Nizam’s heirs renew plea to display ₹1 lakh-crore jewels in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Thirty years after the Union government acquired the Nizam’s 173-piece jewellery collection, the royal family has renewed its plea to bring the treasures back to Hyderabad. They argued that the display of the jewels could attract global tourists and strengthen Telangana’s cultural identity.
Jewels remain in government custody
Currently valued at over ₹1 lakh crore, the Centre purchased the collection from the Nizam’s Jewellery Trusts in 1995 for ₹217 crore, after negotiations that began in the 1970s. The National Museum, New Delhi, exhibited the jewels in 2001 and 2019, and the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, exhibited them in 2006.
Great-grandson seeks public access or auction
Himayat Ali Mirza, great-grandson of the seventh Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, said the government should either permanently display the jewels in Hyderabad or consider auctioning them for public welfare.
“While there is constant clamour for bringing back the Kohinoor diamond, we often overlook the invaluable treasures already in our custody,” he said. “Keeping them locked in vaults serves no purpose in a country battling poverty. If auctioned, the proceeds could exceed ₹21 lakh crore—enough to build housing, feed the lower people and support healthcare.”
Among the notable pieces is the Jacob Diamond, once used as a paperweight by the last Nizam, and estimated to fetch over ₹1,000 crore internationally.
Appeal to Telangana CM for a dedicated museum
Himayat Ali, who has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy in the past, urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to use the Nizam’s remaining properties under state custody to establish a high-security museum. “If the Chief Minister focuses on tourism and creates an AeroCity-like hub, he could lobby for bringing the jewellery back,” he added.
Heritage experts and historians have long supported the idea of housing the Nizam’s jewels in Hyderabad, saying a permanent exhibition would significantly boost the city’s tourism profile.
