Nizam VI : Mir Mahboob Ali Khan

Nizam VI : Mir Mahboob Ali Khan,people's beloved

        Born in 1866 at Purani Haveli,Hyderabad, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan was the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad State. He ruled between 1869 to 1911. Hw was the son of Afzal-ud-dowlah, Nizam V. His father died when he was only 2 years and seven months old. He was installed on the throne but with two regents Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I and Nawab Rasheeduddin Khan. However Nawab Rasheeduddin Khan died in December 1881 and Salar Jung I became the sole regent.

Young Mahboob Ali Khan with others,photograph,1870s.

By Nawab Mohammed Azeezuddin Khan (son of Nawab Lateefudin Khan) (Scan of the original photograph) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

   Under the guidance of Salar Jung I, Capt. John Clark was appointed to tutor him. Teachers of Persian,Arabic and Urdu also tutored him. He grew up to be a respected leader and was called Mahboob Ali Pasha.  His doctor was Dr.Abdul Hussain who was later called Arastu Yar Jung. Nizam VI was a ruler believed to have mystic powers who could cure snake bites. He knew Urdu,Persian and Telugu and composed poetry. 

   Mahboob Ali Pasha led a flamboyant lifestyle and had lots of clothes and cars. He owned sherwanis, coats,shirts footwear,walking-sticks and perfumes. He purchased a diamond which became famous as the Jacob diamond. He was very helpful to the people during the floods of 1908 at Hyderabad and opened the palace gates for the affected. He died in August 1911.

    During his lifetime he had acquired many titles : as a young prince he was Sahibzada Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqui Bahadur. He was llater on Rustam-i-dauran,Asaf Jah Vi,Nizam-ul-mulk,Sipah-salar, Lieutenant General,Fateh Jung GCSI,GCB,Nizam of Hyderabad among others.

Nizam VI, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan.

See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Published in 1889.(Illustrated London News)

 

Coat of arms, 1893.

By Sir Roper Lethbridge (Golden Book of India, 1893) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Archduke Franz Ferdinand with Nizam VI during visit, January 1893, Hyderabad.

By Lala Deen Dayal, State Photographer (Dorotheum) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

References :

• Hyderabad : a city  in history/Khan, Raza Ali, Hyderabad : Zenith Services,1990.
• wikipedia.org

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Soma Ghosh

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