132 Sherif
House of Orleans”.91 For Delhi, and Sir Terence Keyes in Hyderabad, it was a
problem, and those responsible were pin-pointed:
I believe that Pickthall and Shaukat Ali were actually working for the
Nizam to become Khalifa of Islam, on the ex-Khalifa’s death; and hoped
to make it certain by the Turkish marriages. I also believe that, though he
[the Nizam] may have toyed with the idea for a time, he has dropped it.
There has been a very considerable number of articles not only in the ver-
nacular Press throughout India, but in English papers also referring to the
prospect of the Khalifate being revived in the person of Hyderabad or his
eldest son. [...] Ridiculous as it may seem, this foolish intrigue has caused
some uneasiness in Turkey, though it can have but a passing interest. In
India, however, the consequences of a more open revival of the scheme
would be much more serious.92Pickthall’s duties were not over after the wedding. He was given the task of
dissuading the ex-Caliph from accompanying the royal party back to Hyder-
abad, because this had been vetoed by the Political Resident.93 He also had
to organise their travel arrangements from Marseilles to Bombay, and was
“ commanded” to accompany them.94 The intention to break the journey in the
Hejaz for a pilgrimage was no longer possible because of an outbreak of chol-
era in the region.
How far did Pickthall subscribe to Shaukat Ali’s ambitions for a revival of the
caliphate via the Asifiya House? Further archival research is awaited, and while
it is true that he “became a courtier”,95 there is perhaps more to his Hyder-
abad legacy than that. He was to continue working in Hyderabad a further four
years, happy in his contributions to the State’s educational work and also edit-
ing Islamic Culture. He applied for retirement in 1934, which was granted via a
firman from the Nizam. Pickthall left Hyderabad in January 1935, and the State
allocated a monthly state pension of 500 kildars.96 He continued for a while
his association with Islamic Culture and the State. His article on Hyderabad in
91 ior, R/1/1/2173 (2), 1931; remark by George Rendel.
92 ior, Hyderabad Political Notebook, Volume ii, (1919–1945); p125. Cited as “Important
parts of a letter No. 788-R [C], dated the 19 May 1933”, from the Resident, Sir Terence Keyes,
to the Political Department. The reference is to H.A.R. Gibb’s book published in 1932.
93 ior, R/2/73/101; Political Resident to the Nizam, letter dated 5 December 1931.
94 ior, R/2/73/101; Hydari’s cable to the Nizam, 28 October 1931.
95 Clark, Marmaduke Pickthall, 60.
96 Ashraf, Behruni Arbab-i-Kamal Aur Hyderabad, 280. A facsimile of the Nizam’s firman is
provided on p. 282.