Modern Hyderabad (Deccan)/Chapter 4
CHAPTER IV.
Sir Salar Jung I, and H. E. the Minister, Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur III.
No one can form an opinion on modern Hyderabad and appreciate its present condition without studying the life of that remarkable man, Sir Salar Jung I.
Here it will only be possible to give an idea of the manner in which he planted and watered the present administration, and started and fostered the institutions that now form an integral part of His Highness the Nizam's Government.
Moulvi Cheragh Ali says:—"Before the administration of H. E. the Nawab Salar Jung I there was no regular or systematic form of government, nor were there any separate departments of administration. Everything was in the hands of the Diwan or Minister, without any regular form of administration. It was altogether a new idea, an element foreign to the conservative mind of Hyderabad to have anything like an organised system of government."
That was only about sixty years ago, and when we see what has been done in Hyderabad during the last half century and watch the progress that is now being made, we cannot fail to feel hopeful concerning the future of the largest native State in India.
Mir Turab Ali Khan Bahadur, known as Sir Salar Jung I, was born in 1828, and the condition of Hyderabad at the time of his birth is thus described by Sir John Kaye. in his "Life of Lord Metcalfe":—
"The whole system of administration was rotten to the very core, it was a congeries of diseases. Nothing seemed to flourish there except corruption. Every man was bent on enriching himself at the expense of his neighbour. No one cared for the people, no one cared for the State. Everything had its price in Hyderabad. If a man wanted a place he counted out his money to buy it. If a man wanted justice, he bade for it as for any other marketable commodity. Every public office, in every department of the State, was accessible to a bribe . . . Neither life nor property was secure . . . There was nothing left indeed but the name of government, all the rest was lawlessness and confusion." In 1853 the Minister, Nawab Seraj-ul-Mulk, died; and his nephew, Nawab Salar Jung, who was then only twenty-five years old, was chosen by Nizam Nasir-ud-Daula to succeed him.
Nizam Nasir-ud-Daula was then nearing the close of his reign, and, owing to self-indulgence, he was surrounded by flatterers and plunderers. He had crippled the finances of the State by ceding Berar, Osmanabad, and the Raichur Doab to the English, and had even pawned his jewels, which had been taken by Mr. Dighton to England. The revenue, the administration, the treasury, and the credit of the State were all in a deplorable condition when Nawab Salar Jung I became Minister, but he wrote to Mr. Dighton : — "I shall, nevertheless, do my best, with God's help, to restore order in the affairs of this country, and endeavour to extricate the government from its embarrassments."
He had no personal influence with the Nizam, and in 1853 (the year he became Minister) he wrote to Colonel Low : — "You are aware that Burhan-ud-Din is my medium of communication with the Nizam, and he is the only man who has influence enough with His Highness to persuade him to consent to my measures." He appealed in this letter for the support of the Governor-General, in a way that showed his confidence in receiving from the English the help he could not obtain from his royal master.
In 1857 Nasir-ud-Daula died, and was succeeded by his son Afzal-ud-Daula, and history does not show that any great reforms were introduced into Hyderabad before 1859 — two years after the Mutiny. Then, if "Our Faithful Ally" took no active part in State affairs, he did not, at any rate, interfere with the work of his Minister, and Nawab Salar Jung I was allowed to proceed with his reforms, and ma3/-be he received from the Nizam help and encouragement.
It is not possible to give here a complete list of the changes made and the institutions introduced, but among them were a Central Treasury and a State Bank in Hyderabad city, a Board of Revenue for the purpose of supervising the revenue administration of the country, and a system of police for the districts.
The following lands were then defined : Sarf-i-khas (crown) lands; Paigah (Paigah means "stable," and these lands were originally given for the maintenance of a body of horse called His Highness' Household troops) lands; Jagir (a form of land tenure common among Mahomedans and dating back to the earliest times) lands; and Khalsa or Government lands.
In 1867 the State was divided into five Divisions and seventeen Districts, and Subedars, or Governors, were appointed for the five Divisions and talukdars and tehsildars for the districts.
The Judicial, Public Works, Medical, Educational, Municipal, and Police Departments were re-organised.
And in 1868 Sadr-id-Mahams or Assistant Ministers were appointed for the Judicial, Revenue, Police, and Miscellaneous Departments.
In 1869 Nizam Afzul-ud-Daula died, and was succeeded by his infant son Mir Mahabub Ali Khan, and Sir Salar Jung I was then appointed co-regent with Nawab Shams-ul-Umara, an appointment he filled until the day of his death, acting for a portion of the time as sole Regent.
Writing in 1869, Mr. Saunders, the British Resident, bore eloquent testimony to the changes introduced during the reign of Nizam Afzul-ud-Daula, and said that Hyderabad of 1869 was as unlike the Hyderabad of 1820 as England of even date was unlike the England of the Stuarts.
In Elphinstone's history is an interesting account of Sir Salar Jung's daily life.
He rose at 6 a.m., took a cup of tea and proceeded to hold a public durbar, at which the poorest of the people had opportunities to make their representations. The officers of the troops then made their reports and afterwards he went to his private rooms, where he inspected treasury receipts and attended to correspondence. The Nazim (Dispenser of Justice) then had an audience. At 10-30 A.M. he had breakfast, which lasted for about fifteen minutes. Afterwards he was engaged in miscellaneous business until 12-30 A.M., when he held a second public durbar and granted private interviews and attended to Residency business. After a short siesta and afternoon prayers he received the officers of the Government, bankers, local governors and others. At 5-30 P.M. he walked, rode, or drove and inspected his horses. After dinner and evening prayers he attended to his correspondence and at 10 P.M. he went to bed.
Sir Salar Jung I died on the 5th of February 1883, and was buried in the family burial place, in the Daira Mir Momin Cemetery, in Hyderabad city, which place he is said to have called "the real home of our race." A simple stone grave, without name or inscription, marks his last resting place, and beside him lies his son and successor. Sir Salar Jung II, and near by is the grave of his illustrious ancestor, Mir Alum.
His Excellency the Minister, Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Bahadur.
Salar Jung Bahadur III, the present Prime Minister of Hyderabad, was born in June 1889, and he was only one month old when his father, Sir Salar Jung II, died. At school he had a brilliant career, and showed resolution and firmness of character, and since that time a great resemblance has been found between him and his famous grandfather. In March 1912 H. H. the Nizam invested him with full administrative power over his large estates, which comprise an area of 1,480 square miles and the revenues of which amount to nearly twelve lakhs of rupees a year. And on July nth, 1912, His Highness appointed him Prime Minister, the following firman being issued the same day:
"As Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad Bahadur has applied for six months' leave of absence and has expressed his desire to be relieved of the responsibilities of Prime Minister, it is hereby ordered that six months' leave has been granted to him and that he has been relieved of the duties of Prime Minister, but he will continue to be Peshkar as usual. Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur has been appointed officiating Prime Minister for the present and on probation for three years or until fresh orders issue. In order to enable him to discharge the responsible duties of this high office expeditiously and obtain experience therein, Nawab Imud-ul-Mulk, c.s.i. , has been appointed, until fresh orders, his Special Adviser, that he may help and advise him. The officiating Prime Minister will have all the powers that have been conferred on the permanent Prime Minister by the Khanooncha and the Regulations framed thereunder and the orders in force from time to time. All noblemen, jagirdars, officers and subjects, and other residents are hereby enjoined to obey and fully carry out the orders of the officiating Prime Minister, Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur."*[1] Speaking that evening at a banquet given by H. H. the Nizam at King Koti Palace, in celebration of his birthday anniversary, the British Resident, Colonel A. F. Pinhey, said : —
"Salar Jung! What a name to conjure with in Hyderabad! He has everything in his favour to start with, youth, an historical and honoured name, and an unblemished character. I see no reason why he should not meet with as much success or even more than his illustrious grandfather, and in congratulating him, we can, at the same time, congratulate His Highness on the wise and popular choice which he has made."
His Excellency Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur III has now held the office of Prime Minister for more than two years, and those who know him well speak of his tact, patience, integrity, and ability in all that concerns State business. His charm of manner and artistic tastes make him a general favourite, and it is believed that when the time comes for him to stand alone, he will be found to possess all the qualities that in a Prime Minister make for usefulness and greatness.
- ↑ * On the 20th of July, 1914, His Excellency was confirmed in his high office by His Highness the Nizam, and Hyderabadis hope and pray that before him may lie a long career, for he is extremely popular.