His Excellency Amir e Paigah Basheerd-Ud-daula Azam-Ul-Umra Amir-e-Akbar Nawab Sir Muhammad Mazharuddin Khan Bahadur Rifa’at JangKCIE (1839 – 18 July 1898), commonly known as Sir Asman Jah or Nawab Sir Asman Jah Bahadur, Asman Jah was one of those fortunate individuals to whom it has been given by fate to write their names large in the annals of their country, he was an Indian noble and member of the Great 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 entered 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 willing to take office he steadily persisted im refusing the emoluments of office. Elis regime as Premier was marked by several reforms, notably the advance made in education, the extension of medical aid by the State, especially aid 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 still in London when he got the news of his having been-appointed Prime Minister and one of the first to congratulate him on his appointment was his late Majesty King Edward VIL, then Prince of Wales, Asman Jah built several architectures throughout the city like Asman Garh Palace, Basheer Bagh Palace, saroonagar palace and Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower. Just before he was appointed to the premiership he was deputed by His Highness the late Nizam, Mahboob Ali Khan, to proceed in 1887 to London as his representative at the Golden Jubilee of Her late Majesty 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 manners impressed all classes of English Society and he became a great favourite in court circles. Indeed, the late Nizam could not have had a more dignified or worthier representative.[citation needed]
Early life and ancestry
Asman Jah was born as Mazharuddin Khan in 1839, although his exact date of birth is not recorded. His biological father Sultanuddin Khan was the third son of Fakhruddin Khan. After Sultanuddin's death, Asman Jah was adopted by his uncle Rafiuddin Khan Shams-ul-Umra II. Jah's maternal grandmother was Bashirunnisa Begum, a daughter of NizamNizam Ali Khan.[1][2]
In 1869, Asman Jah was appointed as Minister for Justice and served in that position until 1888. After the death of Sir Salar Jung I in 1883, Jah was made a member of the Council of Regency. He also went on to become the administrator of the Hyderabad State during the Nizam's visit to Kolkata during the same year.[1]
later, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, the late Queen Empress again marked her appreciation of Sir Asman Jah and her recognition of the good work he had put in both as councillor and as prime minister, as well as her recollection of his engaging personality and staunch loyalty, by bestowing on him the high honour of a K.C.I.E[citation needed]
Architecture
Jah built the Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower in 1892. The clock tower had clocks on its four sides and was constructed in the middle of a garden.[6] He also built the Basheer Bagh Palace at a cost of about ₹400,000 (equivalent to ₹190 million or US$2.3 million in 2023) in c. 1880.[7] Jah also constructed the Asmah Garh Palace in 1885 at the top of a hillock in Hyderabad. It was built in the Gothic architecture style and had pointed arches supported by Corinthian pillars. Jah's brother-in-law and Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan enjoyed living in the palace and he later gifted it to the Nizam. The building presently houses the St. Joseph's Public School.[7][8]
Asmah Jah's full name with titles is Asmah Jah, Amir-i-Akbar, Azam-ul-Umra, Umdat-ul-Mulk, Bashir-ud-Daulah, Nawab Sir Muhammad Mazharuddin Khan Bahadur, Rifat Jung KCIE.[1]
Lynton, Harriet Ronken (1992), Days of the Beloved, Orient Blackswan, ISBN9780863112690
Lethbridge, Roper (2005), The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire, Aakar Books, ISBN9788187879541
