VVIP graveyard a sad picture of neglect

The graveyard where five prime ministers who ruled Hyderabad under the Nizam’s domain belonging to the Salar Jung family are buried is today in shambles. With no managing committee for the past two years, encroachments and vandalism have become the order of the day.

Protecting Daira-e-Mir-Momin:

• Establishment of a managing committee. Since March 25, 2015, the graveyard is managed by an adhoc committee
• Funds for maintenance and salaries to staff
• The chief secretary has written to the Waqf Board to conduct a survey of waqf properties in Bahadurpura and Charminar mandals. It has to be expedited

Spread over 18 acres, the Daira-e-Mir Momin at Sultan Shahi came under the direct control of Waqf Board in 2016 but it has not made much of a difference. In the last two years, four houses have been built inside the graveyard.

One of a kind necropolis

• The tomb of Mir Momin Astrabadi, an Iranian and the first prime minister during Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah (who came up first with the sketch of the city with Charminar as its centre) is buried here and the graveyard is named after him
• The 450- year-old graveyard is unique as it is here that five prime ministers who ruled Hyderabad under the Nizam’s domain are buried alongside Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, the exponent of Hindustani classical music and Mir Abul Qasim, after whom the tank near Zoo Park is named

Presently an adhoc committee comprising four members is taking care of the graveyard. Syed Hamed Hussain Jaffery, secretary, Daira-e-Mir-Momin says, “We wrote a letter to the chief secretary, Principal Secretary, Minority Welfare department on December 20 to which the chief secretary has ordered a survey to be undertaken of the waqf properties in Bahadurpura and Charminar mandals. The Waqf Board needs to expedite the process or the historic graveyard will further be vandalised.”

With no grant-in-aid, the payment of salaries to eight employees is difficult, say the adhoc committee members. Rs 500 is collected for each dead body. On an average, 15 bodies are buried per month.

Mir Momin Astrabadi, the man who first came up with the sketch of the city with Charminar as the centre of attraction is also buried here and the graveyard takes its name after him.

Mehdi Ali, a resident of Purani Haveli says, “The graveyard has great historical importance. Rulers from Qutub Shahi dynasty to Asaf Jahis are buried here. And few know that Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, the exponent of Hindustani classic music is also buried here.”

Hundreds visit the graveyard as there is a belief that their wishes get fulfilled. It is widely believed that Mir Momin brought mud from Karbala and sprinkled it in the graveyard, so it has sanctity.