Moazzam Jah

Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Sir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Siddiqui Bahadur, KCIE (21 December 1907 – 15 September 1987), was the son of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII and his first wife Dulhan Pasha Begum.

General His Highness Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Sir

Mir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Bahadur

KCIE
Born(1907-12-21)21 December 1907
Eden Garden, Hyderabad
Died15 September 1987(1987-09-15) (aged 79)
Fern Villa, Red Hills, Hyderabad
Burial placeDaira Mir Momin, Sultan Shahi, Hyderabad
Spouse
​
(m. 1931)​

Razia Begum Sahiba
Sahibzadi Anwari Begum Sahiba
IssueShahamat Jah
Fatima Fouzia Begum
Amina Marzia Begum
Begum Sahiba
Aliya Kulsum
Sakina Begum
Full name
Sahebzadeh Mir Shuja'at Ali Khan Siddiqui Beyfendi Moazzam Jah
HouseHouse of Asaf Jah
FatherMir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
MotherDulhan Pasha Begum

He first married Princess Niloufer (4 January 1916 – 12 June 1989), one of the last princesses of the Ottoman empire. He later had two other wives, Anwari Begum Saheba and Razia Begum Saheba. In 1947, he was granted the personal style of Highness by the King-Emperor George VI.

He was a poetry enthusiast who had close ties with the poet Najm Afandi after the latter moved from Agra to Hyderabad State. The Prince also wrote poetry under the pen name Shahji.[1]

Jah stayed at the Hill Fort Palace, Hyderabad.

The popular Moazzam Jahi Market of Hyderabad is named after him.

Early life

Jah was born as Mir Shujaat Ali Khan on 2 January 1908. His father was Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad State of British India. Jah's mother Dulhan Pasha Begum was the first wife of Osman Ali Khan. Jah had an elder brother Azam Jah.[2][3]

During his youth, Jah was popularly known as Junior Prince. He received an annual grant from his father, the Nizam.[4]

Poet

Jah was fond of poetry. He composed Urdu poems and ghazals under the pseudonym "Shahji". He setup his own court of poetry in the Hill Fort Palace in which around 30 Urdu poets from as far as Lucknow and Delhi. Poets like Abrar Hasan khan Asar malihabadi and many famous poets participate. The court met at night only. The poets used to arrive at his court during the evening. A dinner was held at midnight. Jah used to recite the poems composed by himself at the court. After him, the other poets used to recite their own. It continued until the adhan (Islamic call to prayer) of the Fajr prayer.[4]

Personal life

On 12 November 1931, Jah married Niloufer, aged 15, a princess of the Ottoman Empire at Nice in France. On the same day, Jah's elder brother Azam Jah married Niloufer's cousin Durru Shehvar. These weddings were held as "union of two great dynasties" by contemporary records. Niloufer's inability to bear any child strained their marriage. In 1952, after 21 years of marriage, they officially divorced.[5][6]

In 1948, Jah married for a second time to Razia Begum, after seperation from Princess Niloufer.[6]

Titles
  • 1907-1929: Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Bahadur
  • 1929-1945: Colonel Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Bahadur
  • 1945-1946: General Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Bahadur
  • 1946-1947: General Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Sir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Bahadur, KCIE
  • 1947-1987: General His Highness Moazzam Jah, Walashan Shahzada Nawab Mir Sir Shuja’at ‘Ali Khan Bahadur, KCIE

Honours

(ribbon bar, as it would look today; incomplete)

References
  1. Seshan, K. S. S. (25 December 2017). "Prince Moazzam Jah and his nocturnal court". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  2. Zubaida Yazdani (1985). The Seventh Nizam: The Fallen Empire. Cambridge University Press. p. 306. ISBN 9780951081907.
  3. Elizabeth Hamilton (2016). The Feringhees: Sir Robert and Sir William—Two Europeans in India Volume 1: The Proud Empire; Volume 2: The Straight Race. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199093618.
  4. KSS Seshan (25 December 2017). "Prince Moazzam Jah and his nocturnal court". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  5. "Niloufer, the beguiling princess of Hyderabad". Telangana Today. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  6. "Love, loss and longing: The journey of a Princess". The Times of India. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
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