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Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, was the richest man in the world. His photo was published on the cover of America’s Time magazine. Nizam often fell in love with women. Many of their love stories are still told with great enthusiasm. Nizam once fell deeply in love with a courtesan from Lucknow. He was deeply in love with her. Then what happened to this love? Let us also tell you that the name of this courtesan from Lucknow was Mumtaz.
When the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad fell in love with Lucknow’s courtesan Mumtaz, he became completely crazy in love with her. The news of their love spread from the court of Hyderabad to outside. This love story of theirs is recorded in the reports even of the British officers of that period. Nizam had two marriages. But both marriages turned into indifference with time. In such a situation, he gradually got inclined towards courtly arts, especially music and dancing women.
How courtesan Mumtaz came into the life of Nizam
Then Mumtaz Begum came into his life. The courtesan of Lucknow who won the heart of the Nizam. Mumtaz Begum was a famous courtesan of Lucknow, who was adept in Sufiana music and Thumri. It is said that in the 1910s, the Nizam heard her singing at a court gathering in Lucknow. That sound was so resonant and painful that the Nizam immediately said, “This sound should echo in the nights of Hyderabad.”
According to the books, Nizam’s first meeting with Mumtaz Begum took place in 1912 in Lucknow. At that time Nizam was about 26 years old. Mumtaz Begum was about 16-17 years old. It is said that he was so fascinated by her beauty, manners and singing-dancing skills that he fell in love with her.
Then Mumtaz Begum was called to Hyderabad
After a few months, Nizam called Mumtaz Begum secretly to Hyderabad. A special palatial residence was built for her, it is still known as Mumtaz Manzil and is registered as a Waqf property in the Afzalganj area of Hyderabad. However, now it has come into a dilapidated condition.
Then what was left. Mumtaz Begum reached Hyderabad and the Nizam’s private parties started being arranged with her every evening. There used to be periods of Qawwali, Thumri, Sufi poetry. Nizam became more and more crazy in love with Begum. He made a gold and silver necklace for Mumtaz Begum. Got a jewel made in imitation of Kohinoor.
It is said that undoubtedly she had become a famous courtesan of Lucknow. At that time, his guests were often rich landlords, rich businessmen and high-ranking British officials, but before the Nizam, there is no historical record of his having any special relationship with anyone else. It can be assumed that due to his fame and art, many rich people must have been crazy about him.
British officers had objection to this love
A report by the British Resident (1933, India Office Records, London) wrote, “The Nizam is paying undue attention to a prostitute who sings Sufi ghazals in his private room.” This love was uncomfortable for both the court and the British officials, because the love of a “head of state” with a “queenez” (courtesan) was considered against “state propriety”. British officers considered it an insult to the throne.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, about whose many love affairs remained widely discussed. But the most famous incident was with courtesan Mumtaz Begum. (Wiki Commons)
Mumtaz Begum gradually became an important part of the Nizam’s life. It is said that whenever Nizam was troubled by any political crisis, he would run straight to Mumtaz. She used to recite Sufi couplets to them, “Love is also worship, if the intentions are pure.” The Nizam, mad in love, created a Waqf Trust in her name – Mumtaz Waqf Estate, in which the lands and palaces of that area were registered.
There were gatherings every day
Although the Nizam never formally granted her the status of “Begum” – he certainly wanted to do so but the court and the British government had strong objections to it. He also believed that if he made courtesan Mumtaz Begum, the crown placed on her head would be brought into disrepute.
In a way, Mumtaz settled in Hyderabad. He used to hold meetings with the Nizam every day till late night, there were many talks and whispers about it. Then a day came when in 1940, Mumtaz Begum was ordered to leave Hyderabad. Because Nizam started being accused of not having “political concentration”. It was being said that the Nizam was so enamored with Mumtaz that he was no longer interested in governance.
Well, with a broken heart, Nizam bid farewell to Mumtaz. Dejected Mumtaz left Hyderabad. It is said that when she left, the Nizam bid her farewell with just one sentence, “My heart’s government, if you remain, love will remain alive.”
Nizam Osman Ali Khan did not give place to any other woman in his palace in the last years of his life. According to his personal secretary Syed Ahmed, “Nizam used to lose his sleep at night listening to Mumtaz’s old thumri recordings.” It is true that Nizam was deeply in love with a courtesan named Mumtaz Begum.
By the way, the mistresses of the Nizams of Hyderabad were often poets, musicians or women of foreign origin. She was fascinated by Nizam’s personality and through her, Nizam used to find emotional solace away from the world.
The records of the Salar Jung Museum also only mention that the Nizam gave Waqf property in the name of a female musician, with whom his relationship was said to be platonic i.e. spiritual.
The seventh Nizam Osman Ali Khan wrote in his last days, “I have everything – gold, silver, crown, but not what my heart desires.” His son Mir Barkat Ali, who then became his heir in the name of Mukarram Jah. He later said, “My father could not fulfill any of his loves till the end, because politics came in between every time.”
Mumtaz’s two daughters
Some books also say that Nizam included Mumtaz Begum in his harem. Although she was never made Begum. From this relationship they had two daughters – the elder daughter’s name was Bachi Begum and real name was Alia Unnisa Begum. The name of the younger daughter was Sultana Begum.
His daughter, Bachi Begum later became a famous actress. He also wrote a book on his mother’s life, “Mumtaz Begum of Hyderabad”, which revealed many pages of this history.
Some books also say that after separation from Hyderabad, Mumtaz Begum formed another important relationship. She married a landlord named Nawab Siddiqui Hasan in Bhopal. This relationship lasted till the last days of his life. After this marriage he tried to live a normal and private life.
While living with the Nizam, he had no dearth of opulence and wealth. But later the Nizam did not provide him adequate financial assistance. He had to face financial crisis.
Mumtaz Begum’s last days were spent in anonymity and poverty. He died in Bhopal on 25 December 1935. He was buried in a simple grave. His grave remained unknown for a long time, although it was later discovered by historians.
source
1. Records, expenditure details and correspondence of the Nizam’s court, preserved in the Salarjung Museum
2. Biography of the great courtesan
3. Book “The Courtesan of India” – Author Lily Pascal
4. “Hyderabad: A Biography” (Author: Lily Pascal Kidwai)
5. Academic Journal: Research papers on topics like “Culture of Courtesans” and “Private Life of Princely States” have been published in academic journals related to Indian History, Social Studies and Women’s Studies, in which Mumtaz Begum is mentioned as a case study.
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