The Majlis-E-Sahebzadagan Society, purporting to represent over 4,500 direct descendants of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, made a momentous announcement on Friday. The society declared that Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, a scion of the royal family, would be designated as the 9th Nizam of Hyderabad, succeeding Prince Azmet Jah.
This decision was made following the demise of the eighth titular Nizam, Nawab Mir Barkat Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur, in Turkey last month. Prince Azmet Jah had been anointed as his successor. However, the Majlis-E-Sahebzadagan Society issued a statement expressing their discontent with Azmet Jah’s apparent disregard for his responsibilities to the extended royal family, his prolonged absence from Hyderabad, and his lack of communication with family members. This prompted the society to seek an alternative within the royal family.
“The Majlis E Shabzadegan Society, comprising over 4,500 direct descendants of the Nizam and nobles of the Nizam, reached a consensus to choose Raunaq Yar Khan as the IXth Nizam of Hyderabad’s Asaf Jahi Dynasty. This decision was made due to Prince Azmet Jah’s incommunicado status and failure to assume the responsibilities of the Hyderabad’s Asif Jah Dynasty.”
The society further announced plans for a grand coronation ceremony, to which the extended royal family and the citizens of Hyderabad would be invited. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, known for his passionate advocacy for Hyderabad’s heritage and culture, was deemed the ideal choice for this role. The statement also highlighted the neglect of the Nizams’ properties and belongings worldwide, emphasizing the need for a designated individual to manage these responsibilities.
Sahebzada Mohd Moizuddin Khan, General Secretary of the Majlis-E- Shabzadegan Society, explained their decision: “Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan was chosen due to his strong connection to Hyderabad and his recognition as one of the most prominent figures of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty in Hyderabad.”
