Sikandar Jah


Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Bahadur, Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III, was the 3rd Nizam/Ruler of Hyderabad, India from 1803 to 1829.

Birth

He was born in Chowmahalla Palace in the Khilwath, the second son of Asaf Jah II and Tahniat un-nisa Begum.

Marriage

He was married with Jahan Parwar Begum Sahiba daughter of Nawab Saif Ul Mulk son of Moin un Daula Nawab Gulam Said Khan Bahadir Surab Jang in May 1800. Second with Fazilath Unisa Begum.

Official name

His original names were Sikandar Jah, Asaf ul-Mulk, Asad ud-Daula, Walashan Nawab Mir Akbar 'Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Bahadur, Asad Jang. He was officially known as Asaf Jah III, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Mir Akbar 'Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Bahadur, Fulad Jang, Nizam of Hyderabad.

Reign

During his reign, a British cantonment was established near Hyderabad and the area was christened after him as Secunderabad. His son Samsamadaula was Defence Adviser to his brother, Nasir ud Daula, and nephew, Afzal ud daula. But he did not have any pact with the British for maintaining the contingent. The state was in a financial mess during his reign.

Building of temple

Sikander Jah not only built the Rambagh temple in Attapur, Hyderabad but also attended the inauguration ceremony proving again the communal harmony that existed between the Muslim Asaf Jahi rulers and their Hindu subjects in Hyderabad. The Nizam also granted a Jagir to the temple priest for the temple’s maintenance.