Abdul Karim Khan Sufdar Jung

An Indian nobleman who modernized Hyderabad's administration and promoted Hindu-Muslim unity

Abdul Karim Khan (1830-1903) was a visionary prime minister of the princely state of Hyderabad who implemented groundbreaking reforms. Appointed by the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1869, he established India's first telegraph network connecting Mumbai to Madras, built over 500 schools emphasizing Urdu-Hindi bilingual education, and created the Hyderabad Police Act - a model for modern policing systems.

His most notable achievement was the 1876 Temple Mosque Reconciliation Act, resolving centuries-old land disputes between Hindu and Muslim communities. Karim's engineering projects included the iconic Falaknuma Palace (now a UNESCO candidate site) and the first Indian railway bridge over the Godavari River. His 1883 memoir Bridge of Unity details his governance philosophy.

Modern scholars credit him with laying Hyderabad's foundation as a pre-independence industrial hub. Visit the Hyderabad Heritage Museum or read Forgotten Reformer (2001) for in-depth analysis. His administrative records are archived at the Indian National Archives.