Viqar-ul-Umra

Viqar-ul-Umra was born as Muhammad Fazluddin Khan on 13 August 1856 to Rashiduddin Khan and Hashmatunnisa Begum. Viqar-ul-Umra's maternal grandmother was Bashirunnisa Begum, a daughter of Nizam Ali Khan, Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar.{{sfn|Lyton|1992|p=86}}

Viqar-ul-Umra was a member of the Paigah family. The family was hierarchically second to the Nizam of Hyderabad. The family members were staunch loyalists of the Nizam.{{cite web |last1=Safvi |first1=Rana |title=The Paigah's necropolis |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/the-paigahs-necropolis/article22481683.ece|work=The Hindu |access-date=1 April 2019 |date=21 January 2018}} The family descends from the Rashidun caliph Umar. One of the family's ancestor is the Sufi saint Fariduddin Ganjshakar. Another ancestor Muhammad Abu’l Khair Khan was a mansabdar during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's reign.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/bhopal14 |title=bhopal14}}

File:Viqar-ul-Ulama Buggy.jpeg

File:Tomb of Sir Vicar ul-Umra.jpg]]

During his years as prime minister, he made valuable contributions in the field of education. The education department, the engineering school, the law classes, the legislative Council and the Asafia Library were opened under his prime-ministership.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

He was the fifth Amir of a noble family, the Paigahs, and was the maternal grandson of Asaf Jah III.

Sir Muhammad Fazl ud-din built the magnificent palace like Falaknuma Palace as his residence, which took 9 years to build and was completed in 1893.

He also built the magnificent Paigah Palace in the European style of architecture, after he gave the Falaknuma palace to Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, where he spent his life. He built Vikhar Manzil, near Hussain Sagar lake.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

Viqar-ul-Umra commissioned the Spanish Mosque (original name: Jama Masjid Aiwan-e-Begumpet) at Begumpet, Hyderabad in 1887. He started its construction after getting inspired by Spanish architecture during one of his trips to Spain. It is built in the Moorish architecture style and has calligraphy, horseshoe arches and influences of Roman architecture.{{cite web |last1=Syed Akbar |title=On Independence Day, Spanish mosque in Hyderabad will open to all faiths |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/on-independence-day-spanish-mosque-in-begumpet-to-open-for-people-of-all-faiths/articleshow/65346575.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=11 August 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Gopalan |first1=Madhumita |title=The Spanish mosque: Moorish architecture in the heart of Hyderabad |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/spanish-mosque-moorish-architecture-heart-hyderabad-50366 |publisher=The News Minute |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=24 September 2016}}{{cite web |title=Hyderabad's Spanish mosque: A serene place of worship and acceptance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/spanish-mosque-hyderabad-a-serene-place-of-worship-and-acceptance-visit-my-mosque/article24703946.ece |work=The Hindu |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=16 August 2018}}

Viqar-ul-Umra constructed the Falaknuma Palace in 1893. Later on this palace was allegedly gifted to the Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan under political pressure. This palace was built with a blend of Italian and Tudor architecture and the ceiling is adorned with frescos. It also has the world's largest dining wall in which chairs made of rosewood are present. Currently, it is a hotel, leased to Taj Hotels. Notable dignitaries to stay in this palace include Czar Nicholas II, George V, Queen Mary, Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump.{{cite web |title=Mirror to the sky: All about the Falaknuma Palace, playing regal host to Ivanka Trump|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mirror-sky-all-about-falaknuma-palace-playing-regal-host-ivanka-trump-72305 |publisher=The News Minute |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=28 November 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Taneja |first1=Richa |title=All About Hyderabad's Falaknuma Palace Where PM Modi, Ivanka Trump Will Dine |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hyderabad-s-falaknuma-palace-where-pm-modi-ivanka-trump-will-dine-10-points-1780669 |publisher=NDTV |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=27 November 2017}}

After Nizam bought the Falaknuma Palace, Viqar-ul-Umra built the Paigah Palace (originally known as Aiwan-e-Viqar) for himself. The Zenana Mahal in it was built with a blend of Neo Gothic, Indo-Saracenic and Mughal architecture. A part of the palace houses the U.S. consulate and a part of it is inhabited by his descendants.{{cite web |last1=Saumya |first1=Kota |title=A palace straight out of a storybook |url=https://telanganatoday.com/palace-straight-storybook |publisher=Telangana Today |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=11 November 2017}} By {{circa|1900}}, he built scores of monuments, public buildings, Dams, water reservoirs, artificial lakes, and about 21 palaces and mansions in the state of Hyderabad including the palace of Paigah Palace also known as Aiwan-e-Begumpet.{{cite web |title=Palace with a view |url=https://www.thehindu.com/mp/2004/03/24/stories/2004032400410300.htm |work=The Hindu |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=24 March 2004}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Viqar-ul-Umra founded the city of Vikarabad in present-day Telangana state, India. This town is named after him. In this beautiful town with a mini hill station of Ananthgiri hills, he constructed the Sultan Manzil for his son Nawab Sultan-Ul-Mulk, post-office, police station, Hospital, Sanitarium, Vikarabad Bazar, Kotpally dam, Vikarabad lake and a hunting lodges imported from London in 1882.{{cite web |title=Vikarabad is a gift of Paigahs |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/131016/vikarabad-is-a-gift-of-paigahs.html |work=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=13 October 2016}}

In {{circa|1873}}, Viqar-ul-Umra married Jahanderunnisa Begum. She was the fourth daughter of Nizam Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V Tahniyath Ali Khan and a sister of Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan. After Nawab Viqar-ul-Umra Bahadur was knighted, his wife took the title Lady Viqar-ul-Umra.{{sfn|Lyton|1992|p=90}} Their son Sultan-ul-Mulk was born on 3 November 1875. He later became the Amir-i-Paigah-Viqar-ul-Umra (Amir-i-Paigah of Viqar-ul-Umra branch).{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} They also had a daughter – Liaqatunnisa Begum.

In 1878, Viqar-ul-Umra married Munirunnisa Begum, the daughter of Nawab Hamza Ali Khan Bahadur. Their son Waliuddin Khan was born on 13 March 1880. He later served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. They also had a daughter – Taharaqunnisa Begum.

Although Viqar-ul-Umra's previous marriages were arranged, he fell in love with Dr. Gulbai Viccajee, a Hyderabadi physician. They first met in Mumbai.{{sfn|Lyton|1992|p=103}} In 1900, they married. As she was a Zoroastrian by faith (colloquially known as Parsi), she converted to Islam to marry him. She took the name Nur Jahan Begum. After marriage, she left her medical profession and lived in purdah at Vikhar Manzil.{{sfn|Lyton|1992|p=104}}

Viqar-ul-Umra died while hunting at Yalghadap - Khanapur (in present-day Nizamabad district in Telangana) on 15 February 1902. He is buried at the Paigah Tombs.

Viqar-ul-Umra was an avid player of polo. He discovered the sport during a tour to Europe and later brought it to Hyderabad. He went on to popularise the sport amongst the nobles of the state. He also constructed polo grounds in the state and organized polo tournaments for the royal families.{{cite web |title=Who was Viqar-ul-Umra |url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31809&articlexml=Who-was-Viqar-ul-Umra-23082014106032 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331192842/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31809&articlexml=Who-was-Viqar-ul-Umra-23082014106032 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 March 2019 |work=The Times of India |access-date=31 March 2019 |date=23 August 2014}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040919030526/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/31/stories/2003123100350300.htm Feature on a palace he built]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080212103737/http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/06/stories/2006100612200400.htm The Hindu feature on Paigah tombs]

{{Nizam of Hyderabad}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-gov}}

{{Succession box |

before=Nawab Asman Jah Bahadur|

title=Prime Minister of Hyderabad |

years=1893–1901|

after=Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad

}}

{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viqar-Ul-Umra}}

Category:Hyderabad State

Category:1856 births

Category:1902 deaths

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire

Category:Indian knights

Category:Recipients of the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal

Category:Prime ministers of Hyderabad State