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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sir Kishen Pershad
| honorific_prefix = [[Maharaja]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Yamin us Saltanat]]
| image = File:KishenPershad ca1915.jpeg
| order = 30th
| office = Prime Minister of Hyderabad
| monarch1 = [[Mir Osman Ali Khan|Osman Ali Khan]]
| term_start1 = 25 November 1926
| term_end1 = 18 March 1937
| predecessor1 = Wali-ud-Daula Bahadur
| successor1 = [[Akbar Hydari]]
| monarch2 = [[Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI|Mahbub Ali Khan]] <br /> [[Mir Osman Ali Khan|Osman Ali Khan]]
| term_start2 = 1901
| term_end2 = 11 July 1912
| predecessor2 = [[Viqar-ul-Umra]]
| successor2 = [[Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III|Yousuf Ali Khan]]
| birth_name = Kishen Pershad
| birth_date = 1864
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Hyderabad State]] (present-day [[Telangana]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1940|5|13|1864}}
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Hyderabad State]] (present-day [[Telangana]], India)
| spouse = 7
| residence =
| alma_mater =
}}

'''Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad Bahadur Yamin us-Sultanat''' {{post nominals|GCIE}} (1864 – 13 May 1940) was an Indian [[nobility|noble]] who served as [[Prime Minister of Hyderabad]] twice.

Born to a [[Hindus|Hindu]] Khatri <ref>{{Cite web|date=February 9, 2015|first=Sajjad|last=Shahid|title=Kishen Pershad — people's Maharaja |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Kishen-Pershad-peoples-Maharaja/articleshow/30072051.cms|access-date=2021-01-16|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> family, Pershad studied at a western school under the patronage of [[Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I|Salar Jung I]]. He was a childhood friend of the [[Nizam of Hyderabad|Nizam]] and was a staunch Nizam loyalist throughout his life. In 1892, Pershad became the ''[[peshkar]]'' (deputy minister) of the state. Nine years later, Nizam [[Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI|Mahbub Ali Khan]] appointed him ''[[dewan]]'' (prime minister) of the state. During his first tenure as ''dewan'', he was credited with increasing the state's revenue and helping victims of the [[Great Musi Flood of 1908]]. In 1926, he was reappointed as ''dewan''. During this period, he passed the Mulki regulations, which favoured local citizens over British for administrative positions.

A proponent of the ''[[Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb]]'' (culture of the central plains of Northern India), Pershad also wrote [[Urdu]] and [[Persian language|Persian]] poems which were influenced by [[Sufism]]. He was a patron of poetry, paintings and music. He had seven wives including both Hindus and Muslims.

==Early life==
Although Pershad was born in 1864, his exact date of birth is unrecorded. He claimed to have been "born two years before his highness [ [[Mir Osman Ali Khan]] ]".{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=107}} Pershad's ancestor, Rai Mull Chand, migrated from Delhi to [[Hyderabad]] with [[Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I|Asaf Jah I]]. His grandfather Narinder Pershad served as ''[[dewan]]'' and ''peshkar'' (deputy minister) during the reign of [[Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI|Mahbub Ali Khan]].{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=107}} They were [[Hindu people|Hindu]] by faith<ref>{{cite book |author1=Karen Isaksen Leonard |title=Locating Home: India's Hyderabadis Abroad |date=2007 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=9780804754422 |page=18}}</ref> and belonged to the Mehra clan of ''[[Khatri]]'' caste, a Zamindar community, which traced its origins to Suryavanshi Kshatriya community. {{sfn|Leonard|1994|p=183}}<ref name="TOI2"/>

In his youth, Pershad was disinherited by his grandfather Narinder Pershad in favour of his younger brother. Subsequently, he was patronised by [[Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I|Salar Jung I]] and was educated along with his sons in a western school. Pershad studied [[Accounting|accountancy]], medicine, religion, [[astrology]] and [[sufism]]. Besides these, he learned [[martial arts]], Mughal etiquette and court grooming at his school.<ref name="SI">{{cite book |author1=Syeda Imam |title=The Untold Charminar |date=2008 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9788184759716 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ww3GYpMrwysC&dq=kishen+pershad&pg=PT87}}</ref> Pershad studied the [[Sanskrit]] language because of his Hindu faith and accountancy because he had the hereditary charge of the royal treasury.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=108}}

==Political career==

In 1892, Pershad was appointed ''peshkar'' of Hyderabad,<ref name="TOI1">{{cite web |last1=Shahid |first1=Sajjad |title=The last icon of the Mughal way of life |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/The-last-icon-of-the-Mughal-way-of-life/articleshow/10721951.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=28 March 2019 |date=14 November 2011}}</ref> and ''dewan'' in 1902. During this ten-year period he played an insignificant role in the administration of the state. He became the military minister in the ''[[Nizam of Hyderabad|nizam]]''{{'}}s cabinet. He also fulfilled his responsibilities as a ''peshkar'', which included him constantly attending to the ''Nizam'' to help him complete the formalities of state.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=111}}

In 1901, the ''Nizam'' appointed Pershad as ''dewan'' of Hyderabad and dismissed [[Viqar-ul-Umra]].{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=115}} He was also conferred with the title "Yamin us Saltanat" (English: right hand of the realm) and his status was raised from that of a ''[[raja]]'' to a ''[[maharaja]]''.<ref name="SI"/> In an attempt to improve the economic conditions of the state, he decreased the ''[[mansabdar]]s''{{'}} (landowners) income. He also increased revenues from agriculture, railways, and customs. In 1908, a flood occurred in the state when the [[Musi River (India)|Musi River]] overflowed killing people and destroying property. In response, Pershad arranged for aid and made a personal donation to the victims. He paid salaries in advance and waived debts.<ref name="SI"/>

During Pershad's first tenure as the ''dewan'' of Hyderabad, the state's cash reserves quadrupled. Although British historians credit the finance minister Casson Walker, a [[British people|Briton]], for this achievement, Hyderabadi tradition gives credit to Pershad. He also maintained a friendly relationship with the [[Resident (title)|British resident]].{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=117}} After Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan's death in 1911, Osman Ali Khan ascended the throne. Under his reign, Pershad found it difficult to continue as the ''dewan'' and resigned in 1912.<ref name="TOI1"/>

In November 1926, he was reappointed to that position and continued until March 1937.<ref>{{cite web |title=Princely States of India A–J |url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_A-J.html#Haydarabad |publisher=World Statesmen |accessdate=28 March 2019}}</ref> During his second tenure, friction occurred between Pershad and Walker over political appointments. While Walker was in favour of appointing Britons to administrative positions, Pershad was in favour of appointing ''Mulkies'' (local citizens). Panic spread amongst the locals because of Walker's preference. They thought that no post, of even moderate or lesser importance, would be available to them. The clash between Pershad and Walker over this matter was continuous and all government departments were affected by it.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=117}} Pershad passed the ''Mulki'' regulations according to which an "outsider" could not be appointed to any position if a suitably-qualified ''Mulki'' was available for the job; their educational qualifications were to be given more weight than their family background and retirement was fixed at fifty-five years of age.<ref name="TOI1"/>{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=119}}

==Personal life==

===Marriages===

[[File:KishenPershad 2Kinder ca1935.jpeg|thumb|(From left to right): Pershad's grandson Raja Ratan Gopal Saincher, his daughter Rani Sultan Kunwar Bibi and Kishen Pershad]]

[[File:KishenPershad sonsDaughters 1935.jpeg|thumb|Pershad with his children, c.1935]] Maharaj Kishen Pershad died in 1940. In this photograph he is much younger than he would have been in 1935. This photograph was probably taken in early 20th century. He had several grandchildren by 1935.

Pershad had seven wives. Three were Hindus and four were Muslims (which also included ''[[Shia Muslim]]''s). His Muslim wives bore him six sons; his Hindu wives bore him nine sons. The wives followed their own religion and the children were brought up in the religion of their mother. The children from Muslim wives had Islamic names; the children from Hindu wives had Hindu names.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Syeda Imam |title=The Untold Charminar |date=2008 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9788184759716 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ww3GYpMrwysC&dq=kishen+pershad+wives+seven&pg=PT89}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Rajendra Prasad |title=The Asif Jahs of Hyderabad: Their rise and decline |date=1984 |publisher=Vikas Publishing House Private, Limited |isbn=9780706919653 |page=128}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Narendra Luther |authorlink1=Narendra Luther |title=Hyderabad: Memoirs of a City |date=1955 |publisher=Orient Longman |isbn=9788125006886 |page=223}}</ref>

One of Pershad's favourite wives was Ghousia Begum. She belonged to an orthodox Muslim family. Although she lived under a strict ''[[purdah]]'', they managed to court each other using disguises. According to Islamic law, marriage between a Muslim and a Hindu is not allowed. To marry her, he was ready to convert to Islam.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=122}} However, Nizam [[Mahboob Ali Khan]] was not in favour of him converting as he did not want a Muslim ''peshkar''.

===Interests and beliefs===

Pershad wrote Persian and [[Urdu poetry|Urdu poems]] under the pen name "Shad" (''English'': happy). His poetry was influenced by Sufism. He was also a proponent of ''[[Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb]]'' ([[Hindu-Muslim unity|communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims]]).<ref name="TOI2">{{cite web |last1=Shahid |first1=Sajjad |title=Kishen Pershad – people's Maharaja |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Kishen-Pershad-peoples-Maharaja/articleshow/30072051.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=28 March 2019 |date=9 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Alka Patel |author2=Karen Leonard |title=Indo-Muslim Cultures in Transition |date=2011 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|BRILL]] |isbn=9789004218871 |page=185}}</ref> He wrote

{{quote|<poem>
I am neither Hindu nor a Muslim
My faith reposes in every religion
Shad alone knows of his religious beliefs
As none but the free can fathom the essence of freedom.<ref name="TOI2"/>
</poem>}}

Pershad was a patron of poetry, paintings and music. No matter the quality of their work, he encouraged painters, writers and musicians. In the early morning, artists from different parts of India as well as from [[Persia]] and [[Arab countries]] visited him.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=126}} He also published an Urdu poetry magazine titled ''Mahbub Al Kalam''. In it the first ''[[ghazal]]'' was written by Nizam [[Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI|Mahbub Ali Khan]], the rest were written by Pershad. The ''ghazal''s were written in the form a dialogue between two lovers.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=126}}

Pershad's hobbies included painting, playing [[sitar]], photography and sculpting. He was a childhood friend of the Nizam and throughout his life, he was a staunch Nizam loyalist.<ref name="TOI1"/>

''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote the following about him:
<blockquote>His charismatic personality and legendary largesse endeared him with the masses. His eminence as the supreme personification of all that was good in erstwhile Hyderabad has ensured that 'Maharaja' implies none other than Kishen Pershad.<ref name="TOI2"/></blockquote>

===Image and character===

Despite the fact that Hyderabadi society was feudal in nature and Pershad belonged to an upper caste, during his reign as a minister, his associates consisted of people of every caste and class. According to his family members, he would sit with a beggar on his sofa in his [[drawing room]] and would serve him tea.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=112}} When he was criticised for his acts, he replied, "Do not despise anyone. You never know, it may be God himself who visits you in the guise of a beggar".{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=112}}

Due to his contacts, Pershad was able to understand the sentiments of all sections of society. Even after becoming the prime minister of Hyderabad, he continued his participation in public functions like the inauguration of schools and clinics, and continued to appear as a chief guest in the circus. During the marriage season, he also attended marriages of the common public including the poor when he was invited.{{sfn|Ronken Lynton|1992|p=112}}

===Knighthood===

Pershad was conferred with the [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]] in January 1903<ref>{{cite web|title=To be Knight Commanders|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27511/supplement/3|work=The London Gazette|page=3|date=30 December 1902}}</ref> and the [[Order of the Indian Empire|GCIE]] in 1910.<ref>{{cite web|title=To be a Knight Grand Commander|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28388/supplement/4477|work=The London Gazette|date=23 June 2010}}</ref>

==Death==

Pershad died at Hyderabad on 13 May 1940.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Kishen Pershad passes away |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=168-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6865%2C1236175 |accessdate=28 March 2019 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=14 May 1940}}</ref> Upon his death, Nizam [[Osman Ali Khan]] said "society has witnessed the departure of the last vestige of the [[Mughal empire]]".<ref name="TOI1"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
*{{citation|title=Days of the Beloved|first=Harriet|last=Ronken Lynton|isbn=9780863112690|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=1992}}
*{{citation|title=Social History of an Indian Caste: The Kayasths of Hyderabad|first=Karen Isaksen|last=Leonard|publisher=Orient Longman|year=1994|isbn=9788125000327|location=Hyderabad}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kishen Pershad}}
*[https://archive.org/details/NazreSultan Nazr-e-Sultan – Poetry written by Kishen Pershad in honour of Nizam Osman Ali Khan]

{{S-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{Succession box |
before=[[Sir Vicar-ul-Umra]]|
title=[[Prime Minister of Hyderabad]] |
years=1901–1912|
after=[[Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III]]
}}
{{Succession box |
before=Wali-ud-Daula Bahadur|
title=[[Prime Minister of Hyderabad]] |
years=1926–1937|
after=[[Sir Akbar Hydari]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Hyderabad state}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pershad, Kishen}}

[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Urdu-language poets from India]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:1864 births]]
[[Category:1940 deaths]]
[[Category:Hyderabad State politicians]]
[[Category:Indian maharajas]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Hyderabad State]]
[[Category:People from Hyderabad State]]

Kishen Pershad - Revision history

->Citation bot at 17:52, 11 December 2021