In March 2023, a pivotal moment in the illustrious history of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty unfolded. H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, the great-grandson of His Exalted Highness, Sir Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, the VI Nizam of Hyderabad State, was crowned as the IX Nizam. This selection was supported by over 4,500 members of the Royal Family, contesting the claims of Azmat Jah, the son of the last ruling Nizam, Mukarram Jah. Although the title of Nizam holds no official power following Hyderabad’s annexation by India in 1948, it remains a ceremonial role within the Asaf Jahi family.
H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan serves as the family’s representative, liaising with the government and overseeing their properties. Renowned for his passionate advocacy for Hyderabad’s heritage, he stands as a prominent figure of the dynasty, merging academic rigor with captivating storytelling. His narratives are often enriched by personal anecdotes that breathe life into historical accounts, bridging the historical significance of the Nizams with contemporary audiences.
Mukarram Jah, the eighth and last formal Nizam of Hyderabad, passed away in Turkey last week. His first wife and Azmat Jah’s mother, Princess Esra, sister Shekhyar, and some other family members attended the ‘Dastar Bandi’ or coronation of Azmat Jah as successor to Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah Bahadur. The ceremony was held at Chowmahalla Palace and was attended by close family members.
Born to Prince Azam Jah and Princess Durru Shehvar, the imperial princess of the Ottoman Empire, on October 6, 1933, in France, Mukarram Jah was coronated as Asaf Jah the Eighth on April 6, 1967, after the passing away of Mir Osman Ali Khan in February 1967. He was called Prince of Hyderabad till 1971 when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi abolished all titles. He was also said to be India’s richest person till the 1980s. He lived most of his life in Turkey and Australia.
Mir Mohammed Azmat Ali Khan, also known as Azmat Jah, was born in London on July 23, 1960. He had early education in London and later studied at the University of Southern California. A professional photographer and filmmaker, he has worked with leading Hollywood directors such as Steven Spielberg and Richard Attenborough.
His coronation will have no official status or title of ninth Nizam as the government of India had abolished princely titles and privileges in 1971. As per the wish of his late father, he will be the caretaker of Nizam’s properties and Nizam Trusts. According to sources, Mukarram Jah desired that his eldest son becomes his successor. It is believed that the coronation as successor will be symbolic but significant for legal purposes.
Mukarram Jah Bahadur, the titular eighth Nizam of Hyderabad who passed away in Turkey on January 14, was buried at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on January 19 with full state honours.
