6th Nizam awarded a Scholarship to Sarojini Naidu in 1895 to Travel to England for higher education
Section 1 - The 6th Nizam's Scholarship to Sarojini Naidu
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| Picture Credit - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/nizams-kin-pulls-out-firmans-showing-last-rulers-generosity/articleshow/67416257.cms |
Sarojini Naidu, known as the "Nightingale of India," was a celebrated poet and a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle.
Born in Hyderabad in 1879, she showed prodigious talent in poetry and academics from an early age.
Recognizing her exceptional brilliance, Mir Mahbub Ali Pasha, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, awarded her a scholarship that enabled her to pursue higher education in England.
A brief Background of Hyderabad's 6th Nizam
The 6th Nizam made considerable intiatives in the field of Education (see Section 2 below for more details).
Awarding Scholarships to meritorious students was one of the intiatives undertaken by the 6th and then the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad.
The award of an academic scholarship to a woman student to travel to England was a remarkable feat and event for its time in 1895.
The reason for this remarkable fact of Women Education being advanced in such a path-breaking way as far back as 1895 lies in the person of the 6th Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan, who was very well educated himself and aware of the need of advancing women's education in the Hyderabad State.
Mahbub Ali Khan was educated privately at home in the Chowmahalla palace, by the former tutor of Duke of Edinburgh named Captain John Clarke.
The 6th Nizam was fluent in Urdu, Telegu, Persian and English (see section 3 for more details).
He advanced education in his realm through setting up of schools and colleges, and dispensing stipends and scholarships for deserving students.
Sarojini Naidu was one among many other promising students to be awarded a scholarship to travel to England for higher studies.
Background
Sarojini Naidu came from a progressive family. Her father, Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, was a scientist and educator, and the first Indian principal of Nizam's College in Hyderabad.
Her early academic achievements, especially in languages and poetry, drew attention in elite circles of Hyderabad.
At the age of 16, Sarojini wrote a long narrative poem titled "The Lady of the Lake", which impressed many, including the Nizam.
Her family’s association with the intellectual and elite class of Hyderabad further facilitated this royal support.
Scholarship and Studies Abroad
After being awarded the academic scholarship, Sarojini Naidu was able to travel to England in 1895, studying first at King’s College, London, and later at Girton College, Cambridge.
These institutions not only gave her academic exposure but also connected her with key literary and political figures of the time.
Her time in England was formative — she refined her poetic craft, mastered English literature, and became familiar with the ideas of nationalism, women's rights, and liberty, all of which later shaped her role in India's freedom struggle.
Impact of the Scholarship
The scholarship was crucial in launching her intellectual and public life:
It gave her the means to develop her poetic voice, leading to the publication of her first volume of poems, "The Golden Threshold" in 1905.
It exposed her to progressive political thought and laid the foundation for her role in the Indian National Congress.
It helped her become one of the earliest Indian women to gain prominence on both national and international platforms.
Legacy
Sarojini Naidu later became the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress (1925) and the first woman Governor of an Indian state (Uttar Pradesh).
Her contributions to literature and politics are deeply intertwined with the early support she received from the Nizam.
The scholarship awarded by the 6th Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan to of Sarojini Naidu is a notable historical example of how the patronage of Nizam helped shape the career of one of India’s most iconic figures.
Sources & References
Naidu, Sarojini. The Golden Threshold. London: William Heinemann, 1905. (Introduction by Edmund Gosse)
Dalmia, Vasudha. Poetics, Plays, and Performances: The Politics of Modern Indian Theatre. Oxford University Press, 2006.
Puri, Luv. “The legacy of Sarojini Naidu.” The Hindu, 2011. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-legacy-of-sarojini-naidu/article1471529.ece
Reddy, Sheela. Mr. and Mrs. Jinnah: The Marriage That Shook India. Penguin, 2017. (Mentions Sarojini Naidu and her early influences)
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/nizams-kin-pulls-out-firmans-showing-last-rulers-generosity/articleshow/67416257.cms
Section 2 - Educational Initiatives of 6th Nizam -Mir Mahbub Ali Khan who reigned over Hyderabad State for 42 years (1869–1911)
Mahbub Ali Pasha, the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad, presided over a period of substantial development in education, influenced both by internal reforms and British colonial presence. Although his rule began at a young age with a regency, later years saw a rise in structured efforts toward modern education.
1. Establishment and Expansion of Educational Institutions
The Department of Education was officially established in 1874, marking a turning point in state-sponsored educational development in Hyderabad (Haque, 1990).
Primary schools were established in various parts of the state to promote basic education, particularly in urban areas.
2. Hyderabad College (Later Nizam College)
The Hyderabad College was established in 1887, renamed Nizam College in 1899. It was affiliated to the University of Madras.
This institution became one of the most prominent centers of higher education in the Deccan region (Sherwani, 1967).
3. Encouragement of English and Modern Education
The administration under Mahbub Ali Pasha supported English education, aligning with British policies of the time.
Schools and colleges taught subjects like science, mathematics, and English literature alongside Persian and Urdu.
4. Support for Girls’ Education
Although limited, there were initial efforts to encourage education for girls, particularly from elite families.
Some zenana education initiatives (female education in seclusion) were started under the patronage of the Nizam's court (Minault, 1982).
5. Scholarships and Incentives
The government instituted scholarships and stipends for meritorious students.
Bright students were often sent to Madras and Bombay universities for higher studies, especially in medicine and law.
6. Public Libraries and Literary Societies
Asafia Library, founded earlier, was expanded and gained importance as a public institution under Mahbub Ali Pasha’s reign.
Literary and scientific societies were encouraged, especially those promoting Urdu and Persian literature (Salahuddin, 1996).
Resources and References
Haque, Syed Viqaruddin. Educational Development in Hyderabad State (1853-1948). Hyderabad: Maktaba Jamia Ltd., 1990.
Sherwani, Haroon Khan. History of the Deccan. Vol. 2. Hyderabad: Government of Andhra Pradesh, 1967.
Minault, Gail. Secluded Scholars: Women's Education and Muslim Social Reform in Colonial India. Oxford University Press, 1982.
Salahuddin, Syed. Libraries in the Princely State of Hyderabad. Hyderabad: Dairatul Maarif, 1996.
University of Hyderabad Archives and the Osmania University Library collections.
Government of Hyderabad State, Annual Reports of the Department of Education (1874–1910).
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Section 3 - The Education and Upbringing of 6th Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan
1. Academic Education:
Mahbub Ali Khan received his early education at a specially established school within the Chowmahalla Palace.
He was tutored by Captain John Clarke, a British officer and former tutor to the Duke of Edinburgh.
His education included English, Persian, Arabic, and Urdu.
His classmates included children of Hyderabad’s nobility, such as Salar Jung I, Shams-ul-Umra III, and Kishen Pershad.
2. Language Skills:
He was fluent in Urdu, Persian, Telugu, and English.
He also composed poetry in Telugu and Urdu, and some of his verses are inscribed on the Tank Bund in Hyderabad.
3. Personality and Lifestyle:
Known for his lavish lifestyle, he never wore the same outfit twice and had an enormous wardrobe.
He had a fondness for cars, owning an extensive collection.
Despite his opulence, he was also admired for his generosity, earning the affectionate title “Mahbub Ali Pasha”.
His upbringing was a blend of Western and traditional Indo-Islamic culture, shaped by British tutors and loyal regents like Sir Salar Jung I and Shams-ul-Umra III.
References / Sources
Wikipedia: Mahboob Ali Khan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahboob_Ali_KhanBharatpedia: Mahboob Ali Khan
https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Mahboob_Ali_KhanThe Hindu – Mahboob Ali Pasha: Legend with a Lavish Lifestyle
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/Mahboob-Ali-Pasha-Legend-with-a-lavish-lifestyle/article17138528.eceGulf News – Hyderabad Remembers Mahbub Ali Pasha
https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/hyderabad-remembers-mahbub-ali-pasha-1.1889879
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