Hyderabad marked the 132nd birth anniversary of the seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan with rich tributes at his grave near Judi Masjid and a series of public events in different parts of the city. Early in the morning, family members of Nizam offered floral tributes, although they said that they had marked the event as per the Hijri calendar a few days ago.
“We are proud of our heritage. The City Improvement Board was a brilliant idea of Nizam to plan and create the modern city of Hyderabad,” said Sajjad Shahid, convener, Centre for Deccan Studies, speaking at a function organised to showcase achievements of Mir Osman Ali Khan at Ibrahim Mahal in Secunderabad. Rare photographs from the collection of Raja Deen Dayal family were put on display along with a number of firmans and hukums of the seventh Nizam.
Among the rare images were two of Hussainsagar lake with one showing smoke billowing out of the thermal power plant. Another was a document showing the establishment of archaeology department at a cost of ₹ 9,795 on September 30, 1913, with a caveat that the government bear the cost of restoration of murals in the caves of Ajanta. The accompanying photographs showed the before and after effects of Nizam’s intervention in Ajanta caves.
One of the photographs from 1940s showed a paved street near Charkaman. “Visweswariah wanted a dust-free city and the choice was cement. A cement plant was built near Shabad and most of it was used to build road and even the roofing of buildings in Patthergatti are RCC,” informed Mr. Shahid as he narrated the various aspects of Nizam’s rule.
The event was hosted by the Deccan Heritage Trust in partnership with Heritage Buffs, a group of heritage lovers. “We want to make meaningful contributions to sustainable conservation of Hyderabad’s heritage,” said Mohammad Safiullah of Deccan Heritage Trust.
Plea for statue
The Nizam Family Welfare Association made a plea for installation of statues of Mir Osman Ali Khan at Osmania Hospital, Osmania University and NIMS. “The monuments and buildings built by Nizam VII should be protected, preserved and repaired and not demolished,” said Najaf Ali Khan a descendant of Nizam.
