IJ2
Nawab Lutf-ud-Dowlah, a remarkably able
man of high principles and strong character,
served on the Council from its inauguration,
in 1919 till his death in 1937. I had great
admiration for him on account of his sincerity,
unswerving rectitude, independence of judgment
and ardent loyalty to his Master and the State.
I looked upon him as the one man among the
nobles of Hyderabad well qualified to be Presi-
dent of the Council. But suddenly he deve-
loped symptoms of cancer and had to go to.
Vienna for expert treatment and died near
Aden on his way bacjk. This showed that fate
was again at work ; and his death was an
irreparable loss to the State. He has left children,
but it does not seem likely that any of his
sons will ever attain the same elevation and
fill the same place in the public eye.. They will
be fortunate if they have inherited any of his
qualities.
The great Paigah family—the barons of
Hyderabad—liege vassals of the Nizam, connected
with the ruling family by ties of intermarriage,
enjoying high, almost regal prerogatives and
privileges and an annual revenue of about
£400,000—were an estate of the realm. But
time and fate have put them into the background
of Hyderabad history; and their disappearance
will leave unimpeded the levelling movements of
the times. And then will be gone for ever the
pomp and splendour of regal Hyderabad of which
they were the reflectors.