164
respected by all Hyderabad, an able and trust-
worthy official of long standing who had enjoyed
the confidence of the late Nizam and was treated
with much consideration by His Exalted High-
ness the present Nizam. The other was Sir
Faridoon Mulk, another veteran, who had served
as Private and Political Secretary since the time
of the Second Salar Jung, Nawab Imad-us-Saltanat,
and who by his sagacity had been able to main-
tain his position and personal influence under
four Prime Ministers.
The work of administration under the young
Minister was carried on in this way for about
two years,* when His Exalted Highness consi-
dered it more expedient to take it directly under
his own supervision. The Nizam thus became
his own Prime Minister, and Sir Faridoon Mulk,
the medium for ministerial work. The arrange-
ment lasted till the year 1918 when the idea of
having an,Executive Council matured and steps
were taken to select a suitable person of suffi-
ciently high status and experience--in consulta-
tion with the Government of India—to be its
President. This brought Sir Ali Imam to Hyder-
abad, who immediately after his arrival, drew
up the constitution of the Executive Council and
had it inaugurated in November, 1919.
Nawab Salar Jung is perhaps fhe^only one
amongst the nobles of Hyderabad who has shown
marked ability for managing his great ancestral
* 1912-1914. . . . , i ' *