Nizam of Hyderabad Asaf Jah VII – 2 Photos 1936
Two news photos one is from 1936 and the other from 1967, shows a young and old Nizam of Hyderabad Asaf Jah VII. Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by King Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. It was built along with the Charminar, planned as the central grid of the city. Hyderabad was India’s biggest and richest princely state. Its rulers, known as the Nizams, belonged to the Asaf Jahi dynasty, founded in 1724 by Nizam-ul-Mulk. He first came to Hyderabad as the Mughal Governor of the Deccan.
Then established his independence as Mughal power in Delhi declined. The Nizam’s fabulous wealth derived largely from their legendary hoard of emeralds and their diamond mines near Golconda. At one time, Nizam of Hyderabad Asaf Jah VII (or Osman Ali Khan), was the richest man in the world. He appeared on the 1937 Time Magazine’s cover as the richest man in the world. After India’s independence in 1947, the Nizam resisted joining the Indian Union. However, riots broke out and the Indian Army’s action to restore order finally led to this Princely State’s accession to India. Click on the photo for better view.
See post Nizam Of Hyderabad Asaf Jah VI, 1889 Print.
Did you know- Time magazine stated that Nizam’s daily pay was $5000, jewels worth 150,000,000, gold bars 250,000,000, and total capital of 1,400, 000,000.
From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph 1894., Greetings From Bombay Presidency – Old Postcard WWI., Chinese Boats On The Malabar Coast – Old Print 1746., San Thome Fort Madras – Antique Map 1757
