Nawab Muhammad
Ali Beg
Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk Bahadur, KCIE, MVO
Commander-in-Chief, Hyderabad State Forces
A deep investigation into the life, legacy, and personal world of one of Hyderabad's most influential military and political figures (1862–1930).
Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk on horseback, by Raja Deen Dayal, c. 1903
Executive Summary
This investigation has successfully unearthed a wealth of detailed information and personal anecdotes concerning Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk, painting a vivid picture of a complex and highly capable figure who navigated the intricate political and social world of Hyderabad with remarkable skill.
Personality & Character
Described as a "far sighted, calculating, clever young man" by contemporary Nawab Server-ul-Mulk. Politically astute, pragmatic, and an exceptional horseman.
Family & Home
Resided at Rahmat Manzil, a Victorian mansion gifted by the 6th Nizam. Wife: Begum Sahiba (Khala Jan). Household blended tradition with modernity.
Military Achievements
First native Indian officer to command the entire Hyderabad army. Served in the Afghan War, Boxer Rebellion, and World War I.
Sons & Descendants
Major Nawab Osman Yar-ud-Daulah (eldest son, military career) and Nawab Khusru Jung (jockey, race commentator, sports journalist).
Biographical Profile
In full military dress uniform with medals and decorations
Personal Details
Family Background
Honours
Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk hailed from a distinguished family with a history of service to the Mughal emperors and later, the British. His father, Sir Vilayet Ali Beg, was also a General, setting a precedent for military service in the family. He entered the service of the Nizam of Hyderabad and quickly distinguished himself, not only through his military prowess but also through his sharp intellect and political acumen. His career saw him serve under two Nizams: the 6th Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, and the 7th and last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. He was a prominent figure at major imperial events, attending the Delhi Durbars of 1903 and 1911, and the coronation of King Edward VII in London in 1902.
Personality & Character
The most revealing insights come from the autobiography of Nawab Server-ul-Mulk Bahadur, a fellow nobleman and a key figure in Hyderabad's court. Having known Afsar-ul-Mulk from a young age, his assessment provides a rare, unfiltered glimpse into his character.
Nawab Server-ul-Mulk, 1890s — the contemporary who described Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk's character
A Contemporary Assessment
"...a far sighted, calculating, clever young man."
— Nawab Server-ul-Mulk Bahadur, autobiography (1931)
This description, written by a peer, is invaluable. It confirms that Afsar-ul-Mulk's success was not merely a matter of birth or fortune, but was built on a foundation of sharp intellect and strategic thinking. The use of the word "calculating" suggests a man who thought several steps ahead, a crucial trait in the often-treacherous environment of a princely court.
The Pragmatic Operator
"He would worship the rising sun, and then would not hesitate to turn his face from it when it set."
This vivid metaphor paints a picture of a consummate political survivor, one who understood the shifting tides of power and aligned himself accordingly. In the context of the time, it was a necessary skill for maintaining influence and achieving one's objectives.
A Man of Ambition
"Afsur Jung Bahadur, who came to be looked upon as the maker of the Ministry, began to cast longing eyes at the Nazm-i-Jamiath (the regular forces)..."
This demonstrates his proactive and ambitious nature. He was not content to rest on his laurels but was constantly seeking to consolidate and grow his authority, particularly in the military sphere that was his domain.
Contrasting Lifestyles
"...he would hold up Afsur Jung as a model, and set forth what a luxurious, comfortable life he was able to live."
This contrast highlights the material success that accompanied Afsar-ul-Mulk's high station and suggests that he lived in a manner befitting his rank as a top noble and Commander-in-Chief of the state.
Personal Anecdotes
The Handkerchief Incident: A Display of Horsemanship
"One day His Highness, with the Minister and companions went out to Sarurnagar to enjoy the air. While they were on the road, the Minister dropped his handkerchief, and Mirza Mohamed Ali Beg galloped after it, and, without dismounting, bent down and lifted it from the ground. For this performance he received praises from all sides."
This act, performed in the presence of the Nizam and the Prime Minister, was a masterful piece of personal branding — a public demonstration of the agility, precision, and expert horsemanship expected of a cavalry officer and future commander.
The Nazar Ceremony: Setting Court Precedent
"It seems that when H.E.H ascended the Gaddi, Nawab Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk and Sir Faridoon-ul-Mulk after offering 'nazar' to H.E.H. placed their heads on the feet of H.E.H."
— V.K. Bawa, "The Last Nizam" (1992)
This act of fealty, performed by two of the most senior nobles of the state, set the standard for all others. Another noble, suffering from gout, attempted to follow their lead and fell, prompting the Nizam to issue a firman (decree) about the practice.
The Siddi Bodyguard: A Challenge to the Throne
Perhaps the most extraordinary incident illustrating Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk's authority and the delicate balance of power in Hyderabad concerns his personal Siddi bodyguard. At this time, Sir Afsar was not merely the Commander-in-Chief — he was also the father-in-law of the 5th Nizam's youngest granddaughter, his eldest son having married into the Asaf Jahi royal bloodline through the house of the great Paigah noble Khurshid ul-Mulk. Requiring rest, Sir Afsar explicitly instructed his bodyguard that absolutely no one — not even the Nizam himself — was to be permitted to enter his cabin while he slept.
The following morning, the Nizam himself—the absolute autocratic ruler of the state—attempted to enter the cabin to converse with his commander. The Siddi guard, acting with the blind obedience of a "Casabianca" to his master's direct orders, physically blocked the ruler of the state from entering the cabin.
Enraged at this affront to his sovereignty, the Nizam ordered the execution of Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk's bodyguard.
However, Sir Afsar, as commander of all forces, invoked the military pact between his father—General Nawab Sir Mirza Vilayet Ali Beg—and the Nizam's father, the 5th Nizam of Hyderabad. Sir Afsar's grandfather had descended to India from Central Asia with an army in the 1700s and fought in 1856, keeping the Nizam's family in power through shared custody of the kingdom. Sir Afsar reminded the younger Nizam of his title conferred by King Edward VII: "Afsar-ul-Mulk" — "Leader of these Lands."
The execution order was stayed. The bodyguard was not executed by order of Nawab Major-General Sir Afsar Ul Mulk, against the order of the Nizam himself.
This shocking act of technical insubordination to the crown ironically underscored the absolute, uncompromising discipline Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk commanded from his troops — proving that his orders superseded even the authority of the throne in the minds of his men. It was a vivid demonstration that the military pact forged by his father with the 5th Nizam remained the unshakeable foundation of Hyderabad's power structure.
And yet, far from severing the bond between the military command and the throne, this incident only deepened it. What followed was the ultimate consolidation of the alliance — through marriage to the crown itself.
The Royal Marriage Alliance
Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk's eldest son, Major Nawab Osman Yar-ud-Daulah Bahadur, had married the eldest granddaughter of the 5th Nizam. His bride was the elder daughter of Amir-i-Paigah, Khurshid ul-Mulk, Khurshid ud-Daula, Nawab Muhammad Faiz ud-din Khan Bahadur, Imam Jang — one of the most powerful Paigah nobles in Hyderabad — and his wife Sahibzadi Najib un-nisa Begum Sahiba, the youngest daughter of the 5th Nizam himself.
This marriage bound the military aristocracy of the Beg family directly to the Asaf Jahi royal bloodline and to the premier Paigah nobility — the three most powerful pillars of Hyderabad State.
Solidifying the Dynasty: The 7th Nizam's Marriage
Subsequently, the younger sister of Sir Afsar's daughter-in-law — Sahibzadi Mazhar un-nisa Begum Sahiba (known as Chunnu Begum Sahiba, born 1899) — was married on 18th May 1923 to His Exalted Highness Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII — the 7th and last Nizam of Hyderabad, once reputed to be the richest man in the world.
This meant that Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk's son, Nawab Osman Yar-ud-Daulah, became the brother-in-law of the reigning Nizam. The Commander-in-Chief's family was now bound to the throne by marriage from two directions — through the 5th Nizam's granddaughter and through the 7th Nizam's wife. The military-royal alliance that began on the battlefields of 1857 was permanently cemented in the bloodline.
Primary Source — Christopher Buyers, royalark.net
"Sahibzadi Mazhar un-nisa Begum Sahiba [Chunnu Begum Sahiba] (b. at Hyderabad, 1899; d. at King Kothi Palace, Hyderabad, 18th June 1964), youngest daughter of Amir-i-Paigah, Khurshid ul-Mulk, Khurshid ud-Daula, Nawab Faiz ud-din Khan Bahadur, Imam Jang, by his second wife, Sahibzadi Najib un-nisa Begum Sahiba, youngest daughter of H.H. Asaf Jah V, Nizam ul-Mulk, Afzal ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Tahniyat Ali Khan Bahadur, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI."
A Trusted Aide for the Young Nizam
His importance was recognized early on. When the young Mir Osman Ali Khan was being educated, Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk was personally chosen to oversee his physical and military training.
"Nawab Afsar-ud-Daula, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State forces, was appointed to look after his shooting lessons and physical exercise. The course of instruction included the Urdu and Persian languages, riding, tent-pegging, cricket and other exercises."
— V.K. Bawa, "The Last Nizam" (1992)
Family, Home & Lifestyle
The impressive facade of Rahmat Manzil, the Victorian mansion of Sir Afsar Jung (Afsar-ul-Mulk). Later demolished for the Reserve Bank of India building.
Rahmat Manzil: The Family Seat
Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk's primary residence was Rahmat Manzil, a grand Victorian-style mansion in Hyderabad. This was not just a house but the center of the family's social and cultural life. According to historical accounts, the mansion was a gift from the 6th Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, a sign of the high esteem in which he was held.
The Lady of the House
His wife, referred to as Begum Sahiba and affectionately as "Khala Jan", was a formidable hostess who presided over the social life of Rahmat Manzil, hosting elaborate all-day gatherings for large numbers of guests.
"The first dinner and breakfast included my entire family, male and female. It was hosted by Colonel Nawab Sir Afsar ul-Mulk's wife and the colonel himself. I was hosted inside the house with my sisters and sisters-in-law... Begum sahiba, whom I call Khala Jan, asked me to come at nine in the morning. She had me stay until evening."
— A Journey to Mecca and London (1909-1910), Indiana University Press
Gracious Hospitality
Elaborate, all-day affairs for large numbers of guests, with separate spaces for men and women
Modern Conveniences (1909)
Owned a motorcar, employed English governesses, Victorian architecture and furnishings
Warmth & Tradition
Observation of purdah, tying imam zamin (protective amulet) on departing guests, qawwali gatherings
Sons & Descendants
Major Nawab Osman Yar-ud-Daulah Bahadur
The eldest son, who followed his father into military service. He married the granddaughter of the 5th Nizam — see the Royal Marriage Alliance section above for the full account of this dynastic union and its consequences.
Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur
The younger son, who made a name for himself in the world of sports. He was a well-known jockey, a race commentator, and a sports journalist. He also served the Maharaja of Kashmir.
Military Career & Achievements
Rise to Commander-in-Chief
His ascent to the highest military office in the state was a remarkable achievement. As noted in the Indian Biographical Dictionary (1915), he was the first native Indian officer to be entrusted with the command of the whole army in Hyderabad.
"...the Government knowing that Mirza Mohamed Ali Beg was a Muslim, and also a trained man, they continued to promote him. They also believed that he being a servant of the Nizam, would be loyal... he was, soon after Colonel Nevill's death, appointed Commander of the Regular Troops, and then, soon after that, he became Commander-in-Chief of the State Troops."
Native Indian Officers, Imperial Service Troops, at the coronation of King Edward VII, 1902
Active Service Record
Second Afghan War (1879-80)
His early career was forged in this major conflict on the North-West Frontier
Black Mountain Expedition (1888)
A punitive expedition on the North-West Frontier of British India
Boxer Rebellion, China (1900)
Commanded the Hyderabad contingent as part of the international force sent to relieve the besieged legations in Peking
Great War (1914-18)
Served as ADC to King George V; attached to the general staff in Egypt and France
Officers of the Hyderabad Household Troops
Lancers of the Hyderabad Contingent on the march
Photographic Record
Historical photographs assembled from archives, museums, and private collections
On horseback, by Raja Deen Dayal, c. 1903
Full military dress uniform with medals
With his horse, by Raja Deen Dayal
Commander-in-Chief portrait
Formal portrait
Young cavalry officer, by Deen Dayal
Military portrait
Rahmat Manzil, the family mansion
Imperial Service Troops, Coronation 1902
Primary Sources & References
Indian Biographical Dictionary (1915)
"Beg, Colonel Nawab Mahomed Ali-Afsur-ul-Mulk Bahadur" — Wikisource
Server-ul-Mulk, Nawab (1931)
My Life: Being the Autobiography of Nawab Server-Ul-Mulk Bahadur — Internet Archive
Jung, Sarbuland (1909-1910)
A Journey to Mecca and London: The Travels of an Indian Muslim Woman — Indiana University Press
Contractor, Farzana
"A Royal Repast" — UpperCrust India Magazine
Bawa, V.K. (1992)
The Last Nizam: The Life and Times of Mir Osman Ali Khan
Wikipedia
Muhammad Ali Beg — Comprehensive biographical entry
Internet Archive
Swanneh Afsari — Autobiography of Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk (Urdu)
The Deccan Archive
"Hyderabad at the Imperial Durbars"
Facebook Royal Archives
Hon. Maj-Genl. Nawab Bahadur Sir Afsar-i-Jang...
Geni.com
Major General Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur — Genealogical record
The Lineage of Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim
Inheriting a lineage that unites four of the most powerful forces in Indian history: the throne, the sword, the law, and commerce.
Sir Fazalbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim, 1st Baronet, C.B.E.
Founder of E. Pabaney & Co.; President of the Indian Merchants' Chamber (1914)
"The Merchant Prince of Bombay"
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the direct male-line descendant of Sir Fazalbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim, 1st Baronet — a hereditary Baronet of the United Kingdom, created by Letters Patent of His Majesty King George V on 20 July 1910, with succession to "the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten." The Sir Currimbhoy Ebrahim Baronetcy Act, 1913 (Act No. IV of 1913), settled certain properties to accompany and support the dignity of the title in perpetuity. Family motto: "Deo ducente nil nocet" — "When God guides, nothing harms."
His Highness Nizam-ul-Mulk, Nawab Mir Tahniyat Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Afzal-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jah V, G.C.S.I.
5th Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar (r. 1857–1869)
"Our Faithful Ally"
The sovereign ruler who modernised the largest princely state in India, established its first medical school and educational institutions, constructed railways and telegraph networks, and purchased 42 accommodation buildings in Mecca for his subjects' pilgrimage.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-great-great-great-grandson of the 5th Nizam.
(5th Nizam → Najib un-nisa Begum → Khurshid ul-Mulk's daughter → married Nawab Osman Yarud-Daulah → Syeeda Begum → Shahnaz Husain → Sharik)
Nawab Sir Mirza Vilayet Ali Beg, O.B.I.
Ressaldar of the 3rd Lancers, Hyderabad Contingent; General in the Nizam's Forces
The man who forged the military pact with the 5th Nizam that would underpin Hyderabad's power structure for generations. His ancestors descended to India from Central Asia with the army that fought in 1856 and kept the Nizam's family in power.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Nawab Sir Mirza Vilayet Ali Beg.
Honorary Major-General Al-Haj Nawab Sir Muhammad Ali Beg, Afsar-i-Jang, Afsar-ud-Daulah, Afsar-ul-Mulk, Sardar Bahadur, K.C.I.E., M.V.O., O.B.I., A.D.C.
Commander-in-Chief of H.H. the Nizam's Regular Forces, Hyderabad, Deccan
"The bravest soldier and most daring hunter"
The first native Indian officer entrusted with command of the entire army. Fought in the Afghan War (1880–81), the Black Mountain Expedition (1900), and served across four continents. Knighted by King Edward VII. Gifted Rahmat Manzil by the 6th Nizam. His title "Afsar-ul-Mulk" — "Leader of these Lands" — was conferred after the Delhi Durbar of 1903.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-great-great-grandson of Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk.
(Sir Afsar → Nawab Osman Yarud-Daulah → Syeeda Begum → Shahnaz Husain → Sharik)
Nawab Muhammad Faiz ud-din Khan Bahadur, Khurshid ul-Mulk, Imam Jang
Paigah Noble and Chief Minister of Hyderabad
Married Najib un-nisa Begum, the youngest daughter of the 5th Nizam, binding the political aristocracy to the royal house. His youngest daughter, Mazhar un-nisa Begum, would marry the 7th Nizam in 1923.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-great-great-grandson of Khurshid ul-Mulk.
(Khurshid ul-Mulk → his daughter → married Nawab Osman Yarud-Daulah → Syeeda Begum → Shahnaz Husain → Sharik)
Major Nawab Osman Ali Baig Bahadur, Osman Yarud-Daulah, Osman Yar Jung
Eldest son of Sir Afsar-ul-Mulk; Commander of the Nizam's Regular Forces
Married the granddaughter of the 5th Nizam through the house of Khurshid ul-Mulk, uniting the military command with the royal bloodline.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-great-grandson of Nawab Osman Yarud-Daulah.
(Nawab Osman → Syeeda Begum → Shahnaz Husain → Sharik)
The Hon'ble Nawab Mirza Yar Jung Bahadur, Mirza Samiullah Beg
Chief Justice of Hyderabad State; Governor of Nagpur
"A towering figure in his own right"
A deeply patriotic figure, actively involved in the Indian freedom movement. Pandit Motilal Nehru was a close personal friend. He sent both his sons to Cambridge and Oxford to be called to the Bar.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-great-grandson of Chief Justice Mirza Samiullah Beg.
(CJ Samiullah Beg → CJ N.U. Beg → Shahnaz Husain → Sharik)
The Hon'ble Mr. Chief Justice Mirza Nasirullah Beg
Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court (1966)
"A man of unwavering principles, profound intellect, and quiet strength"
His greatest contribution was the Keshav Singh case (1964) — India's most severe constitutional crisis — in which his courageous refusal to bow to legislative intimidation forced the Supreme Court to establish definitively that the Constitution, not Parliament, is supreme in India.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-grandson of Chief Justice Nasirullah Beg.
(CJ N.U. Beg → Shahnaz Husain → Sharik)
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Mirza Hameedullah Beg, Padma Vibhushan
15th Chief Justice of India; First Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court
Architect of the "Essential Functions" doctrine and helped establish the Basic Structure Doctrine — unique in world law — which holds that certain fundamental features of the Constitution cannot be amended, even by Parliament.
Relationship: Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim is the great-great-grandnephew of Chief Justice of India M.H. Beg.
General His Exalted Highness Rustam-i-Dauran, Arustu-i-Zaman, Wal Mamaluk, Asaf Jah VII, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, G.C.S.I., G.B.E.
7th and last Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar (r. 1911–1948)
Once the richest man in the world
Relationship: The 7th Nizam married Sahibzadi Mazhar un-nisa Begum — the younger sister of Sharik's great-great-grandmother (Nawab Osman Yarud-Daulah's wife). This makes Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim's great-great-grandmother the sister-in-law of the 7th Nizam, and Sharik himself a relative by marriage of the last sovereign ruler of Hyderabad.
Summary of Key Relationships
Direct male-line descendant
Sir Fazalbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim, 1st Baronet, C.B.E.
The Merchant Prince of Bombay
Great-great-great-great-grandson
H.H. Nawab Mir Tahniyat Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Afzal-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jah V, G.C.S.I.
5th Nizam of Hyderabad
Great-great-great-grandson
Hon. Maj.-Gen. Al-Haj Nawab Sir Muhammad Ali Beg, Afsar-ul-Mulk, K.C.I.E., M.V.O.
Commander-in-Chief of Hyderabad
Great-great-grandson
Major Nawab Osman Ali Baig Bahadur, Osman Yarud-Daulah
Commander of the Nizam's Forces
Great-great-grandson
The Hon'ble Nawab Mirza Yar Jung Bahadur, Mirza Samiullah Beg
Chief Justice of Hyderabad; Governor of Nagpur
Great-grandson
The Hon'ble Mr. Chief Justice Mirza Nasirullah Beg
Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court
Great-great-grandnephew
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Mirza Hameedullah Beg, Padma Vibhushan
15th Chief Justice of India
Great-great-grandmother's sister married
General H.E.H. Nawab Mir Sir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Asaf Jah VII, G.C.S.I., G.B.E.
7th Nizam of Hyderabad
Four pillars of civilisation — crown, sword, law, and commerce — converge in the lineage of Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim.