Nawab Asman Jah Bahadur
Paigah Amir H.E Nawab Sir Asman Jah Bahadur, was a Nobleman belonging to the Paigah family. He was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad state (1887–1894), India.
Nawab Sir Asman Jah's full name and titles were: Muhammad Mazharuddin Khan, Nawab Rafat Jung, Bashir-ud-Doula, Umdat-ul-Mulk, Azam-ul-Umara, Amir-e-Akbar, Sir Asman Jah K.C.I.E.[1]
Early life
He was born in the year 1856 hijri and was married to Sahebzadi Parwarishunissa Begum, daughter of Asaf Jah V.
He was a council was appointed to carry on the administration of the state and acted as co-regent in addition to carrying out the duties of minister of justice and was the Prime minister from 1911 hijri till 1918 hijri. He had no issue from his first wife, the sister of Nawab Mahboob Ali Pasha, Asaf Jah VI. When His Highness the Nizam Nawab Afzal-ud-Daula Bahadur died in 1895 Hijri (1869) a Council was appointed to carry on the administration of the State as the heir to the Masnad was a minor. His brother, Shams-ul- Umra III, and Sir Salar Jung were the co-regents and he himself was offered the post of Minister of Justice which he accepted, declining, however, the salary of Rs. 5000 per month.
When Sir Salar Jung went to England in 1875, he was appointed to act as co-regent in addition to carrying out the duties of Minister of Justice. And when in 1300 Hijri on the untimely death of Sir Salar Jung Bahadur a Council of Regency was formed, he was made a member of it and also a member of the Council of State. He ably discharged the duties and the Government of India had occasion to acknowledge his services. During his term of office many changes were introduced into the administration of the State. The financial condition was very much improved and the sources of income were increased. Important changes were made in the Revenue Department and great encouragement was given to indigenous industries. He established the Irrigation Board and sanctioned an amount of ten lakhs of rupees for new projects which later proved very helpful both to cultivation and the Government In 1887 he proceeded to England to represent the Nizam on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. On his way, at the Suez Canal and Cairo, Nawab Sir Asman Jah Bahadur was received very warmly by Lord Cromer and others on behalf of the Khedive of Egypt. After his stay in London, Sir Asman Jah visited Catania, Naples, Geneva, Rome, Florence, Milan and other cities of the Continent. During the Jubilee celebrations, the Jubilee Medal was pinned on his chest by the Queen herself and he was warmly received by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught and other great nobles of England, On the occasion of his receiving a Knighthood, Mr. A. P. Powell, then British Resident at Hyderabad, gave expression to the following sentiments at a banquet given in honour of Sir Asman Jah Bahadur:— " Services to the Hyderabad State are indeed services to Her Majesty's " Indian Empire; and thus having attained the highest honours that his own " Government could confer, it may be well said that the Nawab enters " worthily into the Most Eminent Order especially designed to reward " services rendered to Her Majesty's Indian Empire ". After his return from England, Sir Asman Jah Bahadur took charge of the office of Prime Minister of Hyderabad and held it till 1311 Hijri. He married Syeda Kareem Unissa Begum, the sister of the Mir Bakshi,Nawab Masihuddin Ali khan.
The head of the military was called the Mir Bakshi, appointed from among the leading nobles of the court. The Mir Bakshi was in charge of intelligence gathering, and also made recommendations to the emperor for military appointments and promotions.Sir Asman Jah's only son,Nawab Moin- ud-Doula, was born to this wife, the sister of the Mir Bakshi. At the time of the death of Sir Asmah Jah, (on 26 safar 1898),In 1889,Sir Asman jah Bashir ud Daula was appointed Prime Minister of the Dominion. Lord Dufferin came to Hyderabad in the same year. In 1888 an order was passed by the High Court that no lawyer of the Government Court could speak in English as a matter of right. In 1868, the Duke of Connaught son of Queen Victoria visited Hyderabad. There was great mincing and he was given a warm welcome. In 1890, the Unani Hospital was opened in the city and a post card was issued to mark the event. The vacancy thus created in the post of Minister to the Nizam was filled up by the appointment of one of the Hyderabad nobles, Bushir- ud-Dowlah, better known perhaps as Sir Asman Jah, who had been a member of the Council of Regency. The speech of the British Resident, when investing him with the insignia on that occasion, bore ample testimony to the appreciation of the Imperial Government. Similar sentiments were expressed by the late Viceroy of India, Lord Dufferin, on the occasion of Sir Asman Jah's visit to Calcutta in 1888. Sir Asman Jah, like his noble kinsman, the Vikar-ul-Umara, is famous for his unbounded hospitality, for his proficiency as a sportsman, and in other accomplishments of social life ; and both these noblemen, like their kinsman Sir Khurshid Jah, K.C.I.E, have shared the fortune of their ancestor the Nawab Tej Jang, Shams-ul•Umara, Amit.i•Kahir, in allying themselves by marriage with Princesses of the Royal House of Hyderabad.Nawab Mohammed Moinuddin Khan (Ayanath Jung,Moin-ud-Dowla Bhadur)the lone Son and successor of Sir Asman Jah
External links
References
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mir Laiq Ali Khan, Salar Jung II |
Prime Minister of Hyderabad 1887–1893 |
Succeeded by Sir Vicar-ul-Umra |