Nizam legacy locked in Reserve Bank’s vault, Hyderabad wants the glitter back home

HYDERABAD: While nostalgia haunts Hyderabad on the last Nizam's legacy, residents have been allowed only two glimpses of the royal treasure trove: in 2001 and in 2006 when the jewels were exhibited at Salar Jung Museum for brief periods.

Both times, the event drew lakhs of visitors before treasure was sent back to RBI vaults.

Great grandson of the last Nizam, Himayath Ali Mirza, said: "We will seek an audience with Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to reiterate our demand. Hyderabad must have its own museum to display the Nizam's jewellery."

His mother Fatima Fouzia and maternal uncle, Shahmat Jah, couldn't agree more. In fact, together they are even willing to knock on Supreme Court's doors to facilitate return of jewellery to Hyderabad.

Even as one section of society in Hyderabad is apprehensive about the family's plans, citing infighting as a reason for their concern, Nizam's descendants claim they are united on the issue.

The family apart, a many historians and city old-timers too make a similar appeal. "Let it still be Government of India's property, but display it in Hyderabad where it belongs," said a city historian.

"If they (jewels) went on permanent display, these would attract many thousands of visitors from India and abroad. They are unique, a national treasure that shouldn't be locked away in a bank vault. To do so is an aberration that wouldn't be tolerated in most countries," said John Zubrzycki, author of The Last Nizam. Referring to Hyderabad as the "natural home" of the jewels, he said it's "high time" they were returned.

While some hoped this shift would be made possible when the TRS government assumed office - given KCR's respect for the Nizam - the three-year-old government has made no such move.

"We thought KCR would at least raise this issue with the Centre, but that of course hasn't been the case. Let us see if he breaks his silence in future," said a city heritage expert.

"While Hyderabad is far more impressive than Rajasthan, the city draws fewer tourists because much of its history was destroyed within first 50 years after the end of Nizam's rule.

Apart from Chowmahalla and Falaknuma, they haven't done anything to enhance its appeal," said William Dalrymple, writer and historian. For him too, Hyderabad is the "obvious choice" for housing the Nizam's jewels.