The Last Nizam
The Last Nizam
by John Zubrzycki
“After kissing the Threshold of Your Throne, it is humbly submitted to the Great and Holy Protector of the World, Shadow of God, Mighty Holder of Destinies, Full of Light and Most Elevated among Creatures, the Exalted, May God’s Shadow Never Grow Less, may God Protect Your Kingdom and Your Sultanate, Most humbly I beg to submit….”
That was the way you asked the Nizam of Hyderabad, if you were a noble, to leave Hyderabad to go to Poona to the races.
You bent low, like you were in Ruku for salat – you hand touched your forehead and falling to the ground, seven times – in the presence of His Excellent Highness, The Nizam of Hyderabad. John Zubrzycki saya a dozen time but that is not true. The Mughal Emperor got a niner, the Nizam, always in allegiance to the Mughal Emperor (and later to British) got a sevener. I was there, I did it as a toddler with my uncle, before a scruffy looking man who looked poorer than our gardener and handy job man, Chunnu Mamoo.
John Zubrzycki’s book “The Last Nizam” it a delicious slice of history, for those interested in that part of the world, for those interested in the intricacies of the Rise and Fall of dynasties.
At one time considered the richest man in the world, with no real count ever made of his wealth. Olympic sized swimming pool could be filled with his diamonds, the whole of Broadway could be paved with his pearls, his gold was not counted in ounces but tons.
And Mukarram Jah, the heir to the wealth (and the Last Nizam), the heir to the Caliphate spent it, lost it in one lifetime declared himself bankrupt.
I have always been interested in history, especially that of the Deccan Plataeu, so I found it immensely readable. John Zubrzycki is no William Dalrymple but the book, mostly, is a good read.
It is a study in how power and wealth is aqcuired, maintained and lost. An old Sanskrit saying comes to mind:
San Sapoot Toh Dhan Kyon Sanchay
San Kapoot Toh Dhan Kyon Sanchay
4 comments:
met the author at ubud and must read this. where did you buy it?? (i am kicking myself for not bringing back more books but there were no credit card facilities and books are cheaper here)
As usual I went to Raman for the book and he found it for me.
Glad you enjoyed it. Read this book sometime ago and have pitched for John ever since. What makes the book special is depth it provides without the girth. Given all the interviews and research that went into it, it could have easily transformed into a 1000 page tome. A truly fascinating story. John will be at the Galle Lit Fest next should you have any travel plans - its happening in Jan 15th onwards.
Visited the palace in Hyderabad in 2000. It was spilling over with daytrippers and one room looked just like another - all oppressively opulent! So I opted to hang around the vendors and chat with some locals. Megalomaniacs are so boring and predictable, they all deserve to bite the dust.
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