Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad

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A decorative crown for the Nizam's of Hyderabad Sarpech Rubies & Diamonds.jpg
A decorative crown for the Nizam's of Hyderabad
A crown that forms part of the Jewels Sarpech Diamonds & Pearls.jpg
A crown that forms part of the Jewels

The Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad State are among the largest and most expensive collection of jewels in present-day India. [1] The jewels belonged to the Nizams, rulers of Hyderabad State. After the annexation of their kingdom by Union of India, the Nizam and his heirs were barred by the Indian government from taking the collection, claiming that it was a national treasure. After much litigation, the diamond[ clarification needed ] was purchased by the Government of India from the Nizam's trust for an estimated $13 million in 1995, along with other jewels of the Nizams, and is held at the Reserve Bank of India vaults in Mumbai.

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Once the Nizams' state regalia, the ornaments date from the early 18th century to the early 20th century. Crafted in gold and silver, with many embellished with enamelling, the jewels are set with gems including Colombian emeralds, diamonds from the Kollur Diamond Mine in Guntur district[ citation needed ] and the diamond mine in Krishna district (now Andhra Rayalaseema Diamond mines group), Burmese rubies and spinels, and pearls from Basra and the Gulf of Mannar.[ citation needed ]

There are 173 jewels, which includes diamonds and emeralds weighing nearly 2,000 carats (0.40 kg), and pearls exceeding 40,000 chows. The collection includes gemstones, turban ornaments, necklaces, pendants, belts, buckles, earrings, armbands, bangles, bracelets, anklets, cufflinks, buttons, watch chains, rings, toe rings and nose rings. Among them is the seven-stringed Basrah pearl necklace, known as Satlada, which has 465 pearls embedded in it. One of the prized possessions in the collection is the Jacob Diamond, the fifth largest diamond in the world and which weighs 184.75 carats. It had been kept a shoe at Chowmahalla Palace, and subsequently used as a paper weight for a long time.

History of the jewels

A decorative crown with studded Emeralds Sarpech Emeralds & Diamonds.jpg
A decorative crown with studded Emeralds
A decorative crown for the Nizam's of Hyderabad Sarpech Prince.jpg
A decorative crown for the Nizam's of Hyderabad

In 1995, the Indian government bought the jewels for ₹218 crore (about US$70 million) many years after the death of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, in 1967. The government tried to buy the collection for a mere amount of $25 million. [2] Fifteen years later, India's Supreme Court finally fixed a price of about $65 million, much less than the estimate of $350 million by Sotheby's. [3] The biggest largest share ($20 million) went to Nizam's 1st grandson Mukarram Jah. [3]

The collection is with the Union Government and had been deposited in the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India in its headquarters at Mumbai. It has been showcased a few times in exhibitions; in 2001 and 2006 at the National Museum, New Delhi and the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. [4] [5]

After the Government of India had initially declined to buy the jewels in 1970s, the Nizam's Jewellery Trust's officials intended to sell 37 out of 65 of the Nizam's jewels to Indian and foreign entities. However, princess Fatima Fouzia, granddaughter of the Nizam, intervened. She went to the Hyderabad City Civil Court and notified that neither all the trustees had agreed for the sale, nor the tender was publicised sufficiently at an international level so that the heirs would get the right price of the jewels. [6]

It was followed by a series of court cases in Hyderabad High Court and Supreme court of India. [7]

In early 1990s the jewels were to be auctioned to private parties for amount much lower than the actual value. Fatima Fouzia, mother of great grandson of Nizam Himayat Ali Mirza, had filed a petition to prevent the jewels from being sold to private parties. [8]

Princes Muffakham Jah, Najaf Ali Khan, Dilshad Jah, Himayat Ali Mirza and other trustees of the Nizams Jewellery Trust handed over the jewellery to the government of India. [9]

Nizam’s great-grandson, Himayat Ali Mirza, said Nizam’s exclusive jewels are among the most elegant collections in the world. He has recently urged the Prime Minister to relocate Nizam’s Jewellery to Hyderabad by establishing a museum in the city. [8] [10] [11]

Along with the Nizam’s jewels are two Bari gold coins worth hundreds of crores. Himayat Ali Mirza has requested the central government to bring these coins, which were made in the Arabic script should be brought back to Hyderabad. [12]

See also

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Hyderabad State was a princely state in the south-central Deccan region of India with its capital at the city of Hyderabad. It is now divided into the present-day state of Telangana, the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka, and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I</span> First Nizam of Hyderabad

Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi also known as Chin Qilich Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah and Nizam I, was the first Nizam of Hyderabad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nizam of Hyderabad</span> Historic monarch of the Hyderabad State of India

Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State. Nizam is a shortened form of Niẓām ul-Mulk, and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I when he was appointed Viceroy of the Deccan by the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar. In addition to being the Mughal Viceroy (Naib) of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I was also the premier courtier of the Mughal Empire until 1724, when he established an independent realm based in Hyderabad, but in practice, continued to recognise the nominal authority of emperor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azam Jah</span> Son of the last nizam of Hyderabad (1907–1970)

Sahebzada Mir Himayat Ali Khan Siddiqi Azam Jah was the eldest son of the seventh and last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII and Sahebzadi Azamunnisa Begum, daughter of Sahebzada Mir Jahangir Ali Khan Siddiqi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahboob Ali Khan</span> Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCB, GCSI

Asaf Jah VI, also known as Sir Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi, was the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad. He ruled Hyderabad State, one of the princely states of India, between 1869 and 1911.

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Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII was the last Nizam (ruler) of Hyderabad State, the largest state in the erstwhile Indian Empire. He ascended the throne on 29 August 1911, at the age of 25 and ruled the State of Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948, until the Indian Union annexed it. He was styled as His Exalted Highness (H.E.H) the Nizam of Hyderabad, and was widely considered one of the world's wealthiest people of all time. With some estimates placing his wealth at 2% of U.S. GDP, his portrait was on the cover of Time magazine in 1937. As a semi-autonomous monarch, he had his mint, printing his currency, the Hyderabadi rupee, and had a private treasury that was said to contain £100 million in gold and silver bullion, and a further £400 million of jewels. The major source of his wealth was the Golconda mines, the only supplier of diamonds in the world at that time. Among them was the Jacob Diamond, valued at some £50 million, and used by the Nizam as a paperweight.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Diamond</span> Colorless diamond from India

The Jacob Diamond, also known as the Imperial or Victoria Diamond, is a colourless diamond from India ranked as the fifth-biggest polished diamond in the world. The last nizam of the Hyderabad State, Mir Osman Ali Khan, found the diamond in the toe of the shoe of his father at Chowmahalla Palace and used it as a paperweight for a long time. It was bought by the government of India for an estimated $US13 million in 1995. It is cut in a rectangular cushion-cut, with 58 facets, and measures 39.5 millimetres (1.56 in) long, 29.25 millimetres (1.152 in) wide and 22.5 millimetres (0.89 in) deep. The diamond weighs 184.75 carats. Currently, it is kept at the Reserve Bank of India vaults in Mumbai. As part of the Nizam's jewellery exhibition in 2001 and 2007, the Jacob Diamond was a major attraction at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad.

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Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah II was the 5th Nizam of Hyderabad State between 1762 and 1803. He was born on 7 March 1734 as fourth son to Asaf Jah I and Umda Begum. His official name is Asaf Jah II, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Nizam 'Ali Khan Siddiqi, Fateh Jang, Sipah Salar, Nawab Subedar of the Deccan. Sawānih-i-Deccan, a Persian work compiled by Munim Khan, a military commander during the era of Asaf Jah II gave more insight about administration of Asaf Jahis.

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References

  1. ↑ National Museum, New Delhi. "Exhibitions at National Museum of India, New Delhi (India) - Nizams' Jewellery". nationalmuseumindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Nizam's Heirs End Wrangle for Treasure Archived 8 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine " The Independent
  3. 1 2 "The Prince's Ransom Archived 9 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine " The Guardian
  4. ↑ "King's Ransom: The jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad, finally on display, include the fifth-largest diamond in the world Archived 3 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine " India Today
  5. ↑ "Hyderabad misses glitter of Nizam’s priceless jewels Archived 14 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine " The Hindu
  6. ↑ Amarnath K. Menon (30 April 1988). "Precious collection of Nizam's jewels lies buried in a bank vault". India Today. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Jewel of the Nizams" (PDF).
  8. 1 2 Syed Akbar (13 June 2021). "Keep jewels in Hyderabad, Nizam's kin Himayat Ali Mirza writes to PM Modi | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  9. ↑ Kumar, V. Rishi (15 June 2021). "Royal scion writes to PM seeking suitable setting for Nizam's jewellery". @businessline. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Afsur-Ul-Mulk, Afsur-Ud-Dowla, Afsur Jung, Mirza Mahomed Ali Beg, Khan Bahadur, Nawab, Maj.-Gen., (died 18 March 1930), ADC to Nizam of Hyderabad; Commander the Nizam's Regular Force, 1897", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u205179, archived from the original on 19 August 2023, retrieved 15 July 2022
  11. ↑ "Hyderabad Deccan, Hh the Nizam of, Asaf Jah Nizam-Ul-Mulk; Mir Sir Mahbub Ali Khan, Fateh Jung, (18 Aug. 1866–9 Aug. 1911), Premier Prince of the Indian Empire", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u187434, archived from the original on 19 August 2023, retrieved 15 July 2022
  12. ↑ "Clipping of Sakshi Telugu Daily - Hyderabad Constituencies". epaper.sakshi.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.

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