As casualties rise in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, prayers and low-key protest meetings in Hyderabad, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians, have been continuing. Against this backdrop, historical evidence underscores the city’s unwavering support for Palestine, a commitment that spans from the era of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, to more recent times when Syed Vicaruddin of the Indo-Arab League tirelessly advocated the cause.
Well-known scholar from Hyderabad, the late Omar Khalidi, pointed out that Indian influence and Indian presence in Palestine dates back to the 13th century. In the 19th century, the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, played a significant role in this connection. According to a research paper, the Nizam provided substantial funding for the restoration of Masjid al-Aqsa, one of the three holiest sites in the Islamic world, and the first qibla (direction of prayer). Additionally, he contributed greatly to the creation of waqfs (Muslim endowments) in Palestine, and supported the renovation and restoration of a hospice named Zawiyah Hindiyya. This hospice, dedicated to the revered Sufi, Baba Farid Ganj Shakar, was a testament to the enduring bond between India and Palestine.
In his paper ‘Indian Muslims and Palestinian Awqaf’, Mr. Khalidi writes that the caretaker of the hospice, Nazir Hasan Ansari, an Indian from Saharanpur, managed to raise funds it from notable personalities of the day, including Mir Osman Ali Khan. “The main building in the hospice was named as Osman Manzil after the Nizam’s name,” Mr. Khalidi writes.
