Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V Mir Tahniyat Ali Khan Siddiqi (11 October 1827 – 26 February 1869) was the eighth Nizam of Hyderabad, India, from 1857 to 1869.

Realm

Asaf Jah V's realm was divided into five subahs and sixteen districts; each subah was headed by a Subedar, Each Fort by a Qiladar and each district by a Taluqdar.

Developmental reforms

Hyderabad Medical School

He set up the Hyderabad Medical School (HMS) in 1846 which later came to be known as Osmania Medical College.

Rubath for pilgrims of Hyderabad State

The Nizam's Rubath is an accommodation building in city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, purchased by the 5th Nizam for the people of Hyderabad State travelling for their Holy pilgrimage (Hajj). It initially consisted of 42 buildings, but with the expansion of the Grand Mosque, only three buildings remain.

Other reforms

Other reforms during his reign, by his Prime Minister Salar Jung, included the establishment of a governmental central treasury in 1855. Asaf Jah V reformed the Hyderabad revenue and judicial systems, instituted a postal service and constructed the first rail and telegraph networks. In 1861 he was awarded the Star of India. During the regime of the Nizam V- Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan Siddiqi (Afzal-ud-Dawlah), Dar-ul-Uloom, the first regular educational institution of Hyderabad, was set up in 1854.

Personal life

Asaf Jah V was the eldest son of Nasir-ud-dawlah, Asaf Jah IV (Mir Farqunda Ali Khan) and his wife Dilawar-un-Nisa Begum (buried in Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad). He was married three times, firstly to Mahbub Begum, secondly to Hussaini Begum, and thirdly to Allah Rakhi Begum.

Death

He died in Hyderabad on 26 February 1869, after a reign of just 12 years and was buried at the Mecca Masjid mosque.

Style and titles

His Highness Sir Nizam-ul-Mulk, Afzal ad-Dawlah, Nawab Farooqi Mir Tahniat Ali Khan Bahadur, Asaf Jah V, GCSI, Nizam of Hyderabad.