Hyderabad is the capital of the Indian state ofTelangana. It is a historic city noted for its manymonuments,temples, mosques andbazaars. A multitude of influences have shaped the character of the city in the last 400 years.[1]
The city of Hyderabad was founded by theQutb Shahi sultanMuhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591. It was built around theCharminar, which formed the centrepiece of the city. Hyderabad became an important trading centre for diamonds and pearls, and a centre for culture.[2]
After a brief period ofMughal rule, in 1724, Asaf Jah I defeatedMubariz Khan to establish autonomy over theDeccan Suba, named the regionHyderabad Deccan, and started what came to be known as theAsaf Jahi dynasty. Subsequent rulers retained the titleNizam ul-Mulk and were referred to as Asaf Jahi Nizams, orNizams of Hyderabad.[3][4] Nizam I never formally declared independence from the Mughals; he still flew the Mughal flag, and was never crowned. In Friday prayers, the sermon would be conducted in the name of Aurangzeb, and this tradition continued until the end of Hyderabad State in 1948. The Nizams later signed a subsidiary alliance with the British, and their territory becameHyderabad State, the largestprincely state inBritish India with the city ofHyderabad as its capital.
After India'sindependence in 1947, the Nizam did not wish to accede his state to the newly formed nation. By then, his power had weakened due to theTelangana rebellion. Hyderabad State wasannexed to the Indian Union in 1948. In 1956, theHyderabad State was divided on the basis of linguistic differences, and the city of Hyderabad became the capital ofAndhra Pradesh.
Archaeologists excavating near the city have unearthedIron Age sites that can be dated to 500 BCE.[5] Megalithic sites dating back to 2nd century BC have been excavated. Prominent amongst these sites are atHasmathpet. Megalithic sites have also been discovered atMoulali,Kothaguda,Hyderabad Central University campus.[6][7] Later in 2008 a new site was discovered at Kethepalli near Ramoji Film City.[8] The area around Hyderabad was ruled by the Mauryan Empire in the third century BCE during the reign ofAshoka the Great. After the death of Ashoka (232 BCE), as the Maurya Empire began to weaken and decline, theSātavāhanas who started out as feudatories to the Mauryan dynasty, declared independence and established their empire in this region. TheSātavāhana Empire was a royal Indian dynasty based fromKotilingala in Telangana as well as Junnar (Pune) and Prathisthan (Paithan) in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of theDeccan plateau andcentral India for 450 years, i.e., from 230 BCE onward until around 220 CE. After the decline of the Satavahana Empire in 210 CE, the region came under the rule of theIkshvaku dynasty (225 CE – 325 CE), the successors of the Satavahanas in eastern Deccan.
Various Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms ruled the area during the subsequent centuries. The area was ruled by theKalyani branch of theChalukya kings. When theChalukya kingdom became weaker,Kakatiyas, who were feudal chieftains of Chalukya, declared independence and set up their kingdom aroundWarangal.
The Kakatiyas built theGolkonda Fort in the vicinity of Hyderabad as part of their western defenses along the lines of theKondapalli Fort. The city and the fortress were built on agranite hill that is 120 metres (390 ft) high, surrounded by massivebattlements. The fort was rebuilt and strengthened by RaniRudrama Devi and her successorPrataparudra.[9][10]
The fall of Warangal toMuhammad bin Tughluq's forces from theDelhi Sultanate in 1321 CE brought anarchy to the region.[citation needed] Later, the Golkonda fort came under the control of theMusunuri Nayaks, who defeated theTughlaqi army occupyingWarangal.[11] For the next few decades, theBahmani Sultanate of the Deccan fought the Musunuri Nayakas on the north and theVijayanagara Rayas on the south for control of the region.[citation needed] The Golkonda fort was ceded by the Musunuri Kapaya Nayak to theBahmani Sultanate as part of a treaty in 1364.[12][13] By the middle of the 15th century, the region was under the firm control of the Bahmani Sultanate, which controlled the Deccan north of theKrishna River from coast to of sultanate.[clarification needed]
Under the Bahmani Sultanate, Golkonda slowly rose to prominence. SultanQuli Qutb-ul-Mulk (r. 1487–1543), sent as a governor of Telangana, established it as the seat of his government around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli formally became independent in 1538, establishing theQutb Shahi dynasty based in Golkonda.[14][15] Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure, a massivefortification of granite extending around 5 km incircumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to the present city ofHyderabad.
Chalukya dynasty (624–1075),Kakatiya dynasty (1158–1321),Khalji dynasty (1290–1320),Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1414),Musunuri Nayakas (1336–1365),Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1527),Qutb Shahi dynasty (1518–1687),Mughal Empire (1526–1857),Asaf Jahi dynasty 1724–1948,Republic of India (1948-till date).
In 1463, Sultan Muhammad Shah Bahmani II dispatchedSultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk to theTelangana region to quell disturbances. Sultan Quli quelled the disturbance and was rewarded as the administrator of the region. He established a base atKakatiya hill fortress ofGolconda, which he strengthened and expanded considerably. By the end of the century, Quli ruled from Golconda as thesubedar (governor) of the Telangana region. Quli enjoyed virtual independence fromBidar, where the Bahmani sultanate was then based.
In 1518, when theBahmani Sultanate disintegrated into five different kingdoms, with the others based inAhmednagar,Berar,Bidar andBijapur. Sultan Quli declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate and established the Golconda Sultanate under the title "Sultan Quli Qutub Shah",[17] he rebuilt the mud-fort of Golconda and named the cityMuhammad Nagar.[18][19]
TheHussain Sagar lake was built during the reign ofIbrahim Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth Sultan of the dynasty, in 1563. It was named afterHussain Shah Wali, who helped design it.[20]
In 1589,Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah,[21] the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, selected the present site of the city and established the city of Hyderabad at the banks of theMusi river to overcome water shortages experienced at Golconda.[22] ThePurana Pul (old bridge) enabled quick travel between Golconda and Hyderabad.[23]
There are various theories about the naming of the city. One popular theory suggests that the sultan had named the city "Bhaganagar" or "Bhāgyanagar" afterBhāgmathi, a localnautch (dancing) girl with whom he had fallen in love.[24] She converted toIslam and adopted the titleHyder Mahal.[25] The city was renamedHyderabad in her honour.[24] According to another source, the city was named after Haidar, the son of Quli Qutb Shah.[26] Historians dismiss the theory of dancing girl as a "figment of the imagination" that lacks a "shred of evidence". According to the Hyderabad-based historian Capt. Panduranga Reddy (retd) who studied the city's origin, "It is all fiction that Hyderabad was ever named Bhagyanagar or that it was named after the lover of Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah. Hyderabad was actually built much later around a small village called Chichulam."[27]
The architectural historianPushkar Sohoni theorised the foundation of several cities in the Deccan in this period.[28] According to him, Hyderabad was founded in 1591 to decongest Golconda, which was growing rapidly. In addition, the changing nature of economic organisation and warfare technology required mercantile and civilian settlements to be disaggregated from the fortified military and political centres.[29]Andrew Petersen, a scholar of Islamic architecture, says the city was originally calledBaghnagar (city of gardens).[30]
He ordered the construction of theCharminar in 1591. The construction of the nearbyMakkah Masjid was also started during his reign, but would not be completed for a hundred years.[31][16]Mir Momin Astarabadi, the prime minister in theQutub Shahi period, developed the plan of the city of Hyderabad, including the location of the Charminar andChar Kaman.[32][33][34]
The early history of Hyderabad is inextricably intertwined and fortune rose during the 16th and early 17th centuries, Hyderabad became a center of a vibrant diamond trade. All eight Qutb Shahi sultans were patrons of learning and were great builders. They contributed to the growth and development ofIndo-Persian andIndo-Islamic literature and culture in Hyderabad. Some of the sultans were known as patrons of localTelugu culture as well. During the Qutb Shahi reign Golconda became one of the leading markets in the world for diamonds,pearls,steel, arms, and also printed fabric. In the 16th century, the city grew to accommodate the surplus population ofGolconda and eventually became the capital of the Qutb Shahi rulers. Hyderabad became known for itsbaghs (gardens) and its comfortable weather.
By the mid-17th century, politics in the Deccan were ready for yet another tectonic shift.Mughal princeAurangzeb spent most of his time in the Deccan fighting local Hindu and Muslim kingdoms to establish and enforceMughal sovereignty. After the death ofShah Jahan in 1666, Aurangzeb consolidated his power in Delhi as Emperor and returned to the south. He spent most of his imperial reign in military camps in the Deccan, in an almost desperate campaign to expand the empire beyond the greatest extent it had reached underAkbar. The biggest prize in his eyes was the rich city of Hyderabad, protected by the reportedly impregnable fort ofGolconda.[35]
Aurangzeb with his commandersKhwaja Abid Siddiqi (Qulich Khan) and the latter's sonGhazi-ud-Din Feroze Jung laid siege to Golconda in 1686. Golconda held fast under months of siege, and Aurangzeb had to retreat in frustration. Aurangzeb returned in 1687 and laid siege for 9 months camping in theFateh Maidan ("victory field", now theLal Bahadur Shastri Stadium).[36]Khwaja Abid Siddiqi died in these war and was buried at Kismatpur nearAttapur, Hyderabad. Local legend has it that the fortress held on, but the gates were opened at night by a saboteur Abdullah Khan Pani who was bribed by Aurangzeb. Hyderabad's independence was eclipsed.
On 21 September 1687, the Golkonda Sultanate came under the rule of the Mughal emperorAurangzeb after a year-long siege of the Golkonda fort.[37][38] The annexed city "Hyderabad" was renamedDarul Jihad (House of War),[39] and the main territories of the Golconda Sultanate were made into the provinceHyderabad Subah.[40] Mughal rule in Hyderabad was administered by three main governors:Jan Sipar Khan (1688–1700), his sonRustam Dil Khan (1700–13) andMubariz Khan (1713–24).[41]
Aurangzeb's efforts would turn out largely in vain, with Hyderabad remaining under Mughal rule for less than four decades. During this period, the construction of theMakkah Masjid (which had started in the 16th century) andcity wall of Hyderabad with 12 gateways[42] was completed.
For a few decades, Hyderabad declined, and its vibrant diamond trade was all but destroyed. Aurangzeb's attention moved away quickly to other parts of the Deccan, with theMaratha Empire gaining ground against the Mughals.
Hyderabad State, (its capital and largest cityHyderabad) under theNizams of Hyderabad, was the largestprincely state inIndia, with an area larger thanEngland,Scotland andWales combined. It was considered the "senior-most" princely-state, and within the elaborate protocols of theRaj, its ruler theNizam was accorded a 21-gun salute. Development of modern facilities and industrialization in Hyderabad city started in the late 19th century.[43] The State had its owncurrency,mint,railways, and postal system. TheNizam amassed a lot of wealth, as a result of the diamond trade.[44]
With the emaciation of the Mughal Empire afterAurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal-appointed governors of Hyderabad gained more autonomy from Delhi. In 1714, the Mughal EmperorFarrukhsiyar appointedMir Qamar-ud-din Siddiqi as the viceroy to the Deccan and gave him the title ofNizam-ul-Mulk (governor of the country).[45] He was well suited for the position as he had fought alongside hisfather andgrandfather who were commanders during thesiege of Golconda.
In 1724, he defeatedMubariz Khan to establish control over Hyderabad.[46] He received the title ofAsaf Jah from Mughal EmperorMuhammad Shah in the following year. Thus began theAsaf Jahi dynasty that would rule Hyderabad until a year after India's independence from Britain.[36][47]
The death ofAsaf Jah I in 1748 resulted in a period of political unrest as his sons, backed by opportunistic neighboring states and colonial foreign forces, contended for the throne. The accession ofAsif Jah II, who reigned from 1762 to 1803, ended the instability. In 1768 he signed theTreaty of Machilipatnam, surrendering the coastal region to theEast India Company in return for a fixed annual rent.[48]
In 1769 Hyderabad city became the formal capital of the Nizams.[49][50] In response to regular threats fromHyder Ali (Dalwai ofMysore),Baji Rao I (Peshwa of theMaratha Empire), and Basalath Jung (Asaf Jah II's elder brother, who was supported by theMarquis de Bussy-Castelnau), the Nizam signed asubsidiary alliance with the East India Company in 1798, allowing theBritish Indian Army to occupyBolarum (modernSecunderabad) to protect the state's capital, for which the Nizams paid an annual maintenance to the British.[48]
When theBritish and theFrench spread their hold over the country, successive Nizams won their friendship without bequeathing their power. The Nizams allied themselves with each side at different times, playing a significant role in theAnglo-Mysore Wars.
During the reign of the third Nizam,Sikandar Jah, the city ofSecunderabad was founded to station French troops and subsequently, British troops.[36] The British stationed aResident at Hyderabad and their own troops at Secunderabad, but the state continued to be ruled by the Nizam. Maintenance of British forces, which was part ofsubsidiary alliance with British, put heavy burden on Hyderabad state and bankrupted it in the early 19th century.[51]
Asaf Jah V's reign was marked by reforms by hisPrime MinisterSalar Jung I, included the establishment of a governmental central treasury in 1855. He reformed the Hyderabad revenue and judicial systems, instituted a postal service and constructed the first rail and telegraph networks. The first higher educational institution of Hyderabad known asDar-ul-Uloom was established during his reign.[52][53]
As news of theIndian Rebellion of 1857 reached Hyderabad,Turrebaz Khan andMaulvi Allauddin led rebellions of about 5,000 people and attacked theBritish Residency. However, this was no match for the superior British troops and the rebellion was quickly crushed.[54][55][56]
Asaf Jah VI Mir Mahbub Ali Khan was the sixthNizam of Hyderabad. He ruled the state from 1866 till his death in 1911.[59][60] He inherited the throne at the age of three, and the state was ruled by his regentsSalar Jung I and Shams-ul-Umra III.[61] The Nizam assumed full rule at the age of eighteen.[62][63]
TheNizam's Guaranteed State Railway was established in 1879, a railway company fully owned by theNizam. It was formed to connectHyderabad with the rest of theBritish India, and was headquartered atSecunderabad Railway Station. After independence, it was integrated into theIndian Railways. The introduction of railways also marked the beginning of industry in Hyderabad, and four factories were built to the south and east of theHussain Sagar lake.[64]
The population of Hyderabad city reached 448,000 in 1901, making it the fourth most populous in British India. The surrounding Hyderabad State had a population of 11 million.[65]
TheGreat Musi Flood of 1908 ravaged the city during his reign, killing an estimated 15,000 people and affecting at least 200,000.[66][67][68] All the bridges over theRiver Musi were destroyed, except for thePurana Pul. The Nizam threw open his palacePurani Haveli for the flood victims.[69]
To my horror, I found that three leaks had started and were rapidly extending. The breach of this dam would precipitate an enormous volume of water into the still greater Hosain Sagar Lake, probably cause the dam to burst and thus complete the destruction of Hyderabad city,
— Michael O'Dwyer, British Resident
The flood necessitated planned development of the city. The Nizam invitedSir M. Visvesvaraya to design the flood prevention system of modern Hyderabad.[70]
The Nizam died in 1911 at the age of 45.[71]
The seventh and lastNizam of Hyderabad,Mir Osman Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1911.[71]
He founded numerous institutions and public buildings in the city, including theBegumpet Airport,Hyderabad State Bank,Osmania University,Nizamia Observatory,Moazzam Jahi Market,[72][73]Nizamia Hospital,Assembly Hall (formerly known as the Town Hall)State Central Library (formerly known as theAsafiya Library),Hyderabad High Court.[74] and theOsmania General Hospital. The Nizam also invited British architectVincent Esch for designing some of these. The Nizam also owned an airline, called theDeccan Airways.[75][76]
Two large reservoirs, namely theOsman Sagar and theHimayat Sagar were constructed a few kilometers west of Hyderabad to prevent another flood in the city, on the advice ofSir M. Visvesvaraya.[77][78]
He was known for his immense wealth, andlarge jewel collection, composed of 173 jewels, including theJacob Diamond.[79] He was proclaimed the richest man in the world in 1937, and appeared on the cover ofTime magazine owing majorly to the Golconda mines, which were the primary source of his wealth.
Various industries emerged in pre-independence Hyderabad during the rule of Asaf Jah VII. The major industries that were established in various parts of Hyderabad, and surrounding areas are:[80][81][82]
| Company | Year |
|---|---|
| Karkhana Zinda Tilismat | 1920 |
| Singareni Collieries | 1921 |
| Vazir Sultan Tobacco Company, Charminar cigarette factory | 1930 |
| Azam Jahi Mills Warangal | 1934 |
| Nizam Sugar Factory | 1937 |
| Allwyn Metal Works | 1942 |
| Praga Tools | 1943 |
| Deccan Airways Limited | 1945 |
| Hyderabad Asbestos | 1946 |
| Sirsilk | 1946 |
When India gained independence in 1947, the Nizam declared his intention to remain independent, either as a sovereign ruler or by acquiringDominion status within the British Commonwealth. In order to keep essential trade and supplies flowing, he signed aStandstill agreement with theIndian Union, which surrounded him on all sides. The law and order situation soon deteriorated, with escalating violence between the privateRazakar army fighting for continuation of the Nizam's rule and the people with the support of theCongress leaders likeSwami Ramanand Tirtha and the communists ofTelangana, were fighting for joining the Union. As the violence spiraled out of control with refugees flowing into the coastal Andhra region of theMadras state of India, the Indian Government under Home MinisterSardar Patel initiated a police action titledOperation Polo.[83][84]
On 16 September 1948, the Indian Army moved into Hyderabad State from five fronts. Four days later, the Hyderabad forces surrendered. The number of dead was a little over 800. The Police Action achieved success within a matter of days. The Nizam finally surrendered and signed theInstrument of Accession to the Indian Union andHyderabad was integrated into the Union as astate.
The state got its first democratic government and the representatives of its 18 million people were admitted to theConstituent Assembly drafting a constitution for free India. For the next eight years,Hyderabad State continued as a separate state within the Union, with its capitalHyderabad.
In 1955, in a reportThoughts on Linguistic States,B. R. Ambedkar the then chairman ofthe Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, expressed in his report that the city should be designated as thesecond capital of India afterDelhi. As Hyderabad constitute a strategic central location, infrastructure and amenities.[85] He expressed: "Hyderabad has all the amenities which Delhi has and it is a far better city than Delhi. It has all the grandeur which Delhi has. Buildings are going cheap and they are really beautiful buildings, far superior to those in Delhi. The only thing that is wanting is a Parliament House which the Government of India can easily build."[86] In 2014, the demand resurfaced during thebifurcation of Andhra Pradesh,[87] and in 2019, during thereorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.[88]
On 1 November 1956, the states of India were reorganized onlinguistic grounds and the 7thNizamMir Osman Ali Khan was made theRajpramukh based on his administrative abilities. Consequently, the territories of the State of Hyderabad were divided between newly createdAndhra Pradesh,Bombay state (laterMaharashtra), andKarnataka. Hyderabad and the surrounding areas wereannexed into India, and later toAndhra Pradesh based onTelugu linguistic majority, and Hyderabad became the capital of the new state ofAndhra Pradesh. Since 1956,Rashtrapati Nilayam, Hyderabad has been the second official residence and business office of thePresident of India.[89]
HITEC City was launched in the 1990s as by theAndhra Pradesh government. Today, many multinational IT Companies includingAmazon,Infosys,Cognizant,Microsoft,Tech Mahindra andHCL have offices inHITEC City, and the surrounding localities ofGachibowli andMadhapur. In 2005, construction began for theRajiv Gandhi International Airport, which was completed and opened in 2008, to replace the oldBegumpet Airport.[90] It is one of thebusiest airports in India.
The city saw terrorist bomb blasts inMay 2007,August 2007 andFebruary 2013.[91]
Hyderabad also hosted the2007 Military World Games and2009 World Badminton Championships.[92]
By theAndhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014,Telangana was separated fromAndhra Pradesh as a new 29th state of India, with the city ofHyderabad as its capital. The new state was created on 2 June 2014.[93]K. Chandrashekhar Rao was elected as the firstChief Minister of Telangana.Hyderabad would also remain thede jure capital ofAndhra Pradesh for a period of ten years.
TheHyderabad Metro Rail began operations in 2017, five years after itsgroundbreaking in 2012. Many of the routes are still under construction.[94]
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