Paigah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paigah is the noble family name of the senior Hyderabad State aristocracy. They tended to be richer than the average Indian Maharajah, and each maintained their own court, their own extraordinary palaces, and their own three or four thousand strong private army.
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[edit] Genealogy
The Paigah nobles claim their descent from Hazrath Omar bin Al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam, through Shaikh Fariduddin Gang-e-Shaker, one of the greatest Islamic saints in India, whose shrine is in present day Pakpatan in Punjab.
Shaikh Muhammad Bahauddin, Governor of Shikohabad under Emperor Aurangzeb, was twelfth in direct descent from Shaikh Fariduddin. To Shaikh Bahauddin was born a son, Abul Khair Khan. Under the tutelage of his father, Abul Khair Khan learned the arts of peace and war and grew up to be an accomplished young man. The Emperor Muhammad Shah bestowed upon him the title of "Khan Bahadur" and appointed him to the leadership of 200 cavalry and 500 foot. Abul Khair Khan's emergence as statesman was noticed by Emperor Muhammad Shah's senior minister, Mir Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk - the future Asaf Jah I.
Abul Khair Khan served as Deputy Governor of Malwa and Khandesh and attached his career to that of Nizam-ul-Mulk on his way to the Deccan. Renowned for being frank and outspoken in advice, he served Asaf Jah I well in this capacity in crucial battles like Shekar Khara, then quelling the rebellion of Nizam-ul-Mulk's son Nasir Jung, and also for defeating Bapuji Naik (a senior minister and General of Shahuji- the Maratha ruler) in 1745. Abul Khair Khan died in 1752 and was buried in Burhanpur. His titles at the time of death were Abul Khair Khan, Imam Jung I, Shamsheer Bahadur.
Abul Khair Khan had two sons: (1) Abul Barakat Khan, Imam Jung II who was shot during his father's lifetime(according to family lore) while the Nizam was inspecting a fort near Poona captured from the Marathas and (2) Abul Fateh Khan. Abul Barakat Khan was also buried in Burhanpur.
[edit] Family Tree
- Khattab ibn Nufayl - Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab - 'Abdu'llah - Nasir - Tahir - Mansur - Adham - Ibrahim - 'Abu'l Fath Ishaq - 'Ali, Wa'iz al-Akbar - Muhammad, Wa'iz al-Asghar - 'Abdu'llah - Masud Sama'an - Mahmud Sama'an - Shihab ud-din Ahmad Farukhshah - Yusuf - Ahmad - Shu'aib - Sulaiman Kiuliwal - Farid ud-din Masud Ganj-i-Shakar (d. 668 AH). - Badr ud-din Sulaiman - Majd ud-din Maudad - Zain ud-din Musa - Mu'in ud-din Ma'araf - Karim ud-din Mutawakil - Jalal ud-din 'Abdu'l-Haq - Hisam ud-din Mahmud Danishmand - Kamal ud-din Daud - Malik ul-Ulama, Jalal ud-din Bhalul - Muhammad Firuz - Shaikh Muhammad Baha ud-din (general for Aurangzeb)
[edit] History
Abul Fateh Khan founded the Paigah nobility while rendering service to Nizam Salabat Jung. For his dedication and efforts, Nizam Salabat Jung conferred upon him the hereditary title of Shums-ud-Doula, Shums-ul-Mulk, and Shums-ul-Umra, the latter title meaning "the sun among the nobles". The Nizam also conferred upon Abul Fateh Khan the exclusive right to maintain a “Paigah” or “troops of the household”. A jaagir was established for the maintenance of this private army of 14,000 strong - both cavalry and infantry, fetching an annual income of 30 lakhs of rupees. Henceforth, the "Shums-ul-Umara" family were also known as the Paigah family. Abul Fateh Khan died at Pongel while on his way to face Tipu Sultan during the Mysore Wars in 1786. Abul Fateh Khan was interred in the dargha of Beranashah Saheb. His titles at the time of his death were: Abul Fateh Khan, Abul Khair Khan II, Tegh Jung, Shums-ud-Dowlah, Shums-ul-Mulk, Shums-ul-Umara I. He was survived by his son Muhammad Fakhruddin Khan and daughter Bibi Najeeba.
[edit] Relationship with the Nizams
The bond between the Nizams and the Paigah nobility strengthened with the marriage of Abul Fateh Khan’s son Fakhruddin Khan with the daughter of Mir Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II, Sahebzadi Bashirunissa Begum in 1797. Henceforth, Fakhruddin Khan’s descendants married daughters of other Nizams and consequently, in protocol, the Paigahs were considered next only to the Nizams. The Paigah jaagir was the largest in the state, second only to the Nizam. It was in fact "a state within a state" with its own postage and standing army.
The Paigah nobility being sons-in-laws and brothers-in-laws to the Nizams, were to a certain extent above the law. The local police and courts did not have personal or in rem jurisdiction over their persons or property. They were subject only to the jurisdiction of the Nizam. (With such power and prestige there were times when individual noblemen didn’t foster an entirely cordial relationship with the Nizam).
[edit] The Family
Nawab Fakhruddin Khan died in 1862 at the age of 85. His titles at the time of death were: Abul Khair Khan III, Imam Jung III, Tegh Jung II, Khurshid-ul-Doula, Shams-ud-Doula, Khurshid-ul-Mulk, Shums-ul-Mulk, Shums-ul-Umra II, Amir-e-Kabir I. Fakhruddin Khan had three sons by the Princess Bashirunissa Begum: (1) Fariduddin Khan (1802-1816)(no issue), (2) Rafiuddin Khan (1805-1877)(no issue, but later adopted Sultanuddin Khan’s sons), and (3) Sultanuddin Khan (1814-1845)[Sultanuddin Khan had one son by an African wife - Sabaqat Jung and one son by his wife Sahebzadi Sultanunissa Begum (daughter of Asaf Jah III) - Sir Asman Jah]. Fakhruddin Khan also had one son by his wife Dilawarunissa Begum - Badruddin Khan (1805-1853)(no issue) and one son by his wife Latifunissa Begum - Rashiduddin Khan (1815-1881)[Rashiduddin Khan had two sons by his wife Sahebzadi Hashmatunissa Begum (another daughter of Asaf Jah III) - Sir Khurshid Jah and Sir Viqar-ul-Umara II].
At the death of Fakhruddin Khan, the Paigah estate was divided between his two sons that had surviving issue: Rafiuddin Khan and Rashiduddin Khan. Rafiuddin Khan's titles at the time of death were: Abul Khair Khan IV, Namwar Jung, Umdat-ud-Doula, Shums-ud-Doula, Umdat-ul-Mulk, Shums-ul-Umara III, Amir-e-Kabir II. Rashiduddin Khan's titles at the time of his death were: Abul Khair Khan V, Bahadur Jung, Iqtidar-ud-Doula, Shums-ud-Doula, Iqtidar-ul-Mulk, Shums-ul-Mulk, Shums-ul-Umara IV, Viqar-ul-Umara I, Amir-e-Kabir III.
When Rafiuddin Khan died in 1877, his Paigah estate was inherited by his two adopted sons Sabaqat Jung (1839-1880) and Sir Asman Jah (1840-1898). However, when Sabaqat Jung died in 1880 without issue, his portion of the Paigah estate was divided into three parts and allocated between his brother Sir Asman Jah and his cousins Sir Khurshid Jah and Sir Viqar-ul-Umra. When Rashiduddin Khan died in 1881, his share of the Paigah estate was divided between his two sons Sir Khurshid Jah Bahadur (1841-1902) and Sir Viqar-ul-Umara II (1856-1902). It was decided during this period that there would be no further divisions of the three estates. The Paigah estates were henceforth known as the Asman Jahi Paigah, Khursheed Jahi Paigah, and Viqar-ul-Umarahi Paigah.
Each of the three branches has its own Amir, appointed by the Nizam entirely upon his own discretion. Preference was given to those individuals whose mothers were daughters of the Nizam, provided that they were fit for the post, regardless of other seniority factors such as age, etc. The newly appointed Amir would inherit the entire jaagir of the previous Amir and would be the ceremonial head of that branch of the Paigah family. The Nizam also had the authority to appoint one Amir from among the three Paigah Amirs to hold the honorary morchal (standard) behind the Nizam during Durbar.
According to the census of 1901, the three Paigah Estates in the Hyderabad State comprised of 23 taluks dispersed over the Districts of Bidar, Nander, Osmanabad, Gulbarga, Medak, Atraf-i-Balda, and Nizamabad, and a few scattered villages in Aurangabad, Warangal, Mahbubnagar, and Nalgonda, encompassing 1,273 villages, covering 4,134 square miles, over a population of 774,411. (The Imperial Gazetteer of India, vol. 1, 1909).
Sir Asman Jah's full name and titles were: Muhammad Mazharuddin Khan, Nawab Rafat Jung, Bashir-ud-Doula, Umdat-ul-Mulk, Azam-ul-Umara, Amir-e-Akbar, Sir Asman Jah K.C.I.E. He was the maternal grandson of Asaf Jah III (his mother being Sahebzadi Sultanunissa Begum) and was married to Sahebzadi Parwarishunissa Begum, daughter of Asaf Jah V. At the time of his death in 1898, his Paigah was inherited by his only son, Muhammad Moinuddin Khan, Nawab Enayath Jung, Moin-ud-Doula (1840-1898). Moin-ud-Doula had nine sons and three daughters. His eldest son Nawab Muhammad Zahiruddin Khan Bahadur, born in 1910, was the last Amir of the Asman Jahi Paigah. Nawab Zahiruddin Khan was married to Shahzadiunissa Begum, the eldest daughter of Nawab Wali-ud-Doula of the Viqar-ul-Umarahi Paigah.
Sir Khurshid Jah's full name and titles were: Muhammad Mohiuddin Khan, Nawab Abul Khair Khan VI, Tegh Jung III, Bahadur Jung II, Khurshid-ud-Doula, Shums-ud-Doula, Khurshid-ul-Mulk, Shums-ul-Mulk, Khurshid-ul-Umara, Shums-ul-Umara V, Amir-e-Kabir IV, Sir Khurshid Jah K.C.I.E. He was also the maternal grandson of Asaf Jah III (his mother being Sahebzadi Hashmatunissa Begum) and had two sons Muhammad Faizuddin Khan, Nawab Imam Jung, Khurshid-ud-Doula, Khurshid-ul-Mulk (1865-1925) and Muhammad Hafizuddin Khan, Nawab Zafar Jung, Shums-ud-Doula, Shums-ul-Mulk (1865-1906). Upon Khurshid Jah's death, his younger son, Nawab Zafar Jung was installed as the Amir of the Khurshid Jahi Paigah because his mother was the princess Sahebzadi Haseenunissa Begum (daughter of Asaf Jah V). Nawab Zafar Jung had ten sons and six daughters. Upon Zafar Jung's death, his eldest son, Muhammad Lutfuddin Khan, Nawab Latafat Jung, Lutf-ud-Doula (1883-1937) became the Amir of the Khurshid Jahi Paigah. Upon his death, his eldest son, Muhammad Azimuddin Khan, Nawab Himayat Nawaz Jung was the last Amir of the Khurshid Jahi Paigah. Nawab Himayat Nawaz Jung was married to Viqarunissa Begum, a daughter of Nawab Wali-ud-Doula of the Viqar-ul-Umarahi Paigah.
Sir Viqar-ul-Umara's full name and titles were: Muhammad Fazaluddin Khan, Nawab Sikandar Jung, Iqbal-ud-Doula, Iqtidar-ul-Mulk, Sir Viqar-ul-Umara II K.C.I.E. Like his brother Khurshid Jah, he was also the maternal grandson of Asaf Jah III (his mother being Sahebzadi Hashmatunissa Begum). Sir Viqar had one son Muhammad Mukhtaruddin Khan, Nawab Namwar Jung, Iqtidar-ud-Doula, Sultan-ul-Mulk (1875-1949) by his wife Sahebzadi Jahandarunissa Begum (daughter of Asaf Jah V). Sir Viqar had another son Muhammad Waliuddin Khan, Nawab Wali-ud-Doula (1878-1935) by his wife Muneerunissa Begum. Upon Sir Viqar's death, his elder son, Nawab Sultan-ul-Mulk was installed as the Amir of the Viqar-ul-Umarahi Paigah. Sultan-ul-Mulk had seven sons: Abul Fateh Khan, Muzaffar Nawaz Jung, Fareed Nawaz Jung, Nazeer Nawaz Jung, Khair Nawaz Jung, Hassan Yar Jung, and Waheed Yar Jung. Of special significance, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI had six daughters (one daughter, Sikandarunissa, died in infancy; two daughters, Nizamunissa and Ahmadunissa, never married). All three daughters that did marry, married sons of Sultan-ul-Mulk: Muazffar Nawaz Jung was married to Sahebzadi Asafunissa Begum, Farid Nawaz Jung was married to Sahebzadi Gouseunissa Begum, and Nazir Nawaz Jung was married to Sahebzadi Dawoodunissa Begum. Of these three brothers, only Nazir Nawaz Jung had male issue. Due to the incapacity of Sultan-ul-Mulk in his later years, Nawab Rashid Nawaz Jung, the eldest son of Nazeer Nawaz Jung and Sahebzadi Dawoodunissa Begum and paternal grandson of Sultan-ul-Mulk was appointed Amir of the Viqar-ul-Umrahi Paigah. Preference was given to Rashid Nawaz Jung over his father and uncles because his mother was a royal princess. Rashid Nawaz Jung was also selected amongst the three Paigah Amirs to have the honor of holding the cermonial morchal behind Asaf Jah VII at Durbar. Rashid Nawaz Jung also held the morchal during the coronation of Mir Barkat Ali Khan, Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII in April 1967. An avid golfer and hunter, the last Amir of the Viqar-ul-Umarahi Paigah, Rashid Nawaz Jung, passed away on October 1, 2006 in Himayatnagar, Hyderabad.
Bashir Bagh Palace belonged to Sir Asman Jah, a Paigah noble and Prime Minister of Hyderabad (1887-1894).
Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, the Paigah noble and the then prime minister of Hyderabad state, in 1895 by presented Falaknuma palace, easily one of the opulent palaces in the country to the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan.
[edit] List of Paigahs of Hyderabad
- Sir Vicar-ul-Umra
- Sir Asman Jah
- Shams-ul-Umra
