Mukkaram Jah became a Nizam with liabilities

At the age of 23, Shahid Husain Zuberi was offered the job of controller of Chiran Palace. He knew very well that the previous 13 controllers could not survive for more than two years on the job and Mukarram Jah had said that he would be surprised if the young man survived for two months.

This was in the year 1969. But Shahid went on to work for Mukarram Jah in various capacities for 20 years. Now, at the age of 70 he penned his thoughts about Jah and the book is releasing today.

In no way is the book a hagiography insists Shahid sitting in his apartment in Mehdipatnam. “It is an account of the man highlighting the human element. There are two facets-either you believe in something or you know something. I have worked with him closely and have written knowing things,” he says.

People in Hyderabad have always said that Mukarram Jah left for Australia leaving behind properties and a chance to take forward the legacy of his grandfather to which Shahid says, “He became a Nizam with liabilities and is a victim of circumstances. But no one can challenge his honesty.”

“The Princess Durreshehwar and Prince Asra hospitals and the Mukkaram Jah Trust for Education and Learning stand testimony to his humane side,” he adds.

The 320-page book starts with the family background of 11 generations in 53 pages and continues with Mukkaram Jah. Laced with close to 100 rare photographs, it has anecdotes one has never heard.

Recounting one such incident, Shahid says, “Mukkaram Jah wanted a bouquet but the place where they were was a small town in Australian outback and there was no way of getting one.

I finally managed to get one from a caretaker of a graveyard. He was surprised when I presented it to him and knowing well it was impossible to get a bouquet he wanted to know how I managed to get one. And when he knew all he said was ‘What else can I expect from you.”

“On another occasion when we were camping in Gulbarga, the collector wanted to meet him at 9.30am but no one had the guts to inform the Nizam at 9am. I knocked on the door and told him and he thanked me. Cultural moorings of the older generation were such that people hesitated to even communicate simple things to him but he always welcomed suggestions,” he shares.

Shahid adds, “I remember him once saying that there are three relationships dear to him- blood relationship, friends and Hyderabadis.”Rubbishing talk of Mukkaram Jah living a life of a recluse in Turkey is a very unromantic imagination, says Shahid who is as fluent in English as in Urdu and says that an English translation of the book is on its way. ‘Awraq-e-Maazi’ will be released by Prof Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor, NALSAR University of Law at Salar Jung Museum this evening.