Hyderabad: Rare Nizam photos go on display

Hyderabad: Rare photographs of Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, Nizam VII, were put on display at the Nizam’s Museum at Purani Haveli to coincide with his 152nd birth anniversary on Thursday. Some of these photographs have never been made public before.

The Nizam’s granddaughter, Shehzadi Rasheedunnisa Begum unveiled the photographs. Among them is a portrait of the Nizam in a metal frame with turquoise and coral inlay. And then there is a carving of Mir Osman Ali Khan in jade.

While these two are the main attraction, some other photographs on display are of the Nizam laying the foundation stone of the Madina Building at Pathergatti, the Nizam with European visitors and Hyderabadis watching sports at the Fateh Maidan in 1914.Pointing to a book of poetry, Sahebzadi Rashee-dunnisa Begum said that it was written by her grandfather who was a poet of repute.

Shaukat Hussain, administrator of the museum, said, “The photos displayed on Thursday received a positive response from the visitors. There are many photographs and books of the Nizam-era that have not been made public yet. We hope to change that in the coming years.”The Nizam ruled the state of Hyderabad from 1911 to 1948.

He was not only the richest person of his time, but was a farsighted and visionary ruler who believed in the development of state and also contributed a lot to welfare programmes. Meanwhile, the heirs of Mir Osman Ali Khan, while paying respects to the Nizam at Masjid-e-Judi, King Koti, requested Chief Minister K. Chand-rasekhar Rao to ensure the jewellery belonging to the Nizam is returned from London where it has been lying for decades.

Shahamat Jah Bahadur, the grandson of Mir Osman Ali Khan said that if the jewellery is brought back to Hyderabad, it could be put on display at a special museum.