On the occasion of Spain’s National Day, His Highness Raunaq Yar Khan, the 9th Nizam of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty of Hyderabad, was the guest of honor at a reception hosted by His Excellency Juan Antonio March Pujol, Ambassador of Spain to India, at the Spanish Residence on Prithviraj road in New Delhi.
H H Raunaq Yar Khan was warmly welcomed and stayed as a house guest for a few days, hosted by the Ambassador and his family, including his son Alexandro and daughter Milena. The visit symbolized the strengthening of cultural and historical ties between Hyderabad and Spain, with discussions hinting at a collaborative event in Geneva this December.
Ambassador Pujol highlighted Spain’s deep historical links with the Islamic world, recalling the eight centuries of Moorish influence during the Al-Andalus era, which profoundly shaped Spanish art, architecture, and science.
In response, H H Raunaq Yar Khan spoke about Hyderabad’s ‘Spanish Mosque,’ inspired by Andalusian architecture and built by his ancestor Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, the creator of Falaknuma Palace. The Nizam also reflected on his royal lineage and ancestral ties with the last Ottoman Caliph, H H Abdel Majid II.
The evening celebrated shared heritage, diplomacy, and enduring cultural bonds bridging India and Spain.
