The following notes are collected from the memoirs of a former student who had later become a Vice Chancellor of Osmania; Dr. Mohammed Raziuddin Siddiqui. These notes cover a period from 1918 to 1948 only. These were the formative years of the Osmania..

This period of 1918 to 1948 can be subdivided into three groups as follows:

1. 1918 -1929 are the Formative years.
2. 1929 – 1940 This is the consolidation period of Osmania.
3. 1940 – 1948 These are the years of new Administration.

The Osmania University was established by Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad-Deccan. The medium of instruction was Urdu. All subjects, arts, Sciences and Engineering were taught in Urdu.

As the historical background, the collapse of the Mughal Empire, in 1857, had heralded the beginning of the British Raj. The English language attained the status of the official language of India. It was on the recommendation of Lord Macaulay that English was adopted as the official language. However, the Asifia dynasty of Hyderabad Deccan continued to maintain Farsi as its official language.

The Hyderabad State had all the characteristics of an independent state: it had its own currency, which was used as currency of trades. It was used for imports and exports as a medium of exchange. Hyderabad had its own customs and excise, its own passport and its own system of education. These were all the foundation blocks of an independent state. The state was founded on four pillars called the Payagah; each headed by a family of nobles.

The education system known as the “Dars e Nizamiya” or educational syllabus had been established in all Muslim countries for centuries. The city of Hyderabad had several schools such as Madrassa Shujaiya and Madressa Faqriya and Madressa Nizamiyah etc. These schools were sponsored by the heads of the Payagahs. In all there were four Payagahs and they were the four pillars of the State of Hyderabad.
In 1856, the Salarjung I who was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, laid the foundation of the Darul Uloom which was the most important educational institution in the country. The Salarjung I had insisted that the medium of instructions shall be Farsi language. So long as he lived, there was no possibility of introducing Urdu as the educational language. After his death, his son Mir Liaq Ali Khan succeeded him and became Salarjung II as well as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. He decided to make Urdu as the official language in 1884. With the changing of the official language, the demands were being made for the establishment of Hyderabad State’s own university. The name proposed for the university was the Nizam University and the medium of instruction shall be in the Urdu language.

The Darul Uloom:

In 1890, the Darul Uloom was established and became affiliated with the Punjab University in Lahore. The syllabus for Munshi Fazil (Farsi) and Moulvi Fazil (Arabic) was designed by Punjab University and the Darul Uloom commenced educating students accordingly.

If we compare the standards with contemporary standards the following may be the equivalent:

1. Rashida: after 8 years of school education/
2. Munshi or Maulavi:  after ten years of education or metriculation.
3. Aalim: after 12 years of schooling or intermediate.
4. Fazil: After 14 years of education or a B.A
5. Kamil: after 16 years of education or an M.A

After ten years of education, those studying Farsi would peruse studies in  “Munshi Aalim”, “Munshi Fazil” and “Munshi Kamil” and those studying in Arabic medium would follow studies in “Moulavi Aalim”, “Maulavi Fazil” and “Moulavi Kamil”.  Those students who wanted to go into teaching professions would complete both the Farsi and the Arabic syllabuses. However, in the State of Hyderabad, there were parents who wished to give English education to their children. For them, in 1876, the Nizam College was establish. The medium of instruction was English and they followed English syllabus designed by the Madras University. The Nizam College was affiliated with the Madras University.

Similarly, with the establishment of the Nizam College, a high school was also opened and it was called the Madressah Aliya. It was located directly opposite to the Nizam College.

The Nizam College was reserved for the rich and influential people but in spite of the costs this college did not prove to be very successful.