HYDERABAD: Princess Durru Shehvar who died in London on Wednesday was the daughter-in-law of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Daughter of ex-Sultan, Abdul Majeed of Turkey, she was born on January 26, 1914.

She was married to the Nizam's elder son, Prince Azam Jah Bahadur. She is survived by two sons, Prince Mukkaram Jah Bahadur and Prince Muffakham Jah Bahadur. Her husband, Azam Jah pre-deceased her in 1974.

Tall and beautiful, Durru Shehvar was conferred the title of Durgana Begum, Princess of Berar by the Nizam. The Princess used to live alone at her house in Queens Street, London. For the last six months, she was very ill, it is said.

Concern for the poor

The Princess was fond of providing medicare to the poor and needy. She set up the Durru Shehvar Children's Hospital at Purani Haveli in Hyderabad, which she inaugurated. "She took personal interest in the hospital and visited it whenever she came to Hyderabad", said Dr. Fakhruddin Mohammed, former Superintendent of the Hospital.

Highly respected and well-educated lady, the princess was fluent in French, Turkish, English and also Urdu. She also established a junior college for girls in her name, Baghe-jahan-ara, Yakutpura.

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