Princess Durrushevar Sultan: The Regal Jewel of Hyderabad
By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam
25 October 2025
Princess Durrushevar Sultan, daughter of the last Ottoman Caliph, married Hyderabad's Prince Azam Jah. A linguist, horsewoman, and poet, she transformed Hyderabad with social reforms, founding a girls' college and hospital. Known for elegance, she died in London in 2006.
Main Points:
1. Princess Durrushevar, daughter of the last Ottoman Caliph, married Hyderabad's Prince Azam Jah.
2. Fluent in multiple languages, excelled in horse riding, tennis, painting, and poetry.
3. Established girls' college and Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad.
4. Championed women's rights and social reforms.
5. Died in London in 2006, buried in Brookwood Cemetery.
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"True princess, very regal and very smart".
(Historian Mohammed Safiullah regarding Rajkumari Durrushevar)
Princess Durrüşhevar Sultan was the daughter of Abdul Mesid II, the last Caliph of the Turkish Empire. She was born on 26 January 1914 in the Çamlıca Palace in Istanbul (then Constantinople), Ottoman Empire. Her mother's name was Mehiste Kadın.
Abdül Mesid II was the last Caliph of the Ottoman Empire. He was elected head of the Ottoman dynasty on 19 November 1922 and held this position until the abolition of the Caliphate by the Republic of Turkey on 3 March 1924, after which his position was abolished.
After the end of the Caliphate, Abdul Mesid and his family were exiled from Turkey and settled in Nice, France.
Princess Durrushevar's education was completed under the supervision of her father, who was himself a scholar. Princess Durrushevar acquired knowledge of several languages, including Turkish, English, French, and Urdu.
Princess Durrushevar was not only a linguistic expert but was also an excellent horsewoman, tennis player, painter, and poet.
Princess Durrushevar Sultan was emerging as a highly influential, graceful, and extremely beautiful princess. When she was only 16 years old, her father married her to Azam Jah, the eldest son of the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali,
on 12 November 1931 in Nice, France. Following this marriage, she received the title of "Princess of Berar" and “Durdana Begum Sahiba" .
This marriage was a significant event, establishing a strong bond between the Ottoman royal family and the Asaf Jahi dynasty of Hyderabad.
After the marriage, Princess Durrushevar and Azam Jah settled in Bella Vista, Hyderabad.
Social Life
Princess Durrushevar is remembered for her social work in Hyderabad. She not only made modern changes to the Nizam's palace but also took many steps for the welfare of the general public of Hyderabad.
Princess Durrushevar established a junior college for girls at Bagh-e-Jahanara in Hyderabad.
This school continues to operate successfully today, and many girls receive their education there.
She established the Osmania General Hospital at Afzalgunj in Hyderabad. This hospital provides free treatment to the poor and underprivileged people and has been functioning successfully since its inception.
On 4 November 1936, she laid the foundation stone of the first terminal of Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, and was presented with a silver casket.
She also inaugurated the famous Ajmal Khan Tibbia College Hospital at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh in 1939.
Along with her cousin, Princess Durrushevar made numerous efforts to promote girls' education.
The Nizam of Hyderabad provided his daughter-in-law with unwavering support in this endeavour.
The Nizam of Hyderabad, out of pride in his daughter-in-law, called her "Nagina" (precious gem).
While Princess Durrushevar lived in Hyderabad, she continued to engage in social work. Her image in Hyderabad remained that of a very elegant, well-mannered, beautiful, and modern woman.
Constitutional advisor Sir Walter Monckton, highlighting her calm and firm personality, called her "the most notable person in Hyderabad.”
Princess Durrushevar, by attending numerous social functions, established the importance of women's social life.
She championed the cause of equal rights for women by accompanying her husband on important occasions.
Seeing her at one such function, Philip Mason of the Indian Civil Service described her as, "A commanding personality, with a beautiful face, clear fair complexion and golden hair... No one could ignore or underestimate her. She was always essentially and indefatigably regal, and I think if fate had willed it, she would have been one of the great queens of the world.”
In 1954, her marriage with her husband ended due to differences. After the divorce, she moved to London and remained there for the rest of her life.
Even after her divorce, whenever she visited Hyderabad, crowds would gather to welcome her, a testament to her work and fame.
She last visited Hyderabad in 2004 and died in London on February 7, 2006. She is buried in Brookwood Cemetery.
Upon her death, The Telegraph wrote:
"There was an occasion when she was having lunch with a friend in Oxfordshire, at which Princess Margaret was also a guest. The weather was poor, and both princesses had been invited to plant a Cedar of Lebanon tree. Princess Margaret eventually did so reluctantly while the Princess of Berar performed her duty with her customary quiet dignity. Today Princess Margaret's tree is struggling, while that of the Princess of Berar is thriving”.
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Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession, focusing on writings about women and Islam. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/princess-durrushevar-sultan-jewel/d/137374
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