Hyderabad: Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, the grandson of the seventh Nizam, condemned remarks by BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri against the last ruler of Hyderabad State. The MP suggested renaming Nizamabad to Indur, which the Nizam’s family deemed a “reckless distortion of history.”
Najaf Ali Khan emphasized that renaming a district is an administrative matter. However, involving Mir Osman Ali Khan, who died 58 years ago, in this debate shows either ignorance or malice. He criticized the MP’s language as inappropriate for someone in a constitutional position.
Najaf Ali Khan highlighted the Nizam’s contributions to Nizamabad, turning it into a significant agricultural and industrial hub. He mentioned the construction of the Nizam Sagar Dam and the establishment of the Nizam Sugar Factory, the largest of its kind then. He also noted the development of a railway network connecting the district to major cities.
The Nizam’s grandson argued that current issues with these assets are due to government neglect, not historical figures. “Historical figures shouldn’t be blamed for today’s administrative failures,” he stated. Defending the seventh Nizam’s secular legacy, Najaf Ali Khan described the period from 1911 to 1947 as a “golden era” marked by cultural harmony. He reminded critics that when the Nizam died in 1967, an Extraordinary Gazette was issued in his honor, and people of all faiths attended his funeral, showing the respect he commanded.
This response followed Arvind Dharmapuri’s statement on January 9 about renaming Nizamabad to Indur if the BJP gains power in the state.
