Prince Of Hyd Dies In Rented Flat

The former ‘Prince of Hyderabad’ and the last Nizam Mukarram Jah Bahadur passed away. He died on Saturday night in a rented two-bedroom apartment in Istanbul, Turkey. He was 89. Once the richest man, he lost his properties due to mishandling, family infighting and legal battles, debts. Due to most of his properties facing the court battles, Mukarram couldn’t sell them. Thus, he had to live in a rented flat in poor condition. His mortal remains would be brought to Hyderabad from Turkey where it would be kept at Chowmahalla palace for public viewing. A day later, his mortal remains would be laid to rest next to his father Azam Jah in the family vault in Mecca Masjid as per his Mukaaram Jah’s last wish.

Mukarram Jah was born on October 6, 1933 in France, to Azam Jah, the son of Osman Ali Khan. He was chosen as the heir of Osman Ali Khan, the richest man on the planet. Mukarram Jah was coronated as the Asaf Jha the Eighth on April 6, 1967, after the death of Mir Osman Ali Khan in February 1967. 

Osman Ali Khan had left behind 104 grandchildren. This led to several legal battles of property and inheritance. The seventh Nizam’s fortune started disappearing with family feuds and legal battles and a lot due to inept handling. Mukarram Jah had married five times and reportedly lost some properties in alimony. The infamous Hyderabad funds case involved a whopping sum of 35 million pounds, the governments of India and Pakistan, and was eventually settled by a UK court. 

Mukarram Jah had a younger brother Muffakham Jah and an engineering college, Muffakham Jah Engineering College, has been named after him. The Nizam’s family lost power with the merging of Hyderabad into India. And the fortune was lost due to various legal battles. 

State Honours

Telangana CM KCR condoled the death of the titular Eighth Nizam of Hyderabad. He ordered the officials to arrange the Highest State honours for the final rites of Mukarram Jah in recognition of his social service in the fields of education and medicine for the poor. Congress leaders Revanth Reddy and V Hanumantha Rao also condoled the demise of Mukarram Jah. Meanwhile, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders have demanded the state to withdraw its decision to conduct the state funeral for the 8th Nizam. The VHP leaders said in a statement that the Telangana state government’s decision is a gross insult to the sacrifices of people who fought against the Nizam.