When last Hyderabad Nizam donated Rs 1 lakh to BHU in 1939

LUCKNOW: While Banaras Hindu University grapples with protests over a Muslim professor teaching Sanskrit, exactly 80 years ago the last Nizam of Hyderabad displayed his magnanimity by making a generous donation of Rs 1 lakh to the university, which is equivalent to Rs 5 crore now.
In 1939, the Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan issued a farman to release the money from his exchequer. “Farman of Nizam the VII dated 15th Ziqada, 1357 H/ 7th January, 1939.It is ordered to sanction rupees one lakh to Banaras Hindu University under the circumstances mentioned by the council in its memorandum,” read the farman (order) in Urdu, a copy of which is maintained by his kin.
Speaking to TOI from Hyderabad on Friday, Nizam’s grandson Najaf Ali Khan said his grandfather, who was a secular person, had also donated money for maintenance, upkeep and repair of at least 20 temples.
“Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had approached my grandfather for donation for BHU and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) respectively around the same time in 1939,” said Khan. “The Nizam donated Rs 1 lakh to BHU and Rs 50,000 to AMU. This shows that he was there for everybody irrespective of caste or religion,” he added.
“Not just these two universities, he donated to several universities across the country and outside India. He also donated to the National Defence Fund and helped the British with funds and 27 aircraft during World War II,” said Khan. While Khan has a copy of the farman, the original document is stored at the Telangana State Archives.
The Nizam’s kin also expressed disappointment on the students’ protest against Professor Firoz Khan. “This should not have happened. India is a land of syncretic culture. Such upheavals are not good for the country’s prosperity,” he said.
“This should not have happened. India is a land of syncretic culture. Such upheavals are not good for the country’s prosperity,” he said. The student protest began against Prof Firoz Khan on November 7.