Remembering an art connoisseur

A bachelor all through his life, Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, the Salar Jung III, whose death anniversary falls today, devoted his time in collecting art objects from across the world

The Salar Jung Museum is closed for public today as a mark of respect to the man on his death anniversary as per Islamic calendar. It is almost 67 years since he died yet he lives on through his collected art, which is displayed at the museum and amazes visitors.

The passion for collecting art objects so consumed him that he dedicated his life in pursuit of art. He also relinquished the post of Prime Minister in 1914 after serving the VII Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. There are a few historians who believe that he was removed from the post but, this was in a way a blessing in disguise as we now have a large mass of art that is rare, unique and exquisite in one place.

Collecting art pieces runs in the family who have served as prime ministers to the Nizams. His grandfather Mir Turab Ali Khan had acquired the ‘Veiled Rebecca’, which is now one of the precious objects at the museum.
P Anuradha Reddy of INTACH says, “The huge collection and a large amount that is still in the stores are beyond one’s imagination. There cannot be another Nawab Mir Yousuf in the future.”

An art connoisseur of very high standards, Salar Jung III had a taste for art. For instance, he got a whole gold-rimmed cut glass wine set with a monogram that he had conceived with ‘My trust is in God’ engraved in Czechoslovakia, which is on display at the Founders gallery.

A golden casket is another precious object d’ art presented to Salar Jung I by the corporation of the city of London during his visit in 1876. Salar Jung III kept the monogram intact and added ‘My trust is in God’ to it, not only keeping the family tradition alive but, also made sure his individual style and class was evident.

Several personal items that he used had the monogram, which is unique in more ways than one. A true connoisseur of art, he made sure that he preserved every piece. After his death, his family decided to donate the collection to the nation.

The 48,000 art objects, thousands of manuscripts and over 50,000 books-all a collection of a single man is now housed at the Salar Jung Museum. Initially, the collection was at the Nawab’s house in Dewan Devdi, which was spread over 78 rooms. The collection was shifted to the present site in 1968.

The golden fruit knife: Like most royalty, Salar Jung III too was whimsical. When a merchant from Jaipur came to sell the golden fruit knife of Mughal empress, Noor Jahan for Rs 3 lakh, Salar Jung offered him Rs 3,000.

The upset merchant said kya aap pagal hain to the amazement of all around. Salar Jung did not get angry but went inside a room only to return with the princely sum and bought the knife. The knife now adorns the jade gallery