The Contested Succession of the Nizam of Hyderabad
A day after the announcement of Azmet Jah’s coronation as the ninth head of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Najaf Ali Khan, the grandson of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, raised objections to the anointment.
“Azmet Jah has self-proclaimed himself as IXth Nizam of Asaf Jahi Dynasty by issuing the self-declaration dated Friday 20th January 2023 issued by his office signed by 2 persons, both who are not a part of the Nizam Family only to misguide the common people and the government,” said Najaf Ali Khan.
Najaf Ali Khan questioned the legitimacy of Azmet Jah’s claim to the title, urging the public not to be misled by such declarations.
Azmet Jah, a professional photographer and filmmaker who worked with leading Hollywood directors, took over as the successor to his father, Mukarram Jah, who passed away in Turkey on January 14. Mukarram Jah was buried at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on January 18 with state honours.
Najaf Ali Khan expressed surprise at how Azmet Jah, a man whose father did not live in Hyderabad and never learnt Asaf Jahi tehzeeb or rituals, could be referred to as the head of the Asaf Jah dynasty.
He argued that a “decree” can only be pronounced by a court, government authority, or the head of a state. “A decree that self-proclaims a common citizen as the head of a dynasty is not legally valid, especially so after the abolishment of Titles and Privy Purses in 1971,” he said.
Najaf Ali Khan alleged that three days after his grandfather passed away on February 24, 1967, Mukarram Jah obtained and presented a certificate that allowed him to take control of and seize all the private properties, movable and immovable wealth held by the seventh Nizam.
“This led to the onset of ultimate destruction to the family as it allowed him to smuggle uncountable national and familial artifacts out of India, sell and profit from them,” said Najaf Ali Khan.
In 2021, Najaf Ali Khan had approached a city court challenging Prince Mukarram Jah’s claim of being the sole owner of five properties, including famous palaces belonging to the last ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad state.
He termed “totally baseless” and “erroneous” the claim of Mukkaram Jah to be the sole owner of Falaknuma Palace, King Kothi Palace/Nazri Bagh, Chowmahalla Palace, Purani Haveli in Hyderabad, and Harewood Cedars Bungalow at Uddagamandalam (Ooty) in Tamil Nadu.
He argued that after the death of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the listed properties were supposed to devolve upon his 16 sons and 18 daughters.
