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Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII
Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII or Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadurwas the seventh Nizam of the princely state of Hyderabad and Berar.

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Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII, Nizam of HyderabadOsman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII, also known as Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, was the seventh and last ruler or Nizam of the princely state of Hyderabad and Berar. From 1798, Hyderabad became a princely state that existed along with the British East India Company. He ruled over the state from the year 1911 to 1948, when it was merged with India. His full name and style was His Exalted Highness The Nizam of Hyderabad Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi GCSI, GBE Asaf Jah VII. During his reign, he was considered as the richest man through out the world. He also constructed the Hyderabad House in Delhi, which is currently used by the Government of India for diplomatic meetings. Nizam Bahadur Mir Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII was an exceptional scholar and composed poetry in Persian and Urdu.

Early Life of Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII
Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur was born on 6th April 1886 at Purani Haveli in Hyderabad. He was the 2nd Nawab Siraj ud Daula Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Asaf Jah VI and his first wife Amat uz Zahrunnisa Begum. After his elder brother died in the year 1887, he became the heir apparent of the princely state of Hyderabad. He was well educated and renowned scholars used to teach him Persian, Urdu and English. He received education in Islamic studies from Hafiz Anwarullah Faruqi of the Jamiah Nizamiyyah of Hyderabad.

Rule of Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII
In 1911, after the death of his father Nawab Siraj ud Daula Mir Mahbub Ali Khan Asaf Jah VI, Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII acceded as Nizam of Hyderabad, which was the largest of the princely states in British India and the Nizam was the highest ranking Indian prince. He was entitled to 21 gun salute and held the title of Nizam. He was also honoured as His Exalted Highness and Faithful Ally of the British Crown, due to his loyal services and financial contribution to the British, during the First World War. He was a compassionate ruler who supported the spread of education and science and over all development of the state. During his rule, various facilities like roads, railways and airways were developed, electricity was introduced; various irrigation projects on the Tungabhadra River were also undertaken. Moreover the Nizamsagar Lake, located in Hyderabad, was excavated.

Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII established the Hyderabad State Bank, currently known as State Bank of Hyderabad, in the year 1941. The central bank of the princely state administered the local currency of the Hyderabad, known as Osmania Sikka. Hyderabad was the only princely state in British dominated India, where the ruler was permitted to issue currency notes. During his 37 year reign, various major structures and buildings were constructed through out the territory. Many public buildings like Andhra Pradesh High Court, Town Hall (now Assembly Hall), Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad Museum (now State Museum), Asafiya Library (now State Central Library), Nizamia Observatory, Jubilee Hall and several monuments were constructed in Hyderabad.

The Nizam of the princely state of Hyderabad was a strong promoter of education. He founded the Osmania University along with many other schools, colleges and educational institutes. Primary education was provided free to the deprived and was made mandatory. But he ignored the native languages and primarily focused on the advancement of Urdu. He also liberally donated to various educational institutes in the nation and abroad, such as Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Nizamia, Banaras Hindu University and the Darul Uloom Deoband.

Personal Life of Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII
Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII lived in the King Kothi Palace. Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur was married to Dulhan Pasha Begum (Azmathunnisa Begum) on 14th April 1906, at the age 21 at Eden Bagh. She was the daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung. The couple had two sons Azam Jah and Moazzam Jah. He was later married to Iqbal Begum, the daughter of Nawab Nazir Jung Bahadur. He was married 5 more times and had almost forty two concubines.

The Nizam of Hyderabad had atleast 40 children, including Sahebzadi Yawar un-nisa Begum Sahiba, Sahebzadi Hidayat un-nisa Begum Sahiba, Nizam uddin bahadur, Sahebzada Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, Sahebzada Mir Ahmad `Ali Khan Bahadur Ahmed Jah,Sahebzada Mir Abid Ali Khan Abid Jah, Sahebzada Mir Hashim Ali Khan Hashim Jah, Sahebzadi Hurmat un-nisa Begum Sahiba, Sahebzadi Jamal un-nisa Begum Sahiba, Sahebzadi Behbood un-nisa Begum Sahiba, Sahebzada Mir Basharat Ali Kha Basharat Jah, Sahebzadi Aleem un-nisa Begum Sahiba, Sahebzada Mir Jawad Ali Khan Jawad Jah, Sahebzada Mir Zulfiqar Ali Khan Zulfiqar Jah, Sahebzada Mir Fazal Ali Khan,Sahebzada Mir Bhojat Ali Khan, Sahebzadi Sayida Begum Sahiba Malta, His Highness Muazzam Jah Sahebzada Mir Shujayath Ali Khan and His Highness Azam Jah Sahebzada Mir Himayath Ali khan.

Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII died on 24th February 1967 on Friday. His funeral procession was amongst the largest in the history of India.

Titles of Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII
The official name of Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur was His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamalik, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar-ul-Mulk-Wal-Mamalik, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula Nawab Mir Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Saula, Fateh Jung, Nizam of Hyderabad and of Berar, Knight Grand Commander of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Royal Victorian Chain, Honorable General in the Army, Faithful Ally of the British Government.

His official title was His Exalted Highness Rustam-I-Dauran, Arastu-I-Zaman, Lieutenant General, Muzaffar-ul-Mulk WalMamalik, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, Fateh Jung, Nizam-ud-Daula, Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah, G.C.S.L, G.B.E., Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar.

He held various titles and styles through out his reign, such as-
* Nawab Bahadur Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi (1886- 1911)
* His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI (1911- 1912)
* Colonel His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI (1912- 1917)
* Colonel His Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE (1917- 1918)
* Lieutenant-General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE (1918- 1936)
* Lieutenant-General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman `Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, GCSI, GBE (1936- 1941)
* General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Faithful Ally of the British Government, Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, GCSI, GBE (1941- 1967)

Honours of Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII
Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII was honoured several times, which are mentioned below-

* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1911)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India- GCSI (1911)
* Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John- GCStJ (1911)
* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire- GBE (1917)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Royal Victorian Chain- RVC (1946)


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