MODERN HYDERABAD DECCAN BY JOHN LAW AUIIIOK OF GLIMPSLb O HIDDEN INDIA- THE HOROSCOPE, CALCUTTA THACKER, SPINK CO 1914. CALCUTTA PRINTED 15Y THAOKKK, SFTtfK AND TO. PREFACE. I OFFER my sincere thanks to Syed Mahdi Hossain Bilgrami, Esq., Assistant Secretary, Political Department, Hyderabad, Deccan, for reading the proofs of this book and to R. I. R. Clancy, Esq., Finance Secretary, and M. A. N. A. Haidari, Esq., Secretary to H. H. the Nizams Government, Judicial, Police and General Departments, for their kind assistance. I am also indebted to the gentlemen in charge of the Hyderabad State Library, from whom I have received much attention and kindness. As regards the history of the State, I have given the names and dates found in the Imperial Gazetteer of India, Hyderabad State, Provincial Series 1909, A. D., and for modern affairs I have drawn largely on the new Hyderabad census, published this year, and the special articles in it, which are up-to date and important. I would like to thank Lt.-Col. A. F. Pinhey, c. s. i., C. I. E., British Resident at Hyderabad, tor the interest he has shewn in this book and the encouragement he has given IV PREFACE. me. His return to Hyderabad and Secunder abad has been most welcome at the present time. I append an account, taken from the Pioneer of September 28th, 1914, of the magnificent gift of His Highness the Nizam to the Government of India for the war. This took place after my book had gone to press. Ever since 1857 Hyderabad Deccan has held a peculiar place in the affections of English people, for we know that Our Faithful Ally can always be relied on at a crisis. His Highness the Nizam has come for ward with an offer of a contribution to the war worthy of the Premier State in India and of the representative of a line of rulers whose relations with the British Government have been of such a unique character. After long deliberation, His Highness says, he has arrived at the conclusion that he would prefer that his contribution should take the shape of supporting the entire expenses of two regiments in which he is specially interested, the ist Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers and the 2oth Deccan Horse of which he is Colonel from the day of their depar ture Trom Hyderabad for the war to that of PREFACE. V their return to cantonments. But in any case His Highness does not wish his contribu tion to fall below sixty lakhs, the sum offered by the late Nizam to Queen Victoria in the days of the Russian crisis, and he places that sum at the disposal of the Viceroy. His Excellency in acknowledging this magnani mous offer says The traditional loyalty of your house and all its rulers to the British Government has always been notorious and has been proved on many an occasion of difficulty and danger and the present demon stration of loyalty to our King-Emperor and of a heart - felt desire to help the Empire is only one more proof, if such were needed, of Your Highnesss intense patriotism and devotion. I shall not fail to inform His Majesty the King-Emperor of Your Highnesss most patriotic offer, which I gladly accept on behalf of the Government of India and at the same time express my most cordial thanks CONTENTS. CHAPTERS. PAGE. J. His Highness the Nizarn ... ... i II. Ancient History, and the Ruins .. 2 III. The Nizams and their Ministers . . 20 IV. Sir Salar Jung I, and H. E. the Minister, Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur III ... 31 V. The Administration to-day ... 40 VI, The Land ... ... ... 55 VII. The people , ... ... 68 VIII. Finance ... ... . 75 IX. Irrigation ... ... ,. 82 X. The Administration of Justice ... 93 XI. Medical ... ... ... J0 i XII. Education . ... 109 XIII. The Singareni Collieries ... ... Ir 8 XIV. The Cotton Industry ... .. 124 XV. The Honble the British Resident ... 130 XVI. The State Army ... ... , 35 XVII. The Mint ... ... ... I4O XVIII. Miscellaneous ... ... ... 5 CHAPTER I. His HIGHNESS THE NIZAM...