Asman Jah

His Excellency Amir e Paigah Basheer-Ud-daula Azam-Ul-Umra Amir-e-Akbar Nawab Sir Muhammad Mazharuddin Khan Bahadur Rifa’at Jang KCIE (1839 – 18 July 1898), commonly known as Sir Asman Jah or Nawab Sir Asman Jah Bahadur, was an Indian noble and member of the Paigah Family who served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad from 1887 to 1894. As the grandson of the premier noble Fakhr Uddin Khan Amir e Kabir Shams-ul-Umra I and of a princess of the blood, his social position was a great one; but the personal qualities he possessed, inherited largely from his grandfather, were unquestionably the means of bringing him to the front. Singularly gifted by nature as far as the outward man was concerned and excelling in all manly pursuits, he easily took the lead among his peers. But it was his mental and moral equipment which attracted the notice of his royal master while yet the young noble was in early manhood. Such was the promise he showed that His Highness the Afzal-ud-Daulah gave him his daughter in marriage and bestowed on him the highest distinction in his gift, the title of Jah.

In 1869, Asman Jah embarked on his public career as Minister of Justice. A little later on, while still retaining the portfolio of Justice, he acted as prime minister and co-regent. Later still he became a Member of the Council of Regency, and finally in 1887 he was appointed prime minister and continued to hold the office till 1893. In this connection it may be noted that throughout his long official career, Sir Asman Jah refused to take any salary while steadily refusing the emoluments of office. His regime as Premier was marked by several reforms, notably the advances made in education, the extension of medical aid by the State, especially to women, and the establishment of a permanent Board of Irrigation and city water supply, which has since been of excellent service to the State. Asman Jah was in London when he got the news of his appointment of Prime Minister and one of the first to congratulate him was King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales. Asman Jah built several structures throughout the city, including Asman Garh Palace, Basheer Bagh Palace, Saroor Nagar palace and Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower. Before he was appointed to the premiership, he was deputed by His Highness Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan to proceed in 1887 to London as his representative at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. While in England he won golden opinions by the tact, savoir faire and high breeding he displayed. His handsome presence, imposing address and polished manner impressed all classes of English Society and became a great favourite in court circles. Indeed, the late Nizam could not have had a more dignified or worthier representative.