The mortal remains of Hyderabad’s last Nizam Mukarram Jah being taken for burial at Mecca Masjid on Wednesday. , Photo credits: G. Ramakrishna
It was an expression of love and affection for Nizam Mir Barkat Ali Mukarram Jah as thousands of citizens from all walks of life thronged the Chowmahalla Palace to pay their last respects to his mortal remains.
Family members, relatives and visitors lined up in an orderly manner throughout the day and proceeded to the Durbar Hall of the palace where his body was kept for people to pay their respects. This was the same hall where nearly 55 years ago, on 6 April 1967, 34-year-old Mukarram Jah was installed as the successor of Mir Osman Ali Khan.
Although the officials of the Nizam’s Trust decided to prevent people from entering the palace at 1 pm to proceed with the funeral arrangements, they were forced to allow people to walk in after 3 pm. TRS, Congress and AIMIM leaders as well as members of the diplomatic corps reached the site to pay homage and console the Nizam’s family members.
Draped in a yellow and white asafoetida flag, the body was taken out of the Chowmahalla Palace with police honors. The courtyard of the Mecca Masjid, the courtyard and the road leading to the Charminar were a sea of humanity as people waited to bid farewell to Nizam VIII. Hundreds of police officers lined the route to ensure that no untoward incident took place.
The body was taken to Mecca Masjid from the Panchmahalla Line as people struggled to touch the bier. In the golden glow of the setting sun, the police played the last post and fired three shots into the air. The body was laid to rest after Asar prayers at around 6 pm.
Shops within a kilometer radius of the palace, including bangle shops in Lad Bazar, remained closed. Usually the hawkers who block the lanes were not visible. While there were traffic restrictions, Charminar remained open for tourists.