Podcast Summary:

New Books Network – Imran Mulla: "The Indian Caliphate, Exiled Ottomans and the Billionaire Prince"
Release date: January 15, 2026
Host: Nicholas Gordon
Guest: Imran Mulla, journalist at Middle East Eye and author

Overview

This episode delves into the fascinating, little-known story of the aftermath of the Ottoman Caliphate’s abolition and explores how the Indian subcontinent—particularly Hyderabad and its billionaire prince, the Nizam—became part of one of the boldest and most unusual attempts to revive global Islamic leadership. Imran Mulla, author of "The Indian Caliphate, Exiled Ottomans and the Billionaire Prince," guides listeners through this tangled web of political intrigue, pan-Islamism, anti-colonial activism, and dynastic ambitions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meaning and Evolution of the Ottoman Caliphate (02:25 – 07:27)

• Reconsidering the Caliphate's Importance:
  • Historians once thought the Ottomans cared little for the Caliphate. Now, newer scholarship recognizes it as central to their imperial ideology.
• Legitimacy and Transformation:
  • The Ottomans legitimized their rule through possession of Islam’s holy cities (Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, and Baghdad).
  • The Ottomans redefined the caliph as a mystical, near-divine figure, rather than an Arab jurist, revolutionizing Islamic political thought.
• 19th & 20th Century Developments:
  • The loss of European territories made the Ottoman Empire demographically more Muslim.
  • Indian Muslims, with the fall of the Mughal Empire, turned their eyes to Istanbul: “The largest number of Muslims in the Indian subcontinent...now cared, and they started to look to the Ottoman Caliph as their leader in Islam.” (C, 04:33)
  • The Young Turk revolution (1908) turned the caliphate into a constitutional, quasi-democratic institution.

2. Abdulmejid II: The Last Caliph (07:27 – 10:27)

• Upbringing and Personality:
  • Grew up in confinement under paranoid Sultan Abdul Hamid II, dedicated himself to arts and music.
  • “He was a great artist…painter…calligrapher...he loved classical music…He was a very European figure in many ways. But he saw himself as an Ottoman European Muslim.” (C, 08:08)
• Public Life:
  • Post-1908, emerged as a “Democrat Prince,” advocating constitutionalism.
  • Supported the Turkish national struggle post-WWI, making him fit for the caliphate role.

3. The Abolition of the Caliphate & Exile (10:27 – 14:43)

• Political Calculations:
  • Ataturk retained the caliphate at first to appease Indian Muslims.
  • The prominence of Abdulmejid II eventually threatened Turkey’s new secular republic; thus, the caliphate was abolished in 1924.
• Aftermath:
  • Exile to Switzerland; Abdulmejid II declared that global Muslim consensus, not Turkey, should decide the caliphate’s fate — “True legitimacy comes from the recognition of the world's Muslims.” (C, 12:28)
  • Began plotting a pan-Islamic revival of the office.

4. Indian Muslims, Colonial Politics, and the Khilafat Movement (14:43 – 19:46)

• British and Indian Muslim Stakes:
  • British Empire claimed mantle of world’s “greatest Mohammedan power” due to its large Indian Muslim population.
  • Indian Muslims leveraged this position to demand political recognition and religious concessions.
• Khilafat Movement and Indian Independence:
  • The movement became the first pan-Indian mass mobilization, involving both Muslims and Hindus—“One of the leaders of the Khilafat movement was none other than Mahatma Gandhi.” (C, 16:23)
  • The movement’s collapse deepened Hindu-Muslim political divides.
• Persistence:
  • Key leaders like the Ali brothers kept supporting Abdulmejid II’s cause in exile.

5. The Nizam of Hyderabad: World’s Richest Muslim Ruler & Key Player (19:46 – 26:46)

• Hyderabad as an Islamic Power:
  • One-third of British India was under semi-autonomous princely states; Hyderabad was the largest and richest.
  • The Nizam was reputedly austere despite immense wealth, and Hyderabad styled itself as a last bastion of Indo-Islamic civilization.
• Alliance with the Ottomans:
  • The Nizam supported the exiled Caliph financially, giving him refuge on the French Riviera.
  • A strategic marriage was arranged in 1931 between Nizam’s son, Prince Azam Jah, and the Caliph’s daughter, Princess Durru Shehvar—creating a “grand alliance” of dynasties.
  • The intent: “The family of the Caliphate, immensely important in the Islamic world and you also had the richest Muslim family in the world.” (C, 22:44)

6. The ‘Deed’ of Caliphal Succession & Its Controversies (29:59 – 38:16)

• The Mysterious Document:
  • A deed from 1931 allegedly transferred the right to the caliphate to the Nizam and his descendants.
  • Its authenticity remains uncertain.
  • Regardless, Mulla’s archival research confirms that Abdulmejid II wanted his grandson, Prince Mukarram Jah, to inherit the caliphate via Hyderabad.
• British Suspicion and Response:
  • British authorities were wary of any such ambitions, fearing unrest and anti-colonial mobilization.
  • After Abdulmejid II’s death, secret plans for burial in Hyderabad highlighted lingering anxieties.
• Legacy and Memory:
  • An Ottoman mausoleum built for the Caliph in India, now decaying and almost forgotten—“An Ottoman mausoleum in the middle of India and people there generally don't know, you know, what it is.” (C, 34:21)

7. The Fate of Hyderabad & the Indian Caliphate ‘What If’ (38:16 – 46:21)

• Plans for Indian Federation:
  • Before Partition, there was serious discussion of an Indian federation, in which Hyderabad might remain autonomous and a potential Muslim soft power center.
• Collapse of the Dream:
  • Partition and India’s post-independence absorption of Hyderabad dashed all hopes for an independent, Muslim-ruled princely state.
  • The dream of an “Indian Caliphate” faded from public memory.
• Historical Significance:
  • Mulla underscores the episode’s importance in illuminating forgotten global connections: “Indian subcontinent was considered the epicenter of the Islamic world in the early 20th century and had great influence within the Middle East.” (C, 45:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Caliph Abdulmejid II’s Vision:
  • “He was a great artist…He saw himself as an Ottoman European Muslim, and he believed these different facets of his identity were entirely coherent.” (C, 08:08)
• On the Khilafat Movement’s Uniqueness:
  • “One of the leaders of the Khilafat movement was none other than Mahatma Gandhi.” (C, 16:23)
• On Hyderabad’s Forgotten Importance:
  • “By the early 20th century...Hyderabad was a sort of capital of the Muslim world, which is something that’s completely forgotten today.” (C, 20:53)
• On Historical Memory:
  • “These are forgotten histories. And the plan to revive the caliphate has largely been forgotten….That's why I wrote the book, really, to try and excavate this fascinating hidden history.” (C, 45:25)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:25 | Meaning and transformation of the Ottoman Caliphate | | 07:27 | Life and character of Abdulmejid II | | 10:27 | The abolition of the caliphate and Turkish nationalist politics | | 14:43 | Indian Muslims, colonial politics, the Khilafat Movement | | 19:46 | The Nizam of Hyderabad’s wealth, power, and pivotal role | | 22:44 | The “grand alliance” marriage: Ottomans and Hyderabad | | 29:59 | The contested deed transferring the Caliphate | | 34:21 | The forgotten mausoleum in Maharashtra | | 38:16 | Federation, Partition, and the end of Hyderabad’s independence | | 45:25 | Forgotten global connections, historical significance |

Additional Notables

• Colorful Characters:
  The “decadent” and flamboyant sons of the Nizam contrasted with the “cultivated” Ottoman princesses.
  • Prince Azam Jah: “First polo, second my duty and then women.” (C, 27:22)
  • Princess Durru Shehvar: A reforming, highly educated figure in Hyderabad society.
• International Intrigue:
  The British, Turkish, and Hyderabad governments each maneuvered to defend or undermine the Caliphate’s restoration.

Where to Find Imran Mulla’s Work & What’s Next (46:42)

• Book Availability:
  Available at Hearst in the UK, upcoming in US, Canada, Australia, and India (HarperCollins India).
• Other Work:
  Mulla writes about British politics, Middle East, and British Muslim issues—see Middle East Eye and his social media.

This episode offers a vibrant, rich account of a neglected but dramatic chapter in global Islamic and South Asian history. Imran Mulla’s narrative reminds listeners of the unexpected ways in which empires, dynasties, and ambitious individuals intersected in the quest to redefine sovereignty, modernity, and religious authority in a connected world.