The Sikander of the Asaf Jahis

The third ruler of the Asaf Jahi dynasty ensured that by the time he was ready to pass the mantle, his kingdom was intact and his successors inherited the best of all that he could accomplish.

The third of the Asaf Jahis. Image source: Wikipedia

The Asaf Jahi dynasty had been loyal to the British. It was a legacy that began with their first leader, and all successors were destined to keep this pact alive.

Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III was the third ruler of Hyderabad. The successor of Asaf Jah II and Tahniat un-Nisa Begum, he was born in the Chowmahalla Palace.

Inspired by his ancestors' loyalty to the British, Sikander Jah went a step further and established a British cantonment in Hyderabad. The area was renamed 'Secunderabad', which symbolized the nizam's contribution to British welfare in the city. Fortunately, the township moved towards modernization. Railways and other commercial settlements made it a popular hub of economic activity.

Sikander Jah wielded absolute power, and his loyalty to the British ensured a trouble-free reign for him. Sikander Jah married twice. His first wife was Jahan Parwar Begum Sahiba, and his second wife was Fazilath Unisa Begum. However, sometimes, people tend to ruin good things due to their poor judgment.

Sikander Jah made one fatal mistake: he awarded all official posts to his family members. Eventually, the nizam's reign was marred by a state of anarchy. When his son Samsamadaula became the Defence Adviser to Nasir ud Daula and Afzal ud Daula, the state went through its worst economic woes. All because Samsamadaula had no formal pact or contingencies with the British.

During Sikander Jah's reign, a regiment of Dakkhani Sikhs was organized upon the recommendation of Raja Chandu Lal, an influential Punjabi Khatri in the Nizam's court. This force of 1200 men was known as Jami'at Sikhan. Maharaja Ranjith Singh also sent 150 men under the watchful eyes of Sardar Chanda Singh. These men were responsible for the construction of the Gurdwara Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur.

When Bhavani Prasad Bhatnagar (one of Nizam's key advisors) fell into despair after the death of his son, the Nizam commissioned the construction of the Rambagh temple at Attarpur, Hyderabad. He also made sure that the priest received some jagir for the temple's maintenance. As the ruler of Hyderabad, Sikander Jah wanted communal harmony in his kingdom.

The Nizam was a man of exquisite and expensive tastes. (A trait that seems to have been passed down to his successors). It is said that the Nizam was so extravagant, that he commissioned a pair of slippers for himself that was studded with rubies and diamonds. The makers of the shoes made footwear fit for royalty as they used only gold thread for stitching.

The royal who made Secunderabad and kept communal harmony, is also remembered as the man who basked in luxury.

Extravagance knows no bounds. Image source: Pinterest