Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I

Sir Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I, GCSI (1829–1883), Indian statesman of Hyderabad. He was considered the greatest Prime Minister of Hyderabad.

He was given the title Salar Jung and first of the three with that title. The British knighted him as Sir Salar Jung, and was addressed by that name. He was styled by native officials of Hyderabad the Mukhtaru 'l-Mulk, and was referred to by the general public as the Nawab Sahib. He is the father in law of Mir Mehboob Ali Khan Asaf Jah Vl as His daughter Sahebzadi Zahra Unisa Begum Married to Nizam Vl.

Khan was born in Bijapur. He was a descendant of a family which had held various appointments, first under the Adil Shahi kings of Bijapur, then under the Delhi emperors and lastly under the Nizams.Teaching's to him was provided by Nawab Sarwar Ul Mulk who was his Political advisor later.

He succeeded his uncle Suraju 'l-Mulk as the prime minister in 1853 at the age of 23.

Tenure as Diwan

The condition of the Hyderabad state was, at that time, a scandal to the rest of India. Salar Jung began by infusing a measure of discipline into the Arab mercenaries, the more valuable part of the Nizam's army, and employing them against the rapacious nobles and bands of robbers who had annihilated the trade of the country. He then constituted courts of justice at Hyderabad, organized the police force, constructed and repaired irrigation works, and established schools.

On the outbreak of the Indian rebellion of 1857, he supported the British, and although unable to hinder an attack on the residency, he warned the British minister that it was in contemplation. The attack was repulsed; the Hyderabad contingent remained loyal, and their loyalty served to ensure the tranquillity of the Deccan. Salar Jung took advantage of the preoccupation of the British government with the Rebellion to push his reforms more boldly, and when the Calcutta authorities were again at liberty to consider the condition of affairs his work had been carried far towards completion.

During the lifetime of the Nizam Afzulu'd-dowla, Salar Jung was considerably hampered by his master's jealous supervision. But when Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, succeeded his father in 1869, Salar Jung, at the instance of the British government, was associated in the regency with the principal noble of the state, the Shamsu 'l-Umara or Amir Kabir, and enjoyed a greater authority.

In 1876, he visited England with the object of obtaining the restoration of Berar. Although he was unsuccessful, his personal merits met with full recognition.

He died of cholera at Hyderabad on 8 February 1883. He was created G.C.S.I., on 28 May 1870, and received the honorary degree of D.C.L. from the University of Oxford on 21 June 1876. His grandson enjoyed an estate of 1486 sq. mi., yielding an income of nearly Rs.60,000.