page_title: History of Hyderabad
section_title: Asaf Jah VII
hierarchical_section_title: History of Hyderabad / The Nizams of Hyderabad (1724–1948) / Asaf Jah VII
caption_attribution_description: English: Hyderabad City Students leaving the Osmania University by the imposing main entrance
context_page_description: Hyderabad is the capital of the Indian state of Telangana. It is a historic city noted for its many monuments, temples, mosques and bazaars. A multitude of influences has shaped the character of the city in the last 400 years.
  The city of Hyderabad was founded by the Qutb Shahi sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 CE. It was built around the Charminar, which formed the centerpiece of the city. Hyderabad became an important trading center for diamonds and pearls, and a center for culture.
  After a brief period of Mughal rule, the first Nizam of Hyderabad conquered the city in 1724. The Nizams later signed a subsidiary alliance with the British, and their territory became Hyderabad State, the largest princely state in British India with the city of Hyderabad as its capital. During this period, industry, railways, modern education, and airways developed in Hyderabad.
  After India's independence in 1947, the Nizam did not wish to accede his state to the newly formed nation. By then, his power had weakened due to the Telangana movement. The Indian Army annexed Hyderabad in 1948.
context_section_description: The seventh and last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1911.
  He founded numerous institutions and public buildings in the city, including the Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad State Bank, Osmania University, Nizamia Observatory, Moazzam Jahi Market, Nizamia Hospital, Assembly Hall (formerly known as the Town Hall) State Central Library (formerly known as the Asafiya Library), Hyderabad High Court. and the Osmania General Hospital. The Nizam also invited British architect Vincent Esch for designing some of these. The Nizam also owned an airline, called the Deccan Airways. 
  Two large reservoirs, namely the Osman Sagar and the Himayat Sagar was constructed a few kilometers west of Hyderabad to prevent another flood in the city, on the advice of Sir M. Visvesvaraya.
  
  He was known for his immense wealth, and large jewel collection, composed of 173 jewels, including the Jacob Diamond.  He was proclaimed the richest man in the world in 1937, and appeared on the cover of TIME 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:
caption: Students leaving the Osmania University, c.1939–1945
exif: {}