Mir Momin Astarabadi: architect of Hyderabad

Mir Momin Astarabadi: architect of Hyderabad 

      Going back in time to the 14th century, the Deccan plateau in Southern India was being governed by the Bahmani Sultanate which had been founded in 1347. People from different parts of the world  were coming here and getting settled in the region after securing good appointments at the Bahmani court.

     Mir Momin Astarabadi was one such migrant who was from Astarabad in Persia (Iran). He was from a family of scholars and his family had instilled him with qualities like discipline and civility. He worked as a tutor to the imperial crown prince, Hyder Mirza but  as the prince died unexpectedly followed by his father Tahmasp Safavi; he left Persia and went to Mecca. Finally he came to Golconda in 1580 when Sultan Mohammad Quli was its ruler. 

     Mir Momin was teaching theology and lecturing in mosques and soon became well known in Golconda. He was of the Shia faith and was soon spotted by the Sultan who appointed him as his Peshwa in 1585. 

   

 Mir Momin Astarabadi (1585- 1624/5 A. D.)

    Peshwa Mir Momin was instrumental in converting Bhagmati, the Hindu queen of Mohammad Quli to Islam and giving her the new name Hyder Mahal. Initially he had tried in vain to wean him away from Bhagmati, the village belle and dancer from Chichlam who was the Sultan's beloved.

      Sultan Mohammad Quli respected his Peshwa who was a spiritual guide to him. Under Mir Momin the Shia faith gained dominance in the Golconda kingdom  and Persian manners and style came to be practised.

     As Sultan Mohammad Quli had no sons he adopted a boy born to his youngest brother Mirza Mohammad Ameen and his wife Khanum Aagha also called Mohammad. He grew up 

learning Persian and Arabic and also learnt fencing, shooting and riding . Mir Momin took it upon himself to bring him up like a prince.  He married Hayat Bakshi Begum, daughter of Mohammad Quli and Bhagmati, with the efforts of Peshwa Mir Momin. On the death of the only claimant to the throne,Khuda Banda, brother of Mohammad Quli he quickly declared the Prince as the next ruler of Golconda. Peshwa Mir Momin thus served two Qutub Shahi Sultans.

  Golconda as capital of the Qutub Shahi kingdom had got too crowded and the Sultan was looking for new space to establish a new city. He found the same to the eastern side of the River Musi (earlier called Muchkunda). The place was lush and very suitable. Peshwa Mir Momin assisted him in his mission. Plans of famous cities like Ispahan were studied and finally the foundation of the Charminar was laid in 1589 and the new city in 1591. The dream city Farkhunda buniyad or Bhagnagar meaning city of fortune was built having palaces, neat roads, gardens,fountains, water supply systems, public health buildings,schools, the royal mint, royal pavillions etc. The Badshahi Ashoorkhana, Jama Masjid, Darulshifa, jilukhana(charkaman)  and palaces like Dad Mahal,Sajan Mahal,Lal Mahl, Chandan Mahal, Khudadad Mahal were made in the new city. Another 14,000 houses were built for traders and people from other professions and given free of cost to them. Thus the city got populated and the capital of the kingdom was shifted to it. 

     Mir Momin was as much a peshwa as he was a great scholar. He is supposed to have had mastery over occult sciences too. In fact he got constructed a black granite pillar behind the western arch and got verses inscribed on it, near the Charminar to ward off evil spirits. Behind this there was a big lofty gate with a gold-cloth curtain studded with precious stones. All his books on the occult are buried with him.

    Mir Momin added many books to the royal library. He authored a book Risal-e-maqdariya in Persian which was in 12 parts on weights and measures. He wrote another book Kitab-e-rajiyath besides composing rubayis(quartrains) and qaseedahs (eulogies).

      Mir Momin got made a grave yard in the southern part of Hyderabad, where he lies buried and so does his son Mir Mohammad Majudduddin ; Daira-e- Mir Momin. Sources say that he was  very distressed by the death of his only son and he too passed way on the fortieth day of his son's death in 1624/5 at Hyderabad at the age of 71 years. He had brought camel-loads of soil from Karbala to fill the excavated site. When Mir Momin acquired this land Shah Chirag ,a religious figure from Najaf (in Iraq) had been already buried here. Many other famous people lie buried here which include poet Mirza Muhammad or Naimath Ali Khan, a high ranking official of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb,the family of the Salar Jungs, Mir Alam, Khan-e-Khanan among others.

Famous Urdu poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin has said :

Shahar baqi hai,mohabbat ka nasha baqi hai

Tu nahin teri chasme-e-nigaran baqi hai !

References :

• Khan, Raza Ali/Hyderabad 400 years (1591-1991), Hyderabad : Zenith Publishers,1990.
• Rao, Bhoopala K.V/ The Qutub Shahi Prime Ministers. Hyderabad : Mahamantri Madanna Trust, 1992.

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Soma Ghosh

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