21 Facts About Mirza Ismail

Sir Mirza Muhammad Ismail Amin-ul-Mulq was an Indian statesman and police officer who served as the Diwan of Mysore, Jaipur, and Hyderabad.

Mirza Ismail was born on 24 October 1883 in Bangalore to Aga Jan Mohammed Khazim Shirazie, the longest serving assistant district commissioner in the Kingdom of Mysore, and was of Persian descent.

Mirza Ismail became the private secretary to Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV; the maharaja had great faith in his administrative acumen and abilities to implement them.

Mirza Ismail was a superlative administrator and set an inspiring example to the officials by undertaking extensive tours and personally heeding to the grievances of the people.

Mirza Ismail had to do a great deal of tight-rope walking in the face of popular agitations conducted by the Indian National Congress.

Mirza Ismail had to maintain good relations with top Congress leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru on one hand, and with the maharaja's interests in his mind on the other; he did everything possible to suppress Congress movements in the state for fear of communal violence and unrest in Bangalore.

Ghanshyam Das Birla was a close friend of Mirza Ismail's who used to fund the grand projects Mirza Ismail envisaged for Jaipur.

Mirza Ismail chaired International PEN's Indian Writers Council held at Jaipur in 1945, whose participants included Sarojini Naidu and Edward Morgan Forster.

Mirza Ismail was instrumental in the approval of a building for Jaipur Medical Association in 1945.

Mirza Ismail entirely objected to the partitioning of India and there was nothing beyond a united India for him.

Mirza Ismail put forth his best skills on the issue of accession of Hyderabad into India and negotiated a "standstill agreement" with the Union of India for one year's period to resolve the issue amicably.

Mirza Ismail was appointed OBE in 1922 by the British Government for his services to India, and was appointed CIE in 1924.

Mirza Ismail was knighted in 1930 and was further appointed KCIE in 1936.

Mirza Ismail penned his memoirs under the title My Public Life published in 1954 before his death on 5 January 1959 at his house Windsor Lodge, Bangalore.

Mirza Ismail was a poet who publish ten volumes of religious nowhas called Baiz e Shakira.

Mirza Ismail inspired many in the family to live a life in the service of the country.

Mirza Ismail became a key advisor for the layout and administrative systems of the Ministry of External Affairs, which earned him a Padma Shri.

Ismail's grandson from Shah Taj Begum, Akbar Mirza Khaleeli, joined the Indian Foreign Service served as senior diplomat and advisor to the Indian government on Middle-Eastern affairs for many years after his retirement.

Mirza Ismail's nephews left India at the time of partition, dividing the family to serve Pakistan instead.

Mirza Ismail's great-grandson Fouaad Mirza is an Indian Olympic equestrian.

Mirza Ismail died on 5 January 1959 at his residence in Bangalore.