Hyderabad stirs as Prince Mukarram Jah’s son faces removal notice
After Mukarram Jah’s passing, his elder son Azmet Jah was formally crowned the ninth Nizam, but the ceremony now faces scrutiny as younger son Azam Jah questions its legitimacy, stirring family tensions.
Hyderabad: Feud in Nizam Family Escalates as Azam Jah Faces Removal Notice
The historic Asaf Jahi family of Hyderabad is once again in the spotlight, this time for a bitter internal dispute that has spilled into public view. The latest development sees Prince Alexander Azam Jah, the younger son of the late Mukarram Jah, reportedly issued a removal notice from The Mukarram Jah Trust of Education and Learning (MJTEL), a trust established by his father. The move has intensified the ongoing family feud, drawing attention to questions of legacy, inheritance, and authority within one of India’s most famous royal lineages.
Azam Jah is the second son of Mukarram Jah, who passed away at the age of 89 on January 14, 2023. Mukarram Jah, formally known as Mir Barkat Ali Khan Siddiqi Mukarram Jah, was the grandson and heir of Hyderabad’s last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan (1911–1967), who was once regarded as the richest man in the world during the 1930s. After Osman Ali Khan’s death, Mukarram was made the titular eighth Nizam in 1967, holding the ceremonial title until 1971, when the Indian government formally abolished royal titles.
Following Mukarram Jah’s death, his elder son with Princess Esra, Azmet Jah, was formally coronated as the ninth Nizam in a ceremony steeped in tradition. However, this coronation is now being openly questioned by Azam Jah, who has taken legal action over the past year, claiming his share of the family properties and challenging the way his elder brother was recognized as the head of the family despite the official abolition of royal titles decades ago.
In response to the removal notice from MJTEL, Azam Jah issued a statement calling it “another attempt to silence transparency and inclusivity on all trust-related matters.” He accused the trustees of attempting to oust him from the trust, a move he says undermines his right to be involved in decisions regarding the family’s educational and philanthropic legacy.
Azam Jah, who resides in Australia, is the son of Mukarram Jah’s second wife, Helen Ayesha Jah. He has spent much of his life visiting Hyderabad, maintaining a connection to his roots despite living abroad. Mukarram Jah’s personal life was complex: he was first married to Princess Esra Birgen, later moved to Australia, and went on to marry three more times — Helen Ayesha Simmons, Manolya Onur, Jameela Boularous, and Ayesha Orchedi — resulting in a sprawling family tree with multiple claims to the Nizam’s legacy.
The question of family properties has fueled much of the current tension. Mukarram Jah’s four children — Azmet Jah and Shehkyar Begum with Princess Esra, Azam Jah with Helen Ayesha, and Niloufer with Manolya Onur — all have stakes in the estate. The absence of a formal will from Mukarram Jah has left a legal vacuum, making disputes over property, trust management, and succession almost inevitable.
Adding to the complications, other members of Hyderabad’s extended royal lineage have staked claims. Raunaq Yar Khan, a descendant of the sixth Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan, has also declared himself the ninth Nizam, asserting that he has the documentation and support of extended family members.
Part of the dispute also stems from financial control. Mukarram Jah spent much of his life outside Hyderabad, with Princess Esra managing the palaces and properties for decades. Esra reportedly handled finances efficiently, particularly after receiving general power of attorney, while Mukarram Jah lived a comparatively modest life in his final years in a two-bedroom home in Turkey.
The feud highlights not just the challenge of dividing historical wealth, but the human emotions entwined with legacy, pride, and recognition. For Azam Jah, the fight is about both legal rights and his place within a family whose public image has always been tied to grandeur, power, and tradition. As the dispute unfolds in courts and public statements, Hyderabad watches closely, aware that the story of the Nizams continues to resonate far beyond palaces and titles — it is a living history of family, power, and the passage of time.