Mukarram Jah Bahadur, the titular eighth and last Nizam of Hyderabad, died on the night of Thursday, 12 January, in Istanbul.
The death was announced in a statement issued by his office on behalf of his family.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that Nawab Mir Barket Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur, H.E.H The Eighth Nizam of Hyderabad, passed away peacefully in Istanbul, Turkey late last night at 10.30 pm (IST),” the statement said.
It added that Mukarram’s children were scheduled to travel to Hyderabad on 17 January with his mortal remains.
The 89-year-old, who was born in Nice, France, was the successor and grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, and lived in Turkey.
Burial at Asaf Jahi family tombs
Mukarram Jah’s desire was that his last resting place be in his homeland. For this, his family will be travelling to Hyderabad with the mortal remains of the late Nizam on Tuesday.
“On arrival (in Hyderabad) the body will be taken to the Chowmahalla Palace and after completing the required rituals the burial will take place at the Asaf Jahi family tombs (Makkah Masjid),” the aforementioned statement read.
Since 1967, he was the chairperson of Nizam’s Charitable Trust and Mukarram Jah Trust for Education & Learning (MJTEL).
He was born on 6 October, 1933, to Azam Jah and Princess Duru Shehvar.
Mukarram’s father was Mir Himayat Ali Khan alias Azam Jah Bahadur, the first son of Mir Osman Ali Khan.
His mother Princess Duru Shehvar was the daughter of the last Sultan of Turkey (Ottoman Empire), Sultan Abdul Mejid II.
He completed his schooling at the Doon School in Dehradun and went on to study at the Harrow and Peterhouse, Cambridge, in England.
Nizam Mukarram also studied at the London School of Economics and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Last Nizam of Hyderabad
After Hyderabad acceded to the Indian Union, Mukarram Jah’s father and the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan served as Raj Pramukh of the state from 26 January, 1950 to 31 October, 1956.
Mukarram, the last Nizam of Hyderabad, was officially called the Prince of Hyderabad until 1971, when the titles and the privy purses were abolished by the Indian Union.
Mukarram Jah married five times during his life and had seven children.
He was first married to Princess Esra of Turkey, with whom he had two children — Prince Azmat Ali Khan and Princess Shehkyar.
After that, he married Helen Simmons of Australia, with whom he has one son: Prince Alexander Azam Khan.
After her death, he married Manolya Onur, with whom he has a daughter named Niloufer.
His next wife was Jamila Boularous. Their daughter is Zairin Unnisa Begum.
In Hyderabad, he has many properties including the Taj Falaknuma Palace, Khilwat Palace, King Koti, and Chiran Palace.
Meanwhile, Nizam Mukarram was also the richest man in India until the 1980s, when he lost some assets in divorce settlements.
Mukkaram jah passes away, he was the 8th Titular Nizam of Hyderabad. Born in 1933, France. He was the Grandson of Osman Ali Khan & Abdul Mejid of Ottoman. He owns 4 palaces including @TajFalaknuma. He remains the richest person In India until 1980's. pic.twitter.com/paEc5pxhRi
— Advocate Mohd Arif وکیل محمد عارف (@MuhammadArifAli) January 15, 2023
Congress demands state funeral, holiday
Congress leader and former minister Shabbir Ali demanded a state funeral and an official holiday 17 January.
“Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of 8th Nizam Mir Mukkaram Jah Bahadur. Demand Telangana CMO to declare an official holiday and conduct his last rites with State honour on 17th January. Family sources have confirmed that Namaz e Janaza will be offered at Mecca Masjid,” he posted in a message on Twitter.
Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of 8th Nizam Mir Mukkaram Jah Bahadur. Demand @TelanganaCMO to declare an official holiday and conduct his last rites with State honour on 17th January. Family sources have confirmed that Namaz e Janaza will be offered at Mecca Masjid. pic.twitter.com/RsxCAB8ybr
— Mohammad Ali Shabbir (@mohdalishabbir) January 15, 2023
