Kirkpatrick and the Residency

Legends and Anecdotes of Hyderabad - 12 :


Kirkpatrick and the Residency
by Narendra Luther

The first English Resident was appointed at Hyderabad in 1779. His name was Holland and he came as the envoy of the Government of the Madras Presidency. Due to some misunderstanding he was suspended by it. However, the Imperial Government at Calcutta nominated him as its representative at Hyderabad. Since then the Resident came to represent not the Governor of the Presidencies but the Governor-General at Calcutta.

James Kirkpatrick who succeeded his elder brother, William, was the sixth Resident and served for seven years at Hyderabad from 1798 to 1805.

Till then all the Residents had stayed in a garden-house of one of the Nizam's noblemen. Kirkpatrick himself also occupied the same house for some time, but, seeing the expanding and crucial role of the English agent at the court of the Nizam, he proposed to build an official residence for himself. He sounded out the diwan, Mir Alam, about the allotment of a suitable piece of land for the purpose. Mir Alam saw no objection in the proposal and asked the Resident to locate a piece and get a sketch-map of the site prepared so that the Nizam's approval could be obtained. Separately he secured Nizam's permission to the proposal in principle. However, when the sketch-plan wpresented to the Nizam, he took one look at it and threw it away in horror. Kirkpatrick was crestfallen. He asked Mir Alam the reason for this summary rejection. Mir Alam simply laughed. "Resident Bahadur", he chided the Englishman, "You made the plan on a paper so big that it seemed to equal the size of His Highness's dominions. How could he agree to part with that ?" Kirkpatrick, on hearing the reason, joined the diwan in laughter. Obviously, the Nizam was not aware of the principle of scale in drawing.

The Resident then reduced the scale and got the sketch-plan for an extent of 64 acres prepared on a piece of paper about the size of a visiting card. This time the Nizam readily agreed and Kirkpatrick then took up the project of building the Residency on the north side of the river Musi. The building constructed was so grand that on a visit to Hyderabad in 1817, Sir John Malcolm remarked that it was better than the Government House of Madras, and in splendour next only to the Governor-General's House in Calcutta.

The furniture for the Residency came from Carlton House in London. That was the residence of the Prince Regent and he wanted to dispose of his furniture. The directors of the East India Company required some political concession and so they purchased the old furniture at the price wanted by the Prince. Incidentally, the payment for the furniture was made by the Nizam who also maintained the Residency at his cost.

Kirkpatrick enjoyed his new abode. The Nizam granted him an Indian title - Hashmat Jung Bahadur - and it was only appropriate that he should adopt some of the ways enjoined by his new oriental knighthood. Accordingly, the young saheb acquired a mistress who stayed not far from the Residency.

Soon thereafter, Kirkpatrick married a Muslims girl called Khairnussina Begum who was distantly related to Mir Alam. The marriage was celebrated according to Islamic customs and Kirkpatrick wore the dress of a Muslim groom. However, Mir Alam needled by the diwan,Arastu Jah, complained to the Governor- General about the wedding and the embarrassment which it might cause to the Nizam's Government and the British and their mutual relationship. The Governor - General ordered an inquiry into the case but, thanks to the manipulation by Kirkpatrick, a favourable report was sent to the Governor - General. Kirkpatrick also had a letter sent by Khairnussa's mother to the Governor General testifying that the marriage was performed with her consent and blessing. The Nizam also issued a statement in favour of the Resident. The complaint was withdrawn and the complainant even apologized.

Khairunnisa gave birth to two lovely children - a boy, and a girl in the same order. In 1803 both were sent to England for education.The boy died there, but the girl Catherine grew up and married into a good English family. She became known for her beauty and wit and was the first sweet-heart of the great writer Carlyle, who immortalized her in Sartor Resartus as Blumhilde.

In 1805 Kirkpatrick was suddenly taken ill. He was advised a change of air and rest. He left for Calcutta for consultations with the Governor-General. When his boat reached Calcutta, his illness took a turn for the worse and he died when he was barely 41. His marriage had lasted only six years.

Thus passed into history another of those flamboyant characters, one of the early nabobs who strengthened the foundations of the British empire in India. In an age when the expectancy of life was short, men like him and Raymond who packed so much action into their brief life, died young.

Like Raymond, Kirkpatrick too is remembered by the people . His Residency now houses the University College for Women. Its ballroom is used for meetings of the general body of the students. On one of the walls of the building hang the pictures of his two children, William George and Catherine. Khairunissa's apartments - the Rang Mahal - have been altered and converted into laboratories for the physical sciences. The original area of 64 acres has now shrunk to 34 the remaining area having been made over to the Osmania Medical College for a hostel. Some area was given to the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad in 1977 for widening the adjoining road. In the vast and expanding concrete jungle that most of the city is turning into, the Residency still stands as an oasis - a patch of green sprinkled with bevies of young ladies. Close by is the bazaar know after Kirkpatrick's Persian title - Hashmat Ganj. Few people know today that it was named after an Englishman.

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Three Nazars For The First Nizam

Legends and Anecdotes of Hyderabad - 9-10

Three Nazars For The First Nizam
by Narendra Luther


The first Nizam, the governor of the Deccan, was also the prime minister of the Mughal empire. In 1739 when Nadir Shah invaded India and was marching towards Delhi, the Mughal emperor was prevailed upon to summon the Nizam to help him deal with the situation. The Nizam obeyed and proceeded to meet the invader at Karnal about 110 kms west of Delhi - close to Panipat. While he was with Nadir Shah, news came to him from the South that, his son Nasir Jung who had been kept in charge of the Deccan province during his absence, had raised a banner of rebellion. Nizam-ul-Mulk cautioned him against such an imprudent course but Nasir Jung was in no mood to listen. The old horse therefore rushed back to deal with his delinquent son. The battle between the father and son was joined near Daulatabad in 1741. The young man fought bravely but many nobles deserted him and he was easily routed. He was brought as a captive into the presence of his father.

After his victory, the Nizam's minister Sayyad Lashkar Khan, offered a nazar to him for his success in crushing the rebellion of his son. He accepted it as a token of the celebration of his victory. Immediately thereafter, the minister offered another nazar "why this second nazar, Khan ?" asked the puzzled patriarch.

"Sire", replied the minister meekly, "the first one was for your victory. The second is for the reason that your son has escaped injury on the battle-field and is safe and sound." The Nizam accepted it with a hint of a smile.

Again, the Khan offered a nazar for the third time.

A frown came over the aging brow. "What is this puzzle, my Khan ? Why this third nazar ?"

This time the minister too smiled and he made bold to give the explanation : "The name of the noble prince is Nasir Jung, my Lord. that means victory in war. The bearer of such a name should not retreat in war. And God be praised, he has justified his name. It is God's grace and your wisdom that the affair has come to a proper conclusion. But the prince is not a coward."

The Nizam beamed this time as he accepted the third nazar. How did the Minister know that these were the exact thoughts going on his mind too ? When he had offered prayers to his Creator after crushing the rebellion, he too had thanked the Almighty for these very three things. A son is a son even in his rebellion. All fathers know it; very few sons realize this.

The father forgave the son. But an example had to be made of him. Lest the Nizam should be taken as a soft ruler, Nasir Jung was kept under close watch for some time after the event.

10. THE FEMALE BATTALION OF HYDERABAD :

1762 and ruled till 1803, had two battalions of women soldiers numbering 2,000. They were called `zaffar paltan' or the `victorious platoon'. The female soldiers were called `guardnees' - feminine gender of the English word `guard' in Urdu. They were dressed like the old British soldiers and were regularly trained according to the French system. They accompanied the Nizam on the battle of Khadla with the Marathas in 1795. Their main job was to mount guard in the harem and to accompany the `zenana'. That was probably the first womans' brigade in the world. The defeat of the Nizam in the Battle of Khadla is largely attributed to the panic created by these women when the Marathas mounted a sortie at night. It was a baneful practice with the later Mughals that the women of the nobles and generals also accompanied them on campaigns thus interfering with their unstinted devotion to the mission. In course of time the practice was ended, the supervision of the seraglio being best done by eunuchs according to the age-old practice. The eunuchs were specially selected for this job because they were incapable of any `mischief' with the ladies of the harem. They also ensured the effective observation of the code of morality by them. But these Amazons must have faded gradually. In 1861, Briggs, Assistant Resident at Hyderabad saw six of those girls at the residence of the Paigah. While doing a drill for him, they giggled in shyness like any other girls. At this time they looked quite unmilitary - like with chappals for footwear, unpressed trousers, and wielding bamboo staves.

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Seven kulchas and Seven Nizams

Legends and Anecdotes of Hyderabad - 8

Seven kulchas and Seven Nizams
by Narendra Luther

Golconda was captured by Aurangzeb in 1687. It then became a part of the Deccan province of which the capital was Aurangabad.Hyderabad thus lost its primacy in the south. A Mughal governor was appointed for the Deccan.

The First Nizam

Mir Qamruddin was the grandson of Khwaja Abid better known by his title of Qilich Khan. He was a general of Aurangzeb and died due to wounds he received during the siege of Golconda. While he was buried near Himayat Sagar, his right arm blown off by a cannon and was found later and was buried in Qismatpur. His son, Ghazi-ud-din Firoz Jung took the place of his father and served Aurangzeb with distinction. Qamruddin was born in 1671 and at the young age of 20, was given the title of Chin Qilich Khan (meaning small sword) for his courage and bravery.

He rose in the service of the Mughals by his devotion and hard work. While he was the prime minister of the Mughal empire he was also appointed the governor of the Deccan in 1713. He was a remarkable man and was rated highly for his competence and self-respect. He was given the title of Asaf Jah after a minister of Solomon who was known for his sagacity. The dynasty founded by him was thus called Asaf Jahi and ruled from 1724 to 1948.

In one of his journeys to the Deccan, Mir Qamruddin is said to have lost his way in a jungle. Thirsty, hungry and woe-begone, he approached a saint called Shah Inayat for succour. All that the saint could offer him was dry baked bread (called kulcha) and plain water. The exhausted noble had his fill and inspite of the saint's insistence, could eat no more than seven loaves. Thereupon the hermit remarked : "My son you have eaten seven kulchas. Your dynasty will rule for seven generations. God bless you."

It is interesting to note that the first Nizam never declared his independence of the Mughals. On the other hand he affirmed his loyalty to the emperor and advised his son and successor to do likewise. However, by 1724 he was virtually independent.

Although it is said that the Asaf Jahi dynasty lasted only seven generations it is interesting to note that actually there were ten Nizams. However, out of them only seven are counted as proper member of the `Asaf Jahi' dynasty. As noted above, `Asaf Jah' was a title given by the Mughal emperor to the first Nizam. It was not given to the second, third and fourth Nizams who ruled between 1748-1762 and spent all their time in fighting with each other with the help of the French or the British. As a result, when the fifth Nizam, Mir Nizam Ali Khan ascended the masnad in 1762, one third of the territory of the Deccan province had been lost to various powers most of whom had never counted earlier - the English, the French, the Nawab of Karnataka and Hyder Ali. Nizam Ali Khan came to rule the remaining territory as a protege of the English for over 40 years. He was given the title of Asaf Jah and so became Asaf Jah II. From then on the succession was regular and the successive Nizams did not need the specific conferment of the title by a weak Mughal emperor. The Nizams were independent of the emperor at Delhi in all but name. After the War of Independence (`Mutiny') of 1857, the British forced the then Nizam, Afzal-ud-Dowla to proclaim his independence of the Mughal emperor by striking his own coin and having his name read in the Friday `khutba' in mosques. The Nizam complied reluctantly.

Kulcha or Moon on the Flag ?

A legend grew that the Asaf Jahi flag carried the symbol of the Kulcha in commemoration of the incident of his having eaten seven loaves. However, the first Nizam himself dismissed this theory and in his anecdotes recorded by his chief secretary, Lala Mansa Ram, the Nizam stated that actually the flag carried a symbol of the moon. That, in turn, was derived from his own name - Qamaruddin (Qamar means moon). However the tradition persisted and a new design of the flag submitted to Nizam VI was approved by him in 1899 with observationthat the symbol was that of a kulcha. Such is the force of tradition that even a specific denial by the subject could not scotch it.

The Legacy of Wealth

The first Nizam died in 1748. In his will and testament, amongst other things, the first Nizam also said that there was enough money in his treasury to last seven generations, if properly spent. It can't however be said that every Nizam spent money wisely or properly. There were times when the state got into trouble because there was no money in the treasury. This is one of the factors which helped the British strengthen their foothold in Hyderabad. However, the last Nizam had a way of collecting money and spending very little of it. He was, therefore, reputed to be the richest man of the world in his time. The wealth has thus lasted not seven but ten or rather eleven generations so far.

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The Legend of Ramdas

Legends and anecdotes of Hyderabad - 7

The Legend of Ramdas
by Narendra Luther

Gopanna was born around the year 1620 . At an early age he was inspired by Pothanna's Bhagavatham and came to revere Rama both as an ideal human being and as Paramatma i.e. supreme soul pervading the universe. Gopanna adopted Rama as his family deity and called himself his servant. Thus he earned the epithet of Ramadas - the name by which he became famous later.

In Bhadrachalam, a tribal woman called Pokala Dommaka had heard the legend of Sabari and Lord Rama. According to that, Sabari had given some berries to Rama when he had passed that way during the course of his exile. In order to make sure that the berries were sweet, Sabari ate a part of each berry before offering it to Rama. Dommaka imagined herself to be Sabari and became a great devotee of Rama. One night, the story goes, Rama appeared in her dream and told her that there were three idols - of himself, Sita and Lakshamana hidden somewhere in the nearby hillock. He also told her that in course of time a devotee of his would come and construct a proper abode for them. Dommaka searched for the idols and was successful in locating them. The local people constructed a shed for them.

Some time after that Gopanna was posted as a revenue officer of the Husnabad pargana which included Bhadrachalam. On hearing the story and seeing the idols, he took upon himself the task of building a temple dedicated to Lord Rama on the bank of the Godavari at Bhadrachalam. First, he started with his own savings. Then he collected donations. The project kept on becoming more and more ambitious and so he started dipping into the public treasury in his custody. He is said to have spent around four million rupees on the construction. A good part out of that was from government funds. For the misappropriation of public funds he was dismissed from service and imprisoned in a cell in the Golconda fort.

There Ramadas, as if in a trance, started composing and singing devotional songs. The wardens of the jail in their inspection rounds seldom checked on him. His presence there was certified by his melodious chanting of his kirtans.

Ramadas spent 12 years in jail and wrote in all 125 songs mostly kirtans. These songs reveal his varied moods - from the ecstasy of devotion when nothing mattered, to the depths of despondency when he bemoaned his fate and chided his deity for letting him down. In one of his sarcastic moods he lambasted Rama saying :

"With great devotion and love I got the aigrette made for you. At whose expense are you wearing it and strutting about ? Did your father Dasaratha provide it to you or did your father-in-law Janaka give it to you ?"

Then, suddenly, he would realize that he had been insolent. He was then overtaken by remorse and would entreat his Lord :

"Do not take amiss what I said. I said all that because I could not bear the torture in the jail. I burst out in pain and scolded you."

In another song he rebuked Lord Rama and requested him to see that his debt was repaid.

In one complaint to Sita, Ramadas had the temerity to allege that Rama was Dharmaheena i.e. devoid of righteousness.

And thus for twelve long years, he carried on his frenzied one man kirtans in his cell.

The story goes that one night he was visited by two young handsome princes with long hair and armed with bow and arrow. How could he not recognize them ? Ramadas was dazed, but he did not stop his recitations till he heard his name. "Ramadas I have come. I am here on your summons," the dark one, Rama said with his charming smile.

And with a mocking tone Ramadas replied : "My Lord I am here because of you. I did not know you punished your devotees !"

"It is all over now," Lord Rama said - and the two princes disappeared.

The next day there was a furore in the fort. The sultan was visiting the jail himself. He made straight for the cell in which Ramadas was lodged. He took the key from the superintendent and ordered the removal of shackles from the prisoner's body.

"Ramadas, you have suffered enough punishment. Your dues have been discharged. You are free to go now."

"But Your Majesty ..." Ramadas faltered, "I haven't ..."
"Somebody paid for you," smiled the sultan. Ramadas was incredulous. "But who could it be, My Lord ?"

"I do not know," replied Tana Shah, "last night two young and handsome princes came to my chambers. One was slightly dark. He placed a bag near my feet and said : "Here is what Ramadas owes you. Let him be released now."

"My Lord, My God," cried Ramadas falling at the sultan's feet. "So you have seen them too. My penance is over."

"You can resume your duties now," said Tana Shah in a gesture of forgiveness.

"My duties are now in the temple where my deity lives." Ramadas folded his hand and made a bow to the sultan.

This was some time in 1683. Tana Shah, to make up for the years of incarceration of Ramadas, granted a jagir of three villages Sankaragiripatti, Polavancha and Bhadrachalam for the maintenance of the temple. Ramadas, now a living legend, spent the few remaining years of his life composing and singing songs and looking after the temple.

Ramadas wrote in a simple homely language. He had a good knowledge of tradition and his verses are replete with devotional sentiment. His compositions can be sung by common folks without any formal training in music. He therefore, became a people's composer and has remained so till today. In the south he is a revered household name and you are likely to hear his kirtans in any religious congregation.

History and legend have blended so beautifully in the life of Ramadas and one would not like to separate them. The Nizam's government used to present jewels for Rama and Sita on Ramanavami. Now this is done personally by the chief minister of the state.


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The Mountain of Light

Legends and Anecdotes of Hyderabad - 6


The 'Mountain Of Light'
by Narendra Luther

The world-famous diamond, Koh-i-Noor was mined in Golconda. Not in the fort but in the state the territories of which comprised most of the areas of the present Andhra Pradesh and some areas of the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Golconda was known as an emporium for diamonds the world over.

A French priest called Abbe Carre was amongst the many travellers who visited Hyderabad and recorded his impressions about it in glowing terms. In 1673 he noted that the city was `full of strangers and merchants and trade is carried on by foreigners and others without any or particular business. There is such a concourse of every kind of people merchandise and riches, that the place seems to be the centre of all the trade in the East'.

The well-known French traveller, Tavernier who was a jeweller by profession came to Golconda in 1695. He observed that diamonds were cut and polished in a place called Karwan. It lies on the road from the Golconda fort to Charminar and is still known by the same name.He saw 60,000 labourers at work in Kollur, in the valley of the Krishna river which was part of the Golconda sultanate. Of all those diamonds, the Koh-i-Noor is the most famous and is the only extant diamond which has the longest history to date. This diamond was mined probably in 1656 and it weighed 765 carats uncut (10 carats make 2 grams).

The story of the Koh-i-Noor diamond begins with that of the emergence of Mir Jumla. His original name was Mir Mohammad Sayyed. He came to Golconda from Ardistan during the reign of the sixth Qutb Shah ruler, Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626 - 1672) as a merchant and rose to be the prime minister (called `Mir Jumla')of the kingdom. He conquered Karnataka (which included much of present Tamilnadu) for Abdullah. Through these conquests he collected a lot of booty which made him very rich and arrogant. Even his son behaved very insolently with the Sultan. When Abdullah pulled him up, he fell out with the Sultan and defected to the Mughals. He met the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to whom he presented the magnificent diamond in 1656. The diamond at that time was uncut and weight 360 carats valued at 2,16,000 rupees (21,600 pounds sterling). It seems to have been chipped before it was presented to Shah Jahan. Later it was entrusted to a Venetian named Bronzoni and was so damaged and wasted in his hands that when Tavernier saw it in Aurangzeb's treasury in 1665 it weight no more than 260 1/2 English carats.

In 1739 Nadir Shah attacked and ransacked Delhi and on return to Iran, carried a lot of loot with him. The story goes that the then Mughal emperor Mohammad Shah Rangeela hid the Koh-i-Noor diamond in his turban to prevent it from falling into the hands of Nadir Shah. Some body told Nadir Shah that the diamond was in the turban of the Mughal emperor. Nadir Shah then very cleverly suggested that to mark their friendship they must exchange their headgear. Mohammad Shah naturally could not refuse this and that is how the Koh-i-Noor passed on from the Mughal emperor to the Iranian conqueror. It is he who gave the diamond the name Koh-i-Noor by which it became famous in history. It means `Mountain of Light'.After Nadir Shah's death it fell into the hands of his general Ahmed Shah, founder of the Durrani dynasty of Afghanistan. His descendent Shah Shujah at one time sought refuge in India. For that he gave it as a gift to Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. Ranjit Singh died in 1839 and at that time the Koh-i-Noor was valued at 1 million pound sterling. The Punjab was annexed in 1849 by the British and the diamond was taken by Lord Lawrence and presented to Queen Victoria. In 1852 it was re-cut by Voorsanger. Its weight now is 106 1/2 English carats. The diamond was incorporated as a central stone in the queen's crown fashioned for use by Queen Elizabeth, the consort of George VI at his coronation in 1937. It now forms part of the royal jewellery and is lodged in the tower of London. The crown is used by the British monarch on most formal occasions like the coronation.

Apart from this legendary diamonds, there were others diamonds also like Pitt or Regent diamond found in Paktial near Madras in 1701. It originally weighed 410 carats but was later reduced to 137 carats. It is now hosed in the Louvre Museum of Paris.

Then there was the Nizam diamond, weighing 277 carats. There was also the Great Table diamond which was seen by Tavernier at Golconda. It was considered to be exactly like the diamond called `Darya-e-noor' or the Sea of Light of the Persian monarch. The Hope diamond is believed to be the part of the blue diamond shaped like a drop. That was found and sold by Tavernier himself to the French king Louis XIV in 1642.

Thus Koh-i-Noor was not the only diamond found in the mines of the Golconda Sultanate but it turned out to be the one which had the most chequered and glorious career and is still in use for most glamorous and historic occasions - the coronation of the British monarchs. And what is even more exciting is that you can still see it. All that you have to do is to visit the Tower of London where the British royal jewels are kept.

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The Fall of Tana Shah

Legends and Anecdotes of Hyderabad - 5

The Fall of Tana Shah
by Narendra Luther

Aurangzeb attacked Golconda in 1687. Since his last attack in 1656, the fort had been strengthened and was now very well- stocked. It therefore proved very difficult for the Mughal forces to reduce it. Unexpectedly, the siege lasted 8 lunar months during which the Mughal army made several sorties on it which were foiled by the Qutb Shahi defenders.

During the siege Tana Shah exhibited a strange mixture reckless of defiance and abject humility. In one of the raids by the Mughals, some of the officers of their army and generals were captured by the Golconda army and brought to Tana Shah. He treated them well and showed them how well-provided his garrison was. He, however, released them and sent them back with a message to Aurangzeb offering to make peace. Aurangzeb however, did not relent and said that he wanted to see Tana Shah presented to him with folded hands or as a prisoner in chains.

Tana Shah nevertheless continued to exhibit great chivalry. Once, when Aurangzeb was at prayer in the small mosque specially built by the side of Hayat Bakshi's tomb (which can still be seen intact in the Qutb Shahi metropolis),one of Tana Shah's marksmen took aim at him. Tana Shah pulled him up : "Don't you see that the man is at prayer?" On another occasion, he turned a soldier's gun away from Aurangzeb at whom it was aimed saying: "Not the emperor man ! Aim at the combatants."

Larry's Gallantry & Loyalty :

Ultimately the fort fell to the Mughals due largely to the treachery and defection of some of the defending commanders. One by one all of them were lured away by various inducements and rewards by the Mughal side. Only one general, Abdul Razzak Larry remained steadfast in his loyalty to his sultan. For him, he said, it was a holy war and he would rather go down fighting than change sides. When, one night a traitor opened the main gate to the enemy, now called `Fateh Darwaza' (Victory Gate), Larry got up with a start and with a dozen faithful soldiers fought valiantly till, suffering over 70 grievous wounds, he fell unconscious in the Nageena Bagh at the foot of the inner fort. Aurangzeb was so impressed by his gallantry that he sent his personal physician to treat him. He also offered him and his sons jobs in his army, but Larry declined. A year later, on his full recovery he again declined a similar offer. Later however, he was persuaded to accept a rank of 4,000 horse, and joined the Mughal army.

After the fall of Golconda when the victorious Mughal commanders arrived in the palace, Sultan Tana Shah was at prayer. He took his time to finish his prayers and then went and sat coolly on his throne. There he received the Mughal general Ruhulla Khan who with a small contingent of soldiers has gone to arrest.

Ride into Captivity :

Thereafter, an attendant came and announced that breakfast was ready. The sultan got up and invited the party to join him in his repast. Some Mughal officers tried to prevent him from going for breakfast, but their seniors pulled them back. Mukhtar Khan and one or two officers, joined him out of politeness. General Ruhulla Khan asked Tana Shah in surprise: "Is this the time to eat ?" Tana Shah replied calmly: " This is my usual time for breakfast". Ruhulla said he understood that but was surprised how the sultan could feel any appetite on an occasion like that. Tana Shah smiled and replied, "Ups and downs come in one's life. I belonged to the royal family but spent 14 years of my life as a mendicant. The Almighty raised me once again for a humble position and made me a king. I have lived a full life and must have been guilty of some sin that the Creator has done this to me. But I have this satisfaction that my kingdom is passing on to the ruler of the piety of Alamgir."

After his breakfast he consoled the wailing ladies of the harem, bade them farewell, sent for his horse and in his full royal regalia, joined his captors on his last ride out of his fort and into captivity.

As the procession of the defeated monarch passed by the Hussain Sagar lake, his youngest son sitting in a palanquin, felt thirsty and asked for water. It was late afternoon and a water - carrier who was sprinkling water on the road was summoned. He poured out water from his goat- skin bag. The infant princes cupped his hands ineptly and quenched his thirst. The water carrier thanked his former sovereign for bestowing the rare honour on him. Tana Shah fumbled about in his pocket and founding only one silver coin, gave it to the water carrier. "This is the only thing I have on me. God be with you", he said to his former subject. The procession then resumed its march towards Daulatabad where he was to spend the last 14 years of his life in prison.

Thus ended the story of the last ruler of Qutb Shahi dynasty. Incidentally, he is the only one of the rulers of the dynasty not to have been buried in the dynastic necropolis near the fort. You can still see his unfinished mausoleum there.

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The Strange Life of Tana Shah

Legends and Anecdotes of Hyderabad - 4


The Strange Life of Tana Shah
by Narendra Luther


The story of the life of Tana Shah, the last Qutb Shahi ruler of Golconda (1672-1687) reads like a fairy tale. His real name was Abul Hassan. He was distantly related to Abdullah Qutb Shah, the seventh sultan of the dynasty (1626-1672) and was therefore accommodated in the royal palace. There he grew up and for some misdemeanour, he was the story of the life of Tana Shah, the last Qutb Shahi ruler of Golconda (1672-1687) reads like a fairy tale. His real name was Abul Hassan. He was distantly related to Abdullah Qutb Shah, the seventh sultan of the dynasty (1626-1672) and was therefore accommodated in the royal palace. There he grew up and for some misdemeanour, he was expelled from the palace at the age of 12. Having spent his infancy and adolescence in ease and comfort without having acquired any mental or physical wherewithal to earn a living, Abul Hassan could not do a thing to support himself.

On the advice of a friend he went to the monastery of a Sufi saint called Syed Shah Raziuddin, popularly known as Shah Raju Qattal. Shah Raju was eighth in the line of Saint Khwaja Gesu Daraz Bande Nawaz of Gulbarga. He came to Hyderabad and set up his hospice on the west side of the Fateh Darwaza gate of the city (not the fort). He was believed to possess great spiritual powers and was an influential teach of the Sufi doctrine. He was greatly revered by the people. Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah became his disciple at a fairly early age and Shah Raju also had a soft corner for him.

Shah Raju took pity on the young boy expelled from the palace and accepted him as his disciple. He became his errand - boy and was constantly in and out of the cell in which Shah Raju spent most of his time in contemplation and meditation.

Abul Hassan had a good voice and sang well. He also had a certain innocence about him. Shah Raju therefore gave him the nick name of `Tana Shah' which means a child saint. Having been brought up in the palace Abul Hassan was also of a delicate build and was often seen lost in reverie.

Abdullah had three daughters and no son. The eldest daughter was married to Prince Mohammad Sultan, son of Aurangzeb, after the treaty entered into between Aurangzeb as the Viceroy of the Deccan and Abdullah, in 1656. As a consequence of this marriage the sultanate of Golconda was to pass on to the Mughal prince on Abdullah's death. But as fate would have it, for his having opposed Aurangzeb in the War of Succession to the throne of Delhi, Mohammad Sultan was imprisoned by Aurangzeb and he died in jail. The second daughter was married to Nizamuddin Ahmed of Mecca. The youngest was engaged to Syed Sultan of Najaf. However, misunderstandings developed between the second son-in-law who was very powerful in the court and Syed Sultan. As a result the proposed marriage of the third daughter of Abdullah to him was opposed by the second son-in-law and a number of other members of the royal family.

Abdullah , in his confusion, went to consult his mentor, Shah Raju at his retreat. When it was announced that the Sultan was coming all the devotees who had gathered for the darshan of the saint quietly withdrew. Abdullah and Shah Raju met alone and Abdullah explained his predicament to him. Shah Raju asked him to come after three days. After Abdullah had gone, the followers of Shah Raju came back to sit at his feet. Shortly thereafter Tana Shah also scampered into his presence. Thereupon Shah Raju remarked involuntarily - "Lo ! One king goeth and the other cometh." The audience were puzzled at such a mysterious utterance.

At the palace preparations for the marriage of the youngest daughter of the Sultan to Syed Sultan were going on. The prospective groom was also getting ready to lead his wedding procession.

At the monastery Shah Raju told Tana Shah teasingly : "We shall get you married soon. So let us go through your wedding ceremonies." A bewildered Tana Shah submitted to the seemingly eccentric orders of his master. On the third day a messenger a came from the sultan asking for an appointment with the Saint. Shah Raju told him that the Sultan was welcome and that he should bring with him appropriate dresses and gifts for a bridegroom. When Abdullah came to the monastery accordingly and with a spare horse, Shah Raju got hold of Tana Shah and presenting him to Abdullah, said : This is the groom.Take him to be your son-in-law." Tana Shah was taken to the palace, given a good scrubbing and bath, doused with scents, decked in jewellery and in no time was made into a royal groom. Syed Sultan was waiting for the signal to start the wedding possession, but that signal was never given. The switch of grooms was made at the last minute and instead of Syed Sultan it was Tana Shah who became the last son-in-law of Sultan Abdullah. Syed Sultan fled from Golconda and went to Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb laughed at this tragi - comedy and said : "Never mind. We will get you married to the daughter of Mir Jumla."

Tana Shah had spent 14 years in the palace, same period in the hospice of Shah Raju and now he was ready for the third phase in his life. In 1672 Abdullah died. Tana Shah who was very popular with the nobles was made the next ruler of Golconda.

One day when Tana Shah was enjoying himself in a boat in the river Musi, Shah Raju sent him a gift of some fruits. The messenger who brought the gift said that Shah Raju had ordered that the Sultan must eat the pomegranate straightaway. Tana Shah, willy-nilly, cut open the fruit and just to carry out the orders of his mentor ate some seeds. The messenger went back and when Shah Raju asked him how many seeds he had eaten. The messenger replied - "Fourteen". Shah Raju sighed and said "Ah! the wretch. He will rule only for 14 years."

And as it happened, it was his prophecy came true. How it happened will be the subject of our next instalment.


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