ASAF JAHI DYNASTY
The family of the Nizams of Hyderabad is one of the most illustrious that ever came
to India. Khaja Abid, grandfather of the first Nizam, was born in Aliabad near Samarkhand
in the kingdom of Bukhara. His father, Alam Shaik, was a well—known Sufi and celebrated
man of letters. Alam Shaik originally belonged to Suhraward, a town in Kurdistan,
and his descent can be traced to Shaik Shahabuddin Suhrawardy, who was a great spiritual
teacher and author of eminent works on Islamic philosophy. Khaja Abid’s mother was
of the family of Mir Hamdan, a ditinguished Syed of Samarkhand. Khaja Abid, who
had held the high office of Qazi (Judge) and Shaiku l-Islam, first visited India
during the reign of Shah Jehan in 1655 on his way to Mecca. He presented himself
at the Imperial Court where he won favours and a robe of honour.
He was offered a position in the Emperor’s service which he agreed to accept after
his return from Mecca. In 1657 Khaja Abid returned from his pilgrimage and joined
the service of Aurangzeb. At that time Aurangzeb was in the Deccan preparing for
the war of succession to the Mughal throne. Khaja Abid, besides being a learned
man, was well versed in the art of war. Aurangzeb gave him an important post in
the Imperial army.
He was granted a high rank of 3000 Zat and 500 Sawars and the title of ‘Khan’. After
succeeding in the war of succession, Aurangzeb made him the Governor of Ajmer and
subsequently of Multan with the title of ‘Qalich Khan’. He served the Emperor with
distinction particularly during the early years of Aurangzeb’s reign while he was
consolidating and restoring peace in his newly acquired territory.
On 30th January, 1687 during the siege of Golconda while leading the Imperial armies
against the Qutb Shahi king, Qalich Khan died when he was struck fatally by a cannon
ball. (Photograph of Qalich Khan on the cover page). Qalich Khan was survived by
five Sons and his eldest son Shahabuddin Khan, entitled Ghaziuddin Khan Feroz Jung,
earned the position of highest distinction in the Mughal Court. He married Safia
Khanum, daughter of Saadullah Khan, the famous Prime Minister of Shah Jehan, and
by her had a son named Qamaruddin, afterwards the celebrated Nizam—ul--Mulk, the
founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.
ASAF JAHI TOMBS
The tombs erected in memory of the departed kings of Golconda are truly magnificent
monuments that have stood the test of time and the vagaries of nature. They stand
a kilometre north of Golconda fort’s Banjara Darwaza. These imposing marvels of
architectural excellence stand as solemn reminders of the grandeur and glory of
Golconda and the great kings wito are buried here. The tombs form a large, close
group standing on a raised plateau. Nowhere in the world are there so many tombs
in one place as here. These tombs and other monuments of the Qutb Shahi kings mark
a unique architectural style which is a mixture of Persian, Pathan and Hindu forms.
The tombs are marked by perfect harmony from plinth to top. Each stands on a wide
quadrangular terrace approached on all sides by flights of steps. The arcades on
all the sides and the pointed arches add to their beauty and grace. The main body
of the edifice is also quadrangular, rising 9 to 15 metres above the terrace and
surrounded by balustrades with beautiful minarets at the corners. The principal
material used was grey granite, embellished with stucco decoration in places. Originally
each tomb had a mosque as an adjunct. When Aurangzeb captured Golconda his officers
were quartered in these tombs. There are 30 in the complex, besides some outside
the compound wall. Noteworthy among these are the tombs of the seven kings and the
one of Hayath Bakshi Begum. Restoration work on these tombs was started by Salar
Jung I and a wall was also built surrounding the tombs. Tavernier who visited Golconda
more than three hundred years ago, writes in his book, “At three coss off from the
town there is a very fine mosque where there are the tombs of the Kings of Golconda
and every day at 4 P.M. bread and pulao are given to all poor who present themselves.
When you wish to see something really beautiful, you should go to see these tombs
on the day of a festival, for then, from morning to evening, they are covered with
rich carpets"...
ASAF JAHI NOBLES
In 1463, disturbances broke out in the Telangana area of the Bahmani kingdom of
the Deccan. Sultan Quli Qutbul-Mulk, a Turk who was a high ranking military officer
under Muhammad Shah Bahmani, was sent to quell the trouble. He was successful and
was rewarded by being made the subedar of Telangana in 1495, with Golconda as his
headquarters. Subsequently, with the disintegration of the Bahmani kingdom in the
early 16th century, Sultan Quli assumed virtual independence. Thus he founded the
Qutb Shahi dynasty that lasted from 1518 right upto 1687, when Aurangzeb’s armies
swept the Deccan. This dynasty spanned 171 years in the history of South India.
The eight kings of this royal line have left a firm impression of their strong personalities
upon the land and its people. The Qutb Shahi rulers were great builders and patrons
of learning. They not only patronized the Persian culture but also the regional
culture of the Deccan, symbolised by the Telugu language and the newly developed
Deccani idiom...
MONUMENTS AND PLACES
Qutb Shahi kings reigned for almost 170 years from 1518 to 1687. After the siege
of Golconda by Aurangzeb in 1687 there was Mughal rule in the Deccan till 1724.
In 1724 AsáfJah I defeated Mubrez Khan, the last Mughal Subedar of the Deccan,and
established his supremacy. Qutb Shahi kings were great builders and lovers of architecture.
Important archaeological monuments of this period are Charminar, Char Kaman, Mecca
Masjid, Toli Masjid, Golconda Fort and the Golconda Tombs...
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