Hyderabad: Tahreek Muslim Shabban demanded that the Telangana government institute a Nizam state award for contributions to education and healthcare. The organisation also sought the inclusion of the Seventh Nizam’s public services in the educational syllabus.
Tahreek Muslim Shabban president Muhammad Mushtaq Malik raised the demands at a public meeting at Masjid-e-Judi in King Koti on Thursday. The organisation held the meeting in connection with the 1948 Police Action and to commemorate the Nizam of Deccan’s legacy.
Malik urged the government to recognise the Nizam’s public services and his contribution to Hindu-Muslim unity. He also sought recognition of his role in promoting Hyderabad’s Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb.
The organisation has held an annual public meeting at Masjid-e-Judi after Zuhr prayers on September 17. It has organised the event to commemorate the legacy of the Nizam-e-Deccan. Senior columnist and journalist Abbas Ahmed Engineer addressed the gathering. Former Urdu Academy chairman of united Andhra Pradesh Rahimullah Khan also spoke at the meeting.
Sunni Ulama Board chairman Maulana Syed Ahmed Hussain Shuttari and other speakers also addressed the gathering. They paid tribute to the public services and educational contributions of Seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan.
Nizam state award demand focuses on public services
The speakers highlighted several institutions established during the Nizam’s rule. They cited Osmania University, Osmania General Hospital, the High Court, Nizam’s Orthopaedic Hospital and the ENT Hospital at Koti.
They also highlighted contributions to irrigation, drinking water supply and industrial development. In this context, they referred to Osmania Sagar, Nizam Sagar, Ali Sagar and Himayat Sagar. Furthermore, the speakers cited the Nizam Sugar Factory and other industries while discussing Hyderabad’s industrial development.
Malik said Mir Osman Ali Khan had worked for public welfare and promoted education, healthcare and development. He also recalled the Nizam’s support for religious and charitable institutions.
According to Malik, this support included Hindu temples and maths. He also referred to the construction and development of mosques during the Nizam’s rule. Malik said the Nizam had regarded Hindus and Muslims as the “two eyes of the state.” He added that the ruler had upheld Hyderabad’s Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb.
Therefore, he urged the Telangana government to recognise the legacy and preserve it for future generations. Malik also opposed describing September 17 solely as “Liberation Day.” Instead, he said the occasion should be remembered as Hyderabad Merger Day.
He recalled that the Government of India had appointed the Nizam as Rajpramukh after Hyderabad State joined the Indian Union. Malik said the Nizam had held the position for nearly three years.
He also referred to the subsequent reorganisation of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. Its territories later became parts of present-day Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, he said. Aurangabad, Latur, Parbhani and Nanded are now in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Bidar, Raichur and Kalaburagi are in Karnataka.
Nizam state award proposed for achievers across India
Malik welcomed a recent speech by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in the Telangana Legislative Assembly. He appreciated Rao’s remarks concerning Hyderabad’s history and legacy. He said the Nizam’s contributions to education and healthcare deserved recognition at both state and national levels.
Accordingly, Malik reiterated the demand for a Nizam state award for outstanding contributions to education and healthcare. He urged the Telangana government to make deserving individuals from across India eligible for the proposed award.
At the conclusion of the programme, participants paid their respects at the grave of the Seventh Nizam. The gathering included scholars, lawyers, ulema, teachers and representatives of various Muslim organisations. Participants also performed Fatiha Khwani and adorned the grave.