Abul Hasan Qutb Shah
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Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (also transliterated in different ways) was the seventh and last ruler of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India under the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ruled from 1672 to 1687. He was also known as Tani Shah, meaning "benevolent ruler".
He is remembered as a popular statesman who did not discriminate against those of other ethnicities or religions. He hired Brahmins as his ministers and generals. For example Madanna, a Telugu Brahmin from Hanamkonda City, was his Chief Minister. Tana Shah gained a place in the Telugu literature due to Kancharla Gopanna, nephew of Madanna. Kancharla Gopanna is famously known as "Ramadasu". Ramadasu lived in Nelakondapalli City in Palvancha county. Tani Shah hired him as "Tahasildar" (head of the revenue department) of Palvancha county. Ramadasu diverted the public funds to construct a Rama temple in Bhadrachalam and for the jewelry for the idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Tana Shah found Ramadasu guilty of misappropriation of public funds and put him in jail. Later, according to legend, Tana Sha released Ramadasu from jail because Lord Rama appeared to him in person and paid back the money. For this goodwill gesture to Ramadasu, Tana Sha gained praise of the Telugu people.
Earlier Tana Shah's father-in-law Abdulla Qutub Shah was forced by Aurangzeb to acknowledged the suzerainty of Shah Jahan. About the year 1683, Abul Hasan appears to have become irregular in payments of taxes to the Mughals. This lead Aurangzeb on a campaign to reassert the rule of Mughals on Golconda. He attacked Golconda. Tana Shah defended the fort for eight months, but Aurangazeb succeeded in capturing Golconda by bribery at the end in October 1687. Tana Shan was taken as a prisonar and was imprisoned in the Daulatabad fort until his death.
With the defeat of Abul Hasan Qutub Shah the Qutb Shahi dynasty ended and a new Nizam dynasty began in Hyderabad under the control of Mughal Dynasty.
| Preceded by Abdullah Qutb Shah |
Qutb Shahi dynasty 1672–1687 |
Succeeded by none |
