin cities began soon after the last flood on the river Musi
in AD 1908. The flood had shattered the lives of many people
living in Hyderabad. Mr. M.Vishweshwarayya, the great engineer
of Mysore, was specially appointed as adviser to the Nizam's
Government to suggest measures for flood control and
improvement of the city. Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar were
constructed as result of his suggestion in AD 1917. These two
dams not only controlled the floods, but also supplied
drinking water to the city. Another important step taken for
the development of the city was the formation of the City
Improvement Board in AD 1912, which paid greater attention to
the construction of roads, markets, housing sites and shopping
centers in the city. The Nizam VII, Osman Ali Khan, moved to
Kingkothi, the northern suburb of the city in AD 1914, which
helped in the development of its surroundings. Several public
utility services were commissioned in AD 1922, which include
electricity (AD 1923), rail connection to Bangalore (AD1928),
and bus service (AD 1932). The bus routes radiated from the
capital to all the district headquarters in AD 1936. The
Madras-Karachi Air Service was linked with Hyderabad with
Hakimpet as landing facility in AD 1935. Under the rule of
Nizam VII, many building were constructed. They include
Legislative Assembly, Hyderabad and Secunderabad railway
stations, the High Court, City College, the Asafia Library,
the Unani Hospital, and the Osmania University. The Nizam VII,
The Osman Ali Khan, can be called as the maker of modern
Hyderabad. The buildings constructed during his reign are
impressive and represent a rich variety of architecture.
Examples are the magnificent Osmania University, the sprawling
Osmania General Hospital in the Mughal style, the lofty High
Court in Indo-Saracenic style, the stately well-proportioned
Legislative Assembly building in Saracenic-Rajasthani style.
The Falaknuma, built by Nawab Viquar-ul-Umra, a Paigha Noble
in AD.1892 has become a landmark like
Charminar. |
