IMAGINE HYDERABAD...

Government:

Hyderabad State Forces His Exalted Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad is the Ruler of the premier Indian State, which has a population of over fourteen million, and covers 83,000 square miles in Southern India. He maintains three regiments of Lancers organized as a Cavalry Brigade and, in addition, three Infantry battalions, a Horse Artillery Battery and a Transport Section. His forces number nearly five thousand in all. A regiment of Hyderabad Lancers served with the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade on the Suez Canal and in Palestine during the Great War. The officer shown in Full Dress in our picture is the commander of the Cavalry Brigade; the Char Minar, Hyderabad, appears in the background.

The rule of the seven Nizam's saw the growth of Hyderabad State both culturally and economically. Huge reservoirs, like the Nizam Sagar, Tungabadra, Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar, and others were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna Sagar had also begun during this time.

Hyderabad, under the Nizam's, was the largest princely state in India. Area wise it was as big as England and Scotland put together. The State had its own currency, mint, railways, and postal system. There was no income tax.

During the Asif Jahi period, Persian, Urdu, Telgu and Marathi developed simultaneously. Persian was the official language up to 1893 and then Urdu up to 1948. Although the Muslims represented less then 15% of the population, they filled almost all government posts including those in army and the police. In population, revenue and importance, it was the premier State in the country. Hyderabad had its own coinage, paper currency and stamps.