Ex-Mayor and Hyderabad’s IX Nizam Participate in City’s 400-year Tradition
(RAHNUMA) HYDERABAD: In a significant display of reverence for tradition, the Honorable Ex-Mayor of Hyderabad, Mir Zulfeqar Ali, currently serving as the AIMIM Member of Legislative Assembly for Charminar, attended the Bibi-Ka-Alam procession at Peeli Gate, Purani Haveli, alongside the IX Nizam of Hyderabad, Prince Azmet Jah where other erstwhile Royal family members and nobles like the Imam ul-Mulk family, Qeladar family, Sir Afsar ul-Mulk family and Paigah Royals were also present. Their joint presence at this hallowed event underscores the continued commitment of AIMIM leaders to preserving the city’s cultural and historical legacy.
Mir Zulfeqar Ali’s involvement in the Bibi-Ka-Alam procession is a testament to his dedication to the people of Hyderabad and the rich heritage of the Old City. As a prominent member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), Ali, along with the party’s influential leaders, Asaduddin Owaisi, MP, and Akbaruddin Owaisi, has worked tirelessly to keep Hyderabad’s cultural traditions alive and vibrant. The AIMIM’s selection of Zulfeqar Ali as the MLA for Charminar reflects their commitment to choosing leaders who deeply understand and value the cultural fabric of the city.
The Bibi-Ka-Alam procession, a vital part of Hyderabad’s cultural landscape, honors the memory of Lady Fatima Al Zahra. This age-old tradition has been faithfully observed for nearly 400 years, with roots tracing back to the Qutb Shahi period when Muhammad Qutb Shah installed an Alam in Golconda. During the Asaf Jahi era, the Alam was relocated to Bibi-Ka-Alawa at Dabeerpura, specially built to house this sacred relic.
Central to the Alam is a piece of the wooden plank believed to have been used for Lady Fatima’s final ablution before burial. Historians note that this relic journeyed from Karbala in Iraq to Golconda during the reign of Golconda king Abdullah Qutb Shah. The Alam, adorned with the names of Allah, Mohammed, and Ali, is enshrined in a calligraphic casing embellished with a metal alloy and gold.
In the 1950s, Asaf Jah VII H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last ruling Nizam of Hyderabad and once the world’s wealthiest monarch, contributed six priceless diamonds and other jewels to the Alam, signifying his deep reverence for the Alam e-Mubarak.
The participation of Mir Zulfeqar Ali and Prince Azmet Jah in this year’s procession not only honors this sacred tradition but also symbolizes a collaborative effort to uphold the cultural heritage of Hyderabad. Under the guidance of Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi, the AIMIM has played a crucial role in sustaining the cultural and historical legacy of the Old City. Their efforts, combined with the presence of Prince Azmet Jah, highlight a unified approach to celebrating and preserving Hyderabad’s rich traditions for future generations.
Both leaders recieved a warm acknowledgement at the, and their participation in the ceremonies of the procession was met with respect and admiration by the people of Hyderabad. This event signifies a hopeful future where tradition and progress go hand in hand, ensuring that the heritage of Hyderabad continues to thrive in this new stage of its cultural evolution in the Republic of India.
