Mir Turab Ali Khan Bahadur (Salar Jung I) was born in 1244 H/1829 A.D. At the age of 13 he was honoured with the title of Salar Jung Bahadur in 1257 H/1841. He was given a sound education and practical training to shoulder the high responsibilities which he was destined to undertake in future. The Nizam, Nasir-uyd-Daulah, appointed Mir Turab Ali Khan as his Prime Minister in 1269 H/1953 A.D. Salar Jung put his heart and soul in effecting reforms in every direction.

In 1283 H/1867, Salar Jung I was conferred by the British with the title of the most illustrious order of the “Star of India.” He was given the title of G.C.S.I. in 1285 H/1871 A.D., an honour reserved for Indian ruling princes.

In 1293 H/1876 A.D. he left for Europe to represent the case of Berar with the British Government. He was well received and had an audience with the Queen, and the Prince of Wales. He also met other high dignitaries. He has granted the “Freedom of the city of London” at a grand function in the Guild Hall. Oxford University bestowed on him the D.C.L.

While returning home, he had an audience with the King of Rome and the Pope. In Rome he purchased the famous marble statue title “Veiled Rebecca,” which now adorns the Museum. Through he was not successful in his mission, yet he brought with him several manuscripts, curious and souvenirs.

With his young master, the Nizam, he attended the Proclamation Durbar of 1877 in Delhi, when Queen Victoria was proclaimed as the Empress of India. He could not, however, survive to see the young Nizam, Mir Mehboob Ali Khan, assume the charge of his Dominion and died in 1300 H/1882 A.D.

He was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad for thirty years. His strong individuality, the perfect balance of his faculties, the happy combination of caution and firmness enabled him to steer successfully the affairs of Hyderabad state and emerge as an able administrator.

He produced order out of chaos, laid the foundation of a modern administration, encouraged commerce and industries and thus increased the revenue of the State and wiped out the huge debts. He separated judiciary from the executive. During his regime a separate department of Municipality was started for the first time. Of the several books written about his life and achievements, the notable are (1) a memoir of Sir Salar Jung – 1983 by Bilgrami, Syed Hussain; (2) Hyderabad Deccan under Sir Salar Jung, 1885 by Chiragh Ali, Moulvi and (3) Raz-e-Mukhtaria, by Danish, Mir Dilawar Ali.

Scores of Books were dedicated to him and he gave every possible help to scholars for writing and publishing books. Salar Jung I left behind him to daughter and two sons – Mir Laiq Ali Khan and Mir Saadat Ali Khan.

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