Spread across the world, from Australia to Europe and to the United States of America, are 400 of the flamboyant vintage cars, which were once in the possession of the Nizams of Hyderabad.
HYDERABAD: Spread across the world, from Australia to Europe and to the United States of America, are 400 of the flamboyant vintage cars, which were once in the possession of the Nizams of Hyderabad. While all are well aware of the wealth, the rich culture and heritage and the harmonious rule of the Nizams, very little is known about their automobile collection.
In a first, a Hyderabadi vintage car enthusiast, fondly knows as ‘Vintage Khan’, has documented the stories of the Nizam’s automobile collection in a coffee table book -- ‘Automobiles of the Nizams’. In the book, which is over 200 pages, Mohammad Luqman Ali Khan, tracks the story of how each of these cars came into the possession of the Nizam to their current whereabouts. The book’s cover was unveiled commemorating the golden jubilee of the coronation of the present Nizam, Mukarram Jah as the Nizam of Hyderabad in April last year. The “Automobiles of Nizams” will be released on August 26.
“I have been working on the book for over four years now and will be released at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at California. An annual event since 1950, it is the biggest motor car event. This year’s theme includes the showcase of motor cars from the British Raj,” informed 42-year-old Khan, who is a full-time banker based in Dubai. Around a dozen cars owned by several Indian Maharajas will be on display at Pebble Beach, which are being flown and shipped from various parts of the country.
Talking about the book, Khan said that he relied heavily on the archives provided by Princess Esra, wife of Mukarram Jah, and Prince Azmet Jah. The book contains archival photograp and current photos. “While they gave me access to the royal library, I studied about the procurement of the cars, the way they were designed and custom-built to suit the Nizams. They owned over 50 brands of cars,” shared Khan. From Rolls Royce to Humbers, the Nizams had a diverse range at that, added Khan, whose family too owns 12 vintage cars.
Story of the Nizams for children
Officials from the National Book Trust of India, approached Khan at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair. Apart from extending their hand to spread the word about his book, they also floated the idea to include stories of the Nizams at elementary level in schools. He is also collaborating with historians, teachers and experts for their inputs
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