The Last Nizam of Hyderabad

Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII was the last NizamSagar Dams at Gandipet on Visweswaraiah's
of the princely state of Hyderabad who ruledadvice. It was because of his foresight and
Hyderabad from 1911 to 1948. Hyderabad undercommitment to the welfare of his people, old city
his rule witnessed many cultural, economic andsuffered minimum damage in the recent floods.
administrative reforms. Although praised for manyHe also undertook some irrigation projects on the
of his developments, he is very infamous for hisTungabhadra River.
Razakar movement where he was accused ofIt is said that upto 11 percent of the Nizam's
spreading violence.budget was spent on education. He set up many
Born to Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Asaf Jah VI,schools, colleges, universities including Osmania
Osman Ali Khan became apparent heir to theUniversity and even a 'Department for
throne of Hyderabad after death of his elderTranslation'. He made primary education
brother in 1887. Many eminent scholars werecompulsory and provided free of cost education
engaged to teach him Urdu, Persian, and English.to the weaker sections of the society. He made
He was a great scholar and wrote poetry inimmense donations to many institutions such as
Persian and Urdu.the Jamia Nizamia, the Darul Uloom Deoband, the
Richest man in the world:Banaras Hindu University and even to some
Mir Osman Ali Khan succeeded his father Miruniversities abroad.
Mahboob Ali Khan on his death in 1911. The stateThe Nizam was responsible for starting earliest
of Hyderabad was the largest of the princelypublic sector undertakings such as Nizam Sugar
states with an area of 86,000 square miles orFactory and Singareni Collieries. He set up the 'City
2,23,000 sq.kms, which is nearly the size ofImprovement Board' and replaced slums with
today's United Kingdom. Nizam was considered asplanned colonies.
the richest man during his days. He is Fifth onMir Osman Ali Khan started his own bank called
Forbes 'All Time Wealthiest' list of 2008. He wasthe 'Hyderabad State Bank', which is now referred
even featured on the cover of the 1937 'Time'as State Bank of Hyderabad. Hyderabad was the
magazine. It was estimated that he had $2 billiononly state which had its own currency, the
fortune in early 1940s.Hyderabadi rupee, in British India.
Developments under his rule:During his reign, many major buildings like Osmania
One of Nizam's first assignments after heGeneral Hospital, Andhra Pradesh High Court,
ascended to throne was to take MokshagundamAsafiya Library (State Central Library), Town Hall
Visweswaraiah's advice on how to control the(Assembly Hall), Jubilee Hall, Hyderabad Museum
floods and use the excess floodwater. He(State Museum), and the magnificent Hyderabad
undertook work of embankment of the MusiHouse at New Delhi were built.
River and constructed Osman Sagar and Himayat