The coronation of Mir Mohammed Azmat Ali Khan, popularly known as Azmet Jah, as the successor of Hyderabad’s eighth titular Nizam Mukarram Jah has been met with opposition from the latter’s cousin, Nawab Najaf Ali Khan.
Najaf Ali Khan, the grandson of seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, questioned the legitimacy of Azmet Jah’s anointment as the ninth head of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, stating that Azmet Jah had self-proclaimed himself as the IXth Nizam through a self-declaration dated Friday, January 20, 2023, signed by two individuals who are not part of the Nizam Family.
He appealed to the common people not to be misguided by such false self-declarations, arguing that a decree can only be pronounced by a court, government authority, or the head of a state. He further stated that a decree that self-proclaims a common citizen as the head of a dynasty is not legally valid, especially after the abolishment of Titles and Privy Purses in 1971.
Najaf Ali Khan also alleged that Mukarram Jah, Azmet Jah’s father, had obtained a certificate three days after his grandfather’s death, allowing 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 Mukarram Jah to smuggle countless national and familial artifacts out of India, sell and profit from them.
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 Mukkaram Jah’s claim to be the sole owner of the listed properties as “totally baseless” and “erroneous,” arguing that after the death of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the properties were supposed to devolve upon his 16 sons and 18 daughters.
Najaf Ali Khan questioned 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.
Azmet Jah, a professional photographer and filmmaker who had worked with leading Hollywood directors, took over as successor of his father Mukarram Jah, who passed away in Turkey on January 14. Mukarram Jah was buried at historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on January 19 with state honours.
