Paigah family

Paigah is a family in the senior aristocracy of Hyderabad State and each maintained his own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of three or four thousand soldiers.

Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, a Paigah nobleman who also served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad presented the Falaknuma palace to the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, in 1897-98, as Nazar (offering).

History 
The word Paigah, which means pomp and rank in Persian, was a title given by the second Nizam of Hyderabad to  Nawab Abul Fateh Taig Jung Bahadur in appreciation of the royal services rendered by him. The Nawab was also conferred with the title of Shams-ul-Umra, and he became the founder of the Paigah family.

After Abul Fateh's death in 1791, his son Fakhruddin Khan inherited the estates and titles. He was given the title Amir-e-Kabir, which meant Head of the Nobles. He also married the daughter of Asaf Jah II, Sahebzadi Bashirunissa Begum in 1797. Thus began the tradition of marrying the Nizam's daughters to young men of the Paigah family.

Fakhruddin Khan's grandson through his third son was Sir Asman Jah. Fakhruddin Khan's fourth son Rasheeduddin Khan had two sons, Viqar-ul-Umra and Khurshid Jah. 

Bashir Yar Jung, a grandson of Viqar-ul-Umra married Saleha Sultan, the daughter of Sajida Sultan and Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi. Their son Saad Bin Jung is a member of the Paigah family as well as Pataudi Royal Family.

Family tree
 
 Nawab Abul Fateh Khan Tegh Jung, Shams ul Umra I
 Shams ul Umra II, Amir e Kabir I, Nawab ‘Abu’l Fakhr Muhammad Fakhr ud-din Khan Bahadur (served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad)
 Sahibzada Muhammad Farid ud-din Khan
 Shams ul Umra III, Amir e Kabir II, Nawab Rafi ud-din Khan Bahadur
 Asman Jah, Amir e Akbar, Nawab Sir Muhammad Mazhar ud-din Khan Bahadur (served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad)
 Amir-e-Paigah-e-Asman Jahi, Nawab Moin ud-Daula Bahadur, Nawab Muhammad Moin ud-din Khan Bahadur
Raheem Unnisa Begum Sahiba (First Wife)
Ladli Begum Sahiba (Second Wife) Kulsum Begum Sahiba successor of Ladli Begum Sahiba
Liyaqath Begum Sahiba (Third Wife)
Mehboob Begum Sahiba (Fourth Wife)
 Muhtasham ud-Daula, Nawab Muhammad Wazir ud-din Khan Bahadur
 Bashir ul-Mulk, Muhtasham ud-Daula, Nawab Muhammad Sultan ud-din Khan Bahadur
 Shams ul Umra IV, Amir e Kabir III, Viqar ul Umra I, Nawab Muhammad Rashid ud-din Khan Bahadur
 Khurshid Jah, Shams ul Umra V, Amir e Kabir IV, Amir e Paigah, Nawab Sir Muhammad Muhi ud-din Khan Bahadur
 Viqar ul Umra II, Amir e Paigah, Nawab Sir Muhammad Fazl ud-din Khan Bahadur (served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad)
 Wali ud-Daula, Nawab Wali ud-din Khan Bahadur (served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad)
 Nawab Muhammad Bashir ud-din Khan Bahadur, Bashir Yar Jung
 Nawabzada Muhammad Saad Bin Jung

Note: The family tree only covers some notable members. There are hundreds of members

Relationship with the Nizams
The bond between the Nizams and the Paigah nobility strengthened with the marriage of Abul Fatah Khan’s son Fakhruddin Khan with the daughter of Mir Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II, Sahebzadi Bashirunissa Begum in 1797. Henceforth, Fakhruddin Khan’s descendants married daughters of other Nizams and consequently, in protocol, the Paigah's were considered next only to the Nizams. The Paigah jagir was the largest in the state, second only to the Nizam. 

The Paigah nobility, being sons-in-law and brothers-in-law to the Nizams, were to a certain extent above the law. The local police and courts did not have personal or in rem jurisdiction over their persons or property. They were subject only to the jurisdiction of the Nizam.

Tombs 

The Paigah Tombs are the tombs belonging to the nobility of Paigah family. They were constructed over a period of time during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. They are located at the Santoshnagar locality of Hyderabad. The tombs are made out of lime and mortar with beautiful inlaid marble carvings.

Paigah Deodis
The Paigah noblemen were known for their residences, usually known as Devdis.

Bashir Bagh Palace belonged to Sir Asman Jah, a Paigah Amir (noble) and Prime Minister of Hyderabad (1887–1893).

Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, the Paigah Amir (noble) and the then prime minister of Hyderabad state 1894–1901 (also officiated as prime minister in 1893) presented Falaknuma palace in 1897, easily one of the most opulent palaces in the country to the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan.

Other important Paigah Palaces were:

Asman Garh Palace
Paigah Palace
Khursheed Jah Devdi
Vikhar Manzil
Devdi Iqbal ud-Dowla
Parwarish Bagh

See also
Falaknuma Palace
Paigah Tombs

References

External links
Paigah Tombs
Paigah family
Four Legitimate Wives of Nawab Moin Ud Daula Bahadur(Ameer e Paigah Asmanjahi) Family Trees
The Hindu feature
The Hindu feature on Paigah palace

Category:Hyderabad State people
Category:Noble titles
Category:Indian families