Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad
Former Monarchy
Coat of Arms
Osman Ali Khan
First monarch	Qamaruddin Khan
Last monarch	Osman Ali Khan
Style	His Exalted Highness
Official residence	Chowmahalla Palace
Monarchy started	31 July 1720
Monarchy ended	17 September 1948

Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad (Urdu: نظام-ال-ملک وف حیدرآباد, Telugu: నిజాం-ఉల్-ముల్క్ అఫ్ హైదరాబాద్, Marathi: निझाम-उल-मुल्क ए हैदराबाद, Kannada: ನಿಜ್ಯಮ್-ಉಲ್-ಮುಲ್ಕ್ ಆಫ್ ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್; Persian: نظام-ال-ملک اف حیدرآباد‎), popularly known as Nizam of Hyderabad, was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్), Karnataka (Kannada: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ), and Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र) in India (Hindi: भारत). Nizam (Urdu: نظام‌), a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk (Urdu: نظام‌الملک), meaning Administrator of the Realm in Urdu, was the title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad State, India, since 1719, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty. The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, a viceroy of the Deccan under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and who intermittently ruled under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, and after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal Empire crumbled and the viceroy in Hyderabad, the young Asaf Jah, declared himself independent. From 1798 Hyderabad was one of the princely states of British India, but it retained control of its internal affairs.

Seven Nizams ruled Hyderabad for two centuries until Indian independence in 1947. The Asaf Jahi rulers were great patrons of literature, art, architecture, culture, jewelry collection and rich food. The Nizams ruled until 17 September 1948 when Indian military attacked the independent enclave sovereign state forcing the Nizam's surrender to Indian forces in what became known as a 'Police Action' after the Indian Army's 'Operation Polo'. The Nizam's delegation to the United Nations in New York and UK Government in London was too late to prevent the forceful annexation by India of this independent nation into Indian territory. Initially it was integrated into Indian Union, and in 1956 divided on linguistic lines and merged into neighbouring Indian states.

Family origins[link]

Qamaruddin Khan,Asaf Jah I

The Asaf Jahi dynasty originated in the region around Samarkand, but the family came to India from Baghdad in the late 17th century. Shaikh Mir Ismail Siddiqi (Alam Shaikh Siddiqi) Alam ul-Ulema, son of Ayub Younus Salim Siddiqi, son of Abdul Rehman Shaikh Azizan Siddiqi, fourteenth in direct decent from Sheikh Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi, of Suhraward in Kurdistan, a celebrated Sufi mystic, or dervish, maternal (first), a lady of the family of Mir Hamadan (a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed) (SW), a distinguished Sayyid of Samarkand. They were direct descendants of the first Khalifa of Islam, Hazrat Abu Baker Al-Siddiq (R.A).

Origin of the title[link]

Nizām-ul-mulk was a title first used in Urdu around 1600 to mean Governor of the realm or Deputy for the Whole Empire. The word is derived from the Arabic word, Nizām (نظام), meaning order, arrangement. The Nizam was referred to as Ala Hadrat / Ala Hazrat or Nizam Sarkar, meaning His Exalted Highness (The last Nizam was awarded this title. It is a hereditary title).

Rise of the Nizams[link]

The first Nizam ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Nizams split from the Mughals to form an independent kingdom. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states as client kings. The Nizams retained internal power over Hyderabad State until 17 September 1948 when Hyderabad was forcefully integrated into the new Indian Union.

The Asaf Jah dynasty had only seven rulers; however there was a period of 13 years after the rule of the first Nizam when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognized as the rulers.

A legend about the first Nizam states that, on one of his hunting trips he was offered some kulchas (an Indian bread) by a holy man and was asked to eat as many as he could. The Nizam could eat seven kulchas and the holy man then prophesied that seven generations of his family would rule the state.

By tradition no Nizam has ever left India no matter how good a reason might exist for doing so, as it was said, "the Sovereign is too precious to his people ever to leave India.".

Because Hyderabad did not participate in the first war of Indian Independence of 1857 against the British, its Royal Family had been accorded by British Royalty special honours and the Nizam was given the official status of Faithful Ally.

List of Nizams of Hyderabad (1720-Present)[link]

Nizams of Hyderabad (1720-1948)[link]

Image	Titular Name	Personal Name	Date of birth	Nizam From	Nizam Until	Date of death
	Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I نظام‌الملک آصف جاہ	Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan	20 August 1671	31 July 1720	1 June 1748
	Nasir Jung نصیرجنگ	Mir Ahmed Ali Khan	26 February 1712	1 June 1748	16 December 1750
	‏Muzaffar Jung مظفرجنگ	Mir Hidayat Muhi-ud-din Sa'adullah Khan	?	16 December 1750	13 February 1751
	Salabat Jung صلابت جنگ	Mir Sa'id Muhammad Khan	24 November 1718	13 February 1751	8 July 1762 (deposed)	16 September 1763
	Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah II نظام‌الملک آصف جاہ دوم	Mir Nizam Ali Khan	7 March 1734	8 July 1762	6 August 1803
	Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III سکندر جاہ ،آصف جاہ تریہم	Mir Akbar Ali Khan	11 November 1768	6 August 1803	21 May 1829
	Nasir-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah IV ناصر الدولہ ،آصف جاہ چارہم	Mir Farqunda Ali Khan	25 April 1794	21 May 1829	16 May 1857
	Afzal-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah V افضال الدولہ ،آصف جاہ پنجم	Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan	11 October 1827	16 May 1857	26 February 1869
	Asaf Jah VI آصف جاہ شیشم	Mir Mahbub Ali Khan	17 August 1866	26 February 1869	29 August 1911
	Asaf Jah VII آصف جاہ ہفتم	Mir Osman Ali Khan	6 April 1886	29 August 1911	17 September 1948 (deposed)	24 February 1967

Titular Nizam of Hyderabad (1948-Present)[link]

Image	Titular Name	Personal Name	Date of birth	Pretender From	Pretender Until	Date of death
	Asaf Jah VII آصف جاہ ہفتم	Mir Osman Ali Khan	6 April 1886	17 September 1948	24 February 1967
	Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII مکرم جاہ ،آصف جاہ ہشتم	Mir Barkat Ali Khan	6 October 1933	24 February 1967	Alive

Line of succession[link]

The Asaf Jah dynasty followed the policy of male primogeniture during their long rule, regardless of the mother's marital status or rank. Currently, the line of succession to the Hyderabad throne is as follows:

The line of HEH Asaf Jah VIII[link]

1. HH Azmet Jah, the Prince of Berar (1960-). Eldest son of HEH Asaf Jah VIII.
2. Azam Jah (1979-). Second son of HEH Asaf Jah VII

Descendants of HEH Asaf Jah VII[link]

A cover story by TIME on February 22, 1937 called the last Nizam as the wealthiest man in the world

1. Muffakham Jah (1939-). Younger brother of HEH Asaf Jah VIII.
2. Rafat Jah (1966-). Elder son of Muffakham Jah.
3. Farhad Jah. Younger son of Muffakham Jah.
4. Shahamat Jah (1957-). Son of His Highness Moazzam Jah, the second son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
5. Mir Ahmad Ali Khan (1912-); fifth son of HEH Osman Ali Khan VII
6. Ahmad Jah. Son of Kazim Jah (1912-1952), the sixth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
7. Sahibzada Mir Arshad Ali Khan; son of Ahmad Jah
8. Baqir Jah; younger son of Kazim Jah (1912-1952)
9. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jafar Ali Khan (1964-); elder son of Baqir Jah.
10. Sahibzada Mir Kauser Ali Khan (1966-); younger son of Baqir Jah.
11. Sahibzada Mir Banda Ali Khan (1951-); son of Abid Jah (1913-1983), the seventh son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
12. Sahibzada Mir Mushraf Ali Khan (1969-); son of Sahibzada Mir Banda Ali Khan.
13. Sahibzada Mir Ata'ullah Khan (1957-); eldest son of Hashmat Jah (1913-1988), the eighth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
14. Sahibzada Mir Rahmat ‘Ali Khan; second son of Hashmat Jah.
15. Sahibzada Mir Hassan ‘Ali Khan (1959-); third son of Hashmat Jah.
16. Sahibzada Mir Husain ‘Ali Khan (1961-); fourth son of Hashmat Jah.
17. Sahibzada Mir Shamsher ‘Ali Khan (1941-); eldest son of Hashim Jah (1913-1991), the ninth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
18. Sahibzada Mir Miraj ‘Ali Khan; second son of Hashim Jah.
19. Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan (1942-); third son of Hashim Jah.
20. Sahibzada Mir Baktiyar ‘Ali Khan (1964-); elder son of Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan.
21. Sahibzada Mir Sulaiman ‘Ali Khan (1980-); younger son of Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan.
22. Sahibzada Mir Kawkab ‘Ali Khan; fourth son of Hashim Jah.
23. Sahibzada Mir Zamin ‘Ali Khan (1948-); fifth son of Hashim Jah.
24. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jaffar ‘Ali Khan (1978-); son of Sahibzada Mir Zamin ‘Ali Khan.
25. Sahibzada Mir Haider ‘Ali Khan (2000-); son of Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jaffar ‘Ali Khan.
26. Sahibzada Mir Murtuza ‘Ali Khan (2007-); son of Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jaffar ‘Ali Khan.
27. Sahibzada Mir Askar ‘Ali Khan; sixth son of Hashim Jah.
28. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Nusrath ‘Ali Khan; seventh son of Hashim Jah.
29. Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Hussain ‘Ali Khan (1970-); son of Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Nusrath ‘Ali Khan.
30. Sahibzada Mir Karam ‘Ali Khan (1956-); eighth son of Hashim Jah.
31. Sahibzada Mir Osman ‘Ali Khan (1985-); son of Sahibzada Mir Karam ‘Ali Khan.
32. Sahibzada Mir Najaf ‘Ali Khan (1964-); ninth son of Hashim Jah.
33. Sahibzada Muhammad Anas Ali Khan (2001-); son of Sahibzada Mir Najaf ‘Ali Khan.
34. Sahibzada Mir Naqi ‘Ali Khan. Elder son of Taqi Jah (1913-1985), tenth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
35. Sahibzada Mir Ja’afar ‘Ali Khan. Younger son of Taqi Jah.
36. Sahibzada Mir Firasath ‘Ali Khan; eldest son of Sa’adat Jah (1917-1988), nineteenth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
37. Sahibzada Mir Saqafath ‘Ali Khan. (1968-); fourth son of Sa'adat Jah.
38. Imdad Jah (1944-); twenty-third son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
39. Dilshad Jah (1963-); elder son of Imdad Jah
40. Sahibzada Mir Irshad ‘Ali Khan (1977-); younger son of Imdad Jah.
41. Son of Nawazat Jah (1944-2010); twenty-fifth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
42. Son of Nawazat Jah
43. Fazal Jah (1946-); twenty-sixth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
44. Sahibzada Mir Salabat ‘Ali Khan (1969-); son of Bhojat Jah (1947-1982), twenty-seventh son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
45. Sahibzada Mir Bhojat ‘Ali Khan (1998-), son of Sahibzada Mir Salabat ‘Ali Khan.
46. Manzoor Ahmad Nizami (1926-2008), son of Nizam Uddin Asaf Jah VII.
47. HEH Farooq Nizami (1965-), son of Manzoor Ahmad Nizami Asaf Jah VII.
48. Sahibzada Feroz Nizami (1994-), son of Farooq Nizami HEH Asaf Jah VII.
49. Sahibzada Muhammad Bin Farooq (2003), Nizam, son of Farooq Nizami HEH Asaf Jah VII.

Descendants of Asaf Jah III

1. Sahibzada Mir Jamil ud-din ‘Ali Khan (1940-). Descended from Asaf Jah III through his second son Samsam ul-Mulk, Sunisamad ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Bashir ud-din 'Ali Khan Bahdur, Samsan Jang (1797-1876), through his seventh son Nawab Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Muazziz Jang (1821-?), through his son Sahibzada Mir Yusuf 'Ali Khan (1856-19?), through his son Sahibzada Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur (1900-1937) and through his son Sahibzada Mir Bashir ud-din Ali Khan Bahadur (1921-1980).
2. Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi (1966-). Son of Sahibzada Mir Jamil ud-din ‘Ali Khan.
3. Sahibzada Bashir Siddiqi (1999-). Son of Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi.
4. Sahibzada Abrar Siddiqi (2001-). Son of Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi.
5. Shahizada Mir farooq Ali Khan . Son of Mir Moinuddin Ali Khan.son of mir bahauddin ali khan uzzam-ud-daula saham-jung son of samsam-ud-daula
6. Sahibzada Mir Moiz ud-din ‘Ali Khan (1954-). Son of Sahibzada Mir farooq Ali Khan(1924-1986)
7. Shahizada Mir Mohiuddin Ali Khan & Shahizada Mir Farooq Ali Khan Son of Mir Moiz uddin Ali Khan.
8. shahibzadi Mir Sadia Moiz D/o.Shahibzada Mir Moiz uddin Ali Khan(Wife of Shaikh ilyas Ahmed).
9. Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan (1944-). Son of Nawab Mir Husain 'Ali Khan Bahadur (1923-1987), the second son of Sahibzada Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur.
10. Sahibzada Mir Himayath 'Ali Khan (1984-). Eldest son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
11. Sahibzada Mir Azam 'Ali Khan (1989-). Second son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
12. Sahibzada Mir Mazhar 'Ali Khan (2001-). Third son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
13. Sahibzada Mir Osman 'Ali Khan (1952-). Second son of Nawab Mir Husain Ali Khan Bahadur.
14. Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan (1955-). Third son of Nawab Mir Husain Ali Khan Bahadur.
15. Sahibzada Mir Tawfeeq 'Ali Khan (1983-). Elder son of Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan.
16. Sahibzada Mir Mujahid 'Ali Khan (1995-). Second son of Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan.^[1]

Family tree[link]

I. Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I, 1st Nizam of Hyderabad (20 August 1671 - 1 June 1748). A senior governor and counsellor in the Imperial government. Defeated the Imperial forces on 19 June 1720 at Hasanpur and formed an independent state of his own. Confirmed in his possessions by Imperial firman and crowned on 31 July. Named Vice-Regent of the Mughal Empire by the Emperor Muhammad Shah on 8 February 1722, secured the province of Berar on 11 October 1724 and formally made Hyderabad City his new capital on 7 December 1724. Died at Burhampur on 1 June 1748, aged 76. He had six sons and seven daughters, including:

• II. Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad, 2nd Nizam of Hyderabad (26 February 1712 - 16 December 1750). Ruled from 1 June 1748 - 16 December 1750, when he was killed aged 38 by the Nawab of Kadapa.
• Sahibzadi Khair un-nisa Begum. Married Nawab Talib Muhi ud-din Mutasawwil Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang. She had issue, a son:
  • III. Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat, 3rd Nizam of Hyderabad (d. 13 February 1751). Succeeded upon his uncle's death; ruled from 16 December 1750 - 13 February 1751, when he was killed by the Nawab of Kurnool.
• IV. Asaf ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang, 4th Nizam of Hyderabad (November 1718 - 16 September 1763). Succeeded his brother, ruling from 13 February 1751 - 8 July 1762. Deposed by his brother on 8 July 1762 and killed in prison the following year, aged 44.
• V. Ali Khan Asaf Jah II, 5th Nizam of Hyderabad (7 March 1734 - 6 August 1803). Ruled 8 July 1762 - 6 August 1803, when he died aged 69. He had 11 sons and 12 daughters, including:
  • VI. Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III, 6th Nizam of Hyderabad (11 November 1768 - 21 May 1829). The first of the dynasty to be officially granted the title of Nizam. Ruled 6 August 1803 - 21 May 1829, when he died aged 60. He had 10 sons and nine daughters, including:
    • VII. Nasir-ud-dawlah, Asaf Jah IV, 7th Nizam of Hyderabad (25 April 1794 - 16 May 1857). Ruled 21 May 1829 - 16 May 1857, when he died aged 63. He had five sons, including:
      • VIII. Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V, 8th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI (11 October 1827 - 26 February 1869). The first of the Nizams to fall under British rule. Ruled 16 May 1857 - 26 February 1869, when he died aged 41. He had four sons and six daughters, including:
        • IX. Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, 9th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCB, GCSI, KIH (17 August 1866 - 31 August 1911). Succeeded his father on 26 February 1869, ruled under a regency until 5 February 1884, when he was invested with full ruling powers by the Viceroy of India. Died 31 August 1911, aged 45. He had seven sons and six daughters, including:
          • X. Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, 10th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE, Royal Victorian Chain, MP (6 April 1886 - 24 January 1967). Granted the style of His Exalted Highness (1 January 1918), the title of Faithful Ally of the British Government (24 January 1918) and Nizam of Hyderabad and of Berar (13 November 1936). The last of the ruling Nizams; ruled absolutely from 31 August 1911 - 19 September 1948, when the state was formally annexed to the Union of India. Maintained semi-ruling and semi-autonomous status from then until 23 November 1949, when he accepted the paramountcy of the new Indian government and Constitution and acceded to the Union. Formally lost his sovereignty, ending 230 years of Asaf Jahi rule, upon the formal promulgation of the Constitution on 26 January 1950. Served as Rajpramukh of the new Hyderabad State from 26 January 1950 until 31 October 1956, when the post was abolished. Served as a titular monarch from 26 January 1950 until his death on 24 January 1967, aged 80. He had children, 28 sons and 44 daughters, including:
            • HH Azam Jah, Prince of Berar, GCIE, GBE, MSM (21 February 1907 - 9 October 1970). Granted the title of His Highness the Prince of Berar (13 November 1936). Passed over in the line of succession in 1967 in favour of his elder son. He had two sons, including the elder:
              • XI. Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII, 11th Nizam of Hyderabad (6 October 1933-). Succeeded his grandfather as titular monarch on 24 January 1967; titles abolished by the Indian Government on 28 December 1971. He has children that included two sons.

italics - Considered pretenders by most historians; did not hold much power during their reigns.

^[2]

Palaces of the Nizams[link]

Chowmahalla Palace

The Asaf Jahis were prolific builders. Several palaces of the Nizams were:

• Chowmahalla Palace
• Purani Haveli
• King Kothi Palace
• Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
• Mahboob Mansion
• Falaknuma Palace
• Bella Vista
• Hill Fort Palace
• Chiran Palace
• Bashir Bagh Palace

Other landmarks like the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Jubilee Hall, Asafia library, The Assembly building, the Osmania Arts College and the Osmania Medical College are among their notable constructions.

The Nizams liked the European style of architecture and created a fusion of European traditions with Hindu and Islamic forms and motifs.

End of the Dynasty and Removal of the Last Nizam[link]

General El Edroos (at right) offers his surrender of the Hyderabad State Forces to Major General (later General and Army Chief) Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri at Secunderabad.

After the British left India in 1947, the princely state of Hyderabad did not accede to either of the new dominions of India or Pakistan and started taking support and arms from Pakistan. After attempts by India to persudade the Nizam to accede to India failed, the Indian government launched Hyderabad police action on 13 September 1948, swiftly overrunning the Nizam's forces within four and a half days. The Nizam capitulated and his forces surrendered on 17 September 1948 and he broadcast this over radio the same afternoon. His rule ended on 17 September 1948. It was the end of the dynasty.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, died on Friday 24 February 1967. All Nizams are buried in the royal graves at the Makkah Masjid near Charminar in Hyderabad except for the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who willed that he be buried beside his mother, in the grave yard of Judi Mosque facing King Kothi Palace.

Places and things named after the Nizam[link]

• Jamia Nizamia university
• Nizam College
• Nizam's Museum
• Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway
• Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences
• Jewels of the Nizams
• Nizam Diamond
• Nizam Sagar
• HMAS Nizam, a Royal Australian Naval vessel named for the Nizam prince who helped finance her construction
• Nizamia observatory
• Nizam Club

See also[link]

• Osmanistan
• Hyderabad State
• Hyderabadi Muslims
• Carnatic Wars
• History of Hyderabad, India
• Paigah
• Salar Jung family
• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

References[link]

• Zubrzycki, John (2006). The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback. Australia: Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-330-42321-2. 
• Regani, Sarojini (1988) [First published 1963]. Nizam-British Relations, 1724-1857. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-195-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=9Fb26pWqhScC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb. 
• Hastings, Fraser (1865). Our Faithful Ally, the Nizam. London: Smith, Elder & Co.. http://books.google.com/books?id=FIBCAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb. 
• Briggs, Henry George (1861). The Nizam: His History and Relations With the British Government, Volume 1. London: B. Quaritch. http://books.google.com/books?id=TXxDAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb. 
• Lynton, Harriet Ronken; Rajan, Mohini (1974). The Days of the Beloved. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-02442-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=DhYjiciXlwwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb. 
• University of Queensland feature
• The Pied Piper of Hamelin, by Robert Browning: "I eased in Asia the Nizam Of a monstrous brood of vampyre-bats"

Further reading[link]

• Mughal Administration of Deccan Under Nizamul Mulk Asaf Jah, 1720-48 A.D.By M. A. Nayeem, Indian Council of Historical Research, University of Poona, Dept. of History [3]

"The Days of the Beloved" Harriet Ronken Lynton and Mohini Rajan, Berkeley University Press

External links[link]

• Asaf Jahi Dynasty with Genealogical Tree and Photos
• Detailed genealogy of the Nizams of Hyderabad
• Rare colour footage of accession ceremony of the 8th Nizam of Hyderabad in 1967 (Youtube)

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Punjabi: نصرت فتح علی خان (Shahmukhī)) (October 13, 1948 – August 16, 1997), a world-renowned Pakistani musician, was primarily a singer of Qawwali, the devotional music of the Sufis (a mystical tradition within Islam). Considered one of the greatest singers ever recorded, he possessed a six-octave vocal range^{[citation needed]} and could perform at a high level of intensity for several hours.^[1] Extending the 600-year old Qawwali tradition of his family, Khan is widely credited with introducing Sufi music to international audiences.^[2][3] He was popularly known as "Shahenshah-e-Qawwali", meaning "The King of Kings of Qawwali".^[4]

Born in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Khan had his first public performance at age of 16, at his father's chelum. He officially became the head of the family qawwali party in 1971, and was signed by Oriental Star Agencies (OSA), Birmingham, U.K., in the early 1980s. In subsequent years, Khan released movie scores and albums for various labels in Pakistan, Europe, Japan and the U.S. He engaged in collaborations and experiments with Western artists, becoming a well-known world music artist in the process. He toured extensively, performing in over 40 countries.^[5]

Biography[link]

Early life and career[link]

Khan was born on October 13, 1948 in the city of Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), Pakistan. He was the fifth child and first son of Fateh Ali Khan, a musicologist, vocalist, instrumentalist, and Qawwal. Khan's family, which included four older sisters and a younger brother, Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, grew up in central Lyallpur. Initially, his father did not want Khan to follow the family's vocation. He had his heart set on Khan choosing a much more respectable career path and becoming a doctor, because he felt Qawwali artists had low social status. However, Khan showed such an aptitude for, and interest in, Qawwali that his father finally relented.^[6] Khan began by learning to play tabla alongside his father before progressing to learn Raag Vidya and Bol Bandish. He then went on to learn to sing within the classical framework of khayal. Khan's training with his father was cut short when his father died in 1964, leaving Khan's paternal uncles, Mubarak Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan, to complete his training. His first performance was at a traditional graveside ceremony for his father, known as chehlum, which took place forty days after his father's death.

In 1971, after the death of Mubarak Ali Khan, Khan became the official leader of the family Qawwali party and the party became known as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan & Party. Khan's first public performance as the leader of the Qawwali party was at a studio recording broadcast as part of an annual music festival organised by Radio Pakistan, known as Jashn-e-Baharan. Khan sang mainly in Urdu and Punjabi and occasionally in Persian, Braj Bhasha and Hindi. His first major hit in Pakistan was the song Haq Ali Ali, which was performed in a traditional style and with traditional instrumentation. The song featured restrained use of Khan's sargam improvisations.

In 1979, Khan married his first cousin, Naheed (the daughter of Fateh Ali Khan's brother, Salamat Ali Khan); they had one daughter, Nida.^[7]

Early in his career, Khan was signed up by Oriental Star Agencies in the U.K. to their Star Cassette Label. OSA sponsored regular concert tours by Khan to the U.K. from the early '80s onwards, and released much of this live material on cassette, CD, videotape and DVD.G

Later career[link]

In the 1992–93 academic year, Khan was a Visiting Artist in the Ethnomusicology department at the University of Washington, Seattle.^[8]

Khan teamed with Peter Gabriel on the soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ in 1985, with Canadian musician Michael Brook on the albums Mustt Mustt (1990) and Night Song (1996),^[9] and with Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder in 1995 on two songs for the soundtrack to Dead Man Walking. One of these songs ("The Long Road") was re-used on the soundtrack for Eat Pray Love in 2010. Khan also contributed to the soundtrack of Natural Born Killers. He composed the music for the 1994 film Bandit Queen in collaboration with Roger White.

Peter Gabriel's Real World label later released five albums of Khan's traditional Qawwali, together with some of his experimental work which included the albums Mustt Mustt and Star Rise. Khan provided vocals for The Prayer Cycle, which was put together by Jonathan Elias, but died before the vocals could be completed. Alanis Morissette was brought in to sing with his unfinished vocals. Khan also collabrated with Michael Brook to create music for the song "Sweet Pain" used in the movie Any Given Sunday. He also performed traditional Qawwali before international audiences at several WOMAD world music festivals and the single "Dam Mast Qalandar" was remixed by electronic trip hop group Massive Attack in 1998.

His album Intoxicated Spirit was nominated for a Grammy award in 1997 for best traditional folk album.

Khan contributed songs to, and performed in, several Pakistani films. Shortly before his death, he recorded a song each for two Bollywood films, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (in which he also sang the song onscreen) and Kachche Dhaage. He sang the title song of the film Dhadkan. He also sang "Saya bhi saath jab chhod jaye" for Sunny Deol's movie Dillagi. The song was released in 1999, two years after Khan's death.

Khan contributed the song "Gurus of Peace" to the album Vande Mataram, composed by A. R. Rahman, and released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of India's independence. Rahman, who was a big fan of Khan could not do further songs with him. As a tribute, Rahman later released an album titled Gurus of Peace, which featured "Allah Hoo" by Khan. Rahman's 2007 song "Tere Bina" was also done as a tribute to Khan.^[10]

After his death, the song "Solemn Prayer", on which Khan provided vocals, was used on the Peter Gabriel song "Signal to Noise" (on the album Up), and on the soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Khan Fateh Ali Khan holds the world record for the largest recorded output by a Qawwali artist—a total of 125 albums as of 2001.

Death[link]

Khan was taken ill with kidney and liver failure on August 11, 1997 in London, England, while on the way to Los Angeles in order to receive a kidney transplant. He died of a sudden cardiac arrest at Cromwell Hospital, London, on Saturday, August 16, 1997, aged 48.^[11] His body was returned to Faisalabad, Pakistan, and his funeral was attended by the public.

Composition of Nusrat's qawwali party[link]

The composition of Khan's ensemble, called a "party" (or "Humnawa" in Urdu), changed over its 26 years. Listed below is a snapshot of the party, circa 1983:

1. Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan: Khan's first cousin, vocals
2. Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan: Khan's brother, vocals and lead harmonium
3. Rehmat Ali: vocals and second harmonium
4. Maqsood Hussain: vocals
5. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Khan's nephew and pupil, vocals
6. Dildar Hussain: percussion
7. Majawar Abbas: mandolin and guitar/chorus, handclapping
8. Mohammed Iqbal Naqvi: secretary of the party, chorus, handclapping
9. Asad Ali: chorus, handclapping. Khan's cousin
10. Ghulam Farid: chorus, handclapping
11. Kaukab Ali: chorus, handclapping

The one significant member of the party who does not appear on this list is Atta Fareed. For many years, he alternated with Rehmat Ali on vocals and second harmonium. He is easily identifiable in videos since he plays the harmonium left-handed.

This snapshot is non-representative in one respect: harmoniums were usually the only instruments. Only rarely were instruments like mandolin or guitar used.

Awards and titles[link]

Khan is widely considered to be the most important qawwal in history.^[12][13] In 1987, Khan received the President of Pakistan’s Award for Pride of Performance for his contribution to Pakistani music.^[8][14] In 1995 he received the UNESCO Music Prize.^[15][16] In 1996 he was awarded Grand Prix des Amériques at Montreal World Film Festival for exceptional contribution to the art of cinema.^[17] In 2005, Khan was awarded the "Legends" award at the UK Asian Music Awards.^[18] Time magazine's issue of November 6, 2006, "60 Years of Asian Heroes", lists him as one of the top 12 artists and thinkers in the last 60 years.^[19] He also appeared on NPR's 50 Great Voices list in 2010.^[20] In August 2010 he was included in CNN's list of the twenty most iconic musicians from the past fifty years.^[21]

Many honorary titles were bestowed upon Khan during his 25-year music career. He was given the title of Ustad after performing classical music at a function in Lahore on his father's death anniversary.^[22]

Tributes, legacy and influence[link]

Alexandra A. Seno of Asiaweek wrote:^[23]

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's voice was otherworldly. For 25 years, his mystical songs transfixed millions. It was not long enough ... He performed qawali, which means wise or philosophical utterance, as nobody else of his generation did. His vocal range, talent for improvisation and sheer intensity were unsurpassed.

Jeff Buckley cited Khan as a major influence, saying of him "He's my Elvis", and performing the first few minutes of Khan's hit "Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai" (including vocals) at live concerts.^[24][25] Many other artists have also cited Khan as an influence, such as A. R. Rahman,^[26] Sheila Chandra,^[27] and Alim Qasimov.^[28]

Paul Williams picked a concert performance by Khan for inclusion in his 2000 book The 20th Century's Greatest Hits: a 'top-40' list, in which he devotes a chapter each to what he considers the top 40 artistic achievements of the 20th century in any field (including art, movies, music, fiction, non-fiction, science-fiction).^[29]

In 2008, Khan was listed in 14th position in UGO's list of the best singers of all time.^[30]

In 2004, a tribute band called (Brooklyn Qawwali Party) (formerly Brook's Qawwali Party) was formed in New York City by percussionist Brook Martinez to perform the music of Khan. The 13-piece group still performs mostly instrumental jazz versions of Khan's qawwalis, using the instruments conventionally associated with jazz rather than those associated with qawwali.^[31]

Films[link]

Documentaries[link]

• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: le dernier prophète (1996). Directed by Jérôme de Missolz.
• Nusrat has Left the Building... But When? (1997). Directed by Farjad Nabi. (This 20-minute docudrama focuses on Khan's early career.)
• A Voice from Heaven (1999). Directed by Giuseppe Asaro. New York, NY: Winstar TV & Video. (This 75-minute documentary, available on VHS and DVD, provides an introduction to Khan's life and work.)
• Samandar Main Samandar (2007). A documentary aired on Geo TV detailing Khan's career.
• The King of Qawalli (2009). A short film aired on Dawn News about Khan's life and career.

Concert films[link]

• The JVC Video Anthology of World Music and Dance (1990). Video 14 (of 30) (South Asia IV). Produced by Ichikawa Katsumori; directed by Nakagawa Kunikiko and Ichihashi Yuji; in collaboration with the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka. [Tokyo]: JVC, Victor Company of Japan; Cambridge, Massachusetts: distributed by Rounder Records. Features a studio performance by Khan and Party (two Urdu-language songs: a Hamd, and a Manqabat for Khwaja Mu`inuddin Chishti. Filmed in Tokyo, Japan, September 20, 1987, for Asian Traditional Performing Arts).
• Nusrat! Live at Meany (1998). Produced by the University of Washington. (87-minute recording of a January 23, 1993 concert at Meany Hall, University of Washington in Seattle, during Khan's residency at the Ethnomusicology Program there.)
• Live in Concert in the U.K. (DVD, vols. 1–17) [OSA]; recorded between 1983 and 1993; first thirteen listed below:
  • Live in Concert in UK (DVD vol. 1)
  • Live in Concert (DVD vol. 2)
  • Live in Concert (DVD vol. 3)
  • Live in UK (DVD vol. 4)
  • Live in UK (DVD vol. 5)
  • Live in Concert (DVD vol. 6)
  • Live in UK (DVD vol. 7)
  • Live in UK (DVD vol. 8)
  • Live in UK (DVD vol. 9)
  • Live in UK (DVD vol. 10)
  • Live in UK (DVD vol. 11)
  • Digbeth Birmingham 12 November 1983 (DVD vol. 12)
  • Digbeth 30 October 1983 (DVD vol. 13)
• Akhiyan Udeek Diyan (DVD) [Nupur Audio]
• Je Tun Rab Nu Manauna (DVD) [Nupur Audio]
• Yaadan Vicchre Sajan Diyan Aayiyan (DVD) [Nupur Audio]
• Rang-e-Nusrat (DVD, vols. 1–11) [Music Today]; recorded between 1983 and 1993 (same material as the OSA DVDs)
• VHS videotapes, vols. 1–21 [OSA]; recorded between 1983 and 1993 (same material as the OSA DVDs)
  • Luxor Cinema Birmingham (VHS vol. 1, 1979)
  • Digbeth Birmingham (VHS vol. 2, 1983)
  • St. Francis Hall Birmingham (VHS vol. 3, 1983)
  • Royal Oak Birmingham (VHS vol. 4, 1983)
  • Private Mehfil (Wallace Lawley Centre, Lozells Birmingham, November 1983) (VHS vol. 5)
  • Private Mehfil (VHS vol. 6, 1983)
  • Natraj Cinema Leicester (VHS vol. 7, 1983)
  • Live In Southall (VHS vol. 8)
  • Live In Bradford (VHS vol. 9, 1983)
  • Live In Birmingham (VHS vol. 10, 1985)
  • Allah Ditta Hall (VHS vol. 11, 1985)
  • Harrow Leisure Centre (VHS vol. 12)
  • University Of Aston (VHS vol. 13, 1988)
  • Aston University (VHS vol. 14, 1988)
  • WOMAD Festival Bracknell (VHS vol. 15, 1988)
  • Live In Paris (VHS vol. 16, 1988)
  • Poplar Civic Centre London (VHS vol. 17)
  • Imperial Hotel Birmingham (VHS vol. 18, 1985)
  • Slough Gurdawara (SHABADS) (VHS vol. 19)
  • Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (VHS vol. 20)
  • Town Hall Birmingham (VHS vol. 21, 1993)