| After
this defeat the importance of Hyderabad declined and the city
fell into partial ruins. As the Moghul empire decayed and
began to disintegrate, the viceroy, Asaf Jah I proclaimed
himself the Nizam and established independence rule of the
Deccan. Hyderabad once again became a major capital city,
ruled by successive Nizams of the Asaf Jahi dynasty until
the state was merged into Indian Union in 1948.
SECUNDERABAD:
In 1798, a subsidiary alliance for military and political
cooperation was signed between the Nizam and the British East
India company.
There
after an area north of what is now the Hussain Sagar was established
as a cantonment. The area was named Secunderabad after the
then Nizam, Sikander Jah.
From
nawabs and pearls to the world's hi-tech happening point,
the city's journey is fascinating. The sprawling metropolis
is coming to terms with itself at the start of the new millenium.
The Qutb Shahi dynasty founded the Kingdom of Golconda, one
of the five kingdoms that emerged after the break up of the
Bahamani Kingdom. The Qutb Shahis ruled the Deccan for almost
171 years.All the seven rulers were patrons of learning and
were great builders. They contributed to the growth and development
of Indo-Persian and Indo-Islamic literature and culture in
Hyderabad. During the Qutb Shahi reign Golconda became one
of the leading markets in the world of diamonds, pearls, steel
for arms, and also printed fabric. The glory of the Golconda
kingdom ended in 1687, after a valiant struggle. Aurangzeb,
the last great Mughal ruler, captured Golconda after a siege
that lasted eight months.
Abul
Hasan Tana Shah, the last king of Golconda, was imprisoned
at Daulatabad, where he died after twelve years in captivity.
With the conquest of the Deccan and the South, Aurangzeb succeeded
in expanding the Mughal Empire to cover the entire sub-continent.
However, after his death in 1707, the Empire rapidly declined.
At that time , the Deccan was administered by a Subedar or
viceroy of the Mughal Emperor. Mir Quamaruddin, the Governor
of the Deccan, who bore the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk Feroze
Jung Asif Jah, declared his independence from Mughal rule
in 1724.
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He
thus became the first Nizam and the founder of the Asif
Jahi dynasty. Asif Jah I continued to maintain Aruangabad,
which had been founded by the Mughal rulers as the capital
of his new state. In 1769, Nizam Ali Khan Asif Jah II,
shifted the capital to Hyderabad. The seven Nizam's
of the Asif Jahi dynasty ruled the Deccan for nearly
224 years, right up to 1948. During the Asif Jahi period,
Persian, Urdu, Telugu and Marathi developed simultaneously.
The highest official positions were given to deserving
persons irrespective of their religion. |
Persian
was the official language up to 1893 and then Urdu up to 1948.
When the British and the French spread their hold over the
country, the Nizam soon won their friendship without bequeathing
his power. The title "Faithful. Ally of the British Government"
was bestowed on Nizam VII. The British stationed a Resident
at Hyderabad, but the state continued to be ruled by the Nizam.
The
rule of the seven Nizam's saw the growth of Hyderabad
both culturally and economically. Huge reservoirs, like
the Nizam Sagar, Tungabadra, Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar,
and others were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna Sagar
had also begun during this time. Hyderabad, under the
Nizam's, was the largest princely state in India. Area
wise it was as big as England and Scotland put together.
The State had its own currency, mint, railways, and
postal system. There was no income tax. Soon after India
gained independence, Hyderabad State merged with the
Union of India. On November 1, 1956 the map of India
was redrawn into linguistic states, and Hyderabad became
the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
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