Don't tarnish Nizam's name in election campaign: Kin

"Does anyone know that the Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was the single largest donor to the National Defence Fund or he was the first Raj Pramukh (Governor) of Hyderabad state"— this how the kin of the last Nizam want him to be remembered.

They don’t want the last Nizam's name to be dragged into a controversy the way the BJP had portrayed him during the 2014 and in the recent 2018 elections.

“I appeal to the politicians not to use my Grandfather’s name in a negative aspect. He has done numerous things for mankind in every sector, irrespective of caste and religion throughout his 37 years rule which shows that he was a visionary. It is unfortunate that our politicians never highlighted the glory the region achieved during the Nizam rule and his contribution to welfare activities,” Nizam’s grandson Najaf Ali Khan told DH here on Wednesday.

The family, generally represented by Najaf Ali Khan, was hurt when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah described the Nizam as a ruler that had sent the Razakars to Kill Hindus.

“Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath while campaigning here for elections even alleged that the last Nizam fled the country immediately after the police action in Hyderabad," Najaf said and added that, "few even compared KCR to the Nizam."

“In fact after the Indian Army took over Hyderabad, he (the Nizam) continued as the ruler till India became a Republic. He continued as Raj Pramukh for five years after that,” he said.

He said that the Nizam's family is hurt whenever politicians randomly refer him as a demon to please a section of the society.

“As a Rajpramukh, which is a constitutional post, the richest man in the world was paid Rs 1 per month salary,” the grandson said.

Responding to the call of the then prime minister the late Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Nizam sent 5,000 kilogram of gold for the defence forces.

“The record is not yet broken. If we calculate that in present rupee value it would be equal to Rs 1,600 crore,” Najaf said.

The family demands that the Nizam's statue be erected at the Osmania University, the NIMS and the Osmania Hospital to tell people what the so-called “stingy” old king did for them.