Dr.Marcela Sirhindi and Dr.Aruna Navare

Dr. Marcela Sirhindi and Dr. Aruna Navare have together documented the 300-year history of the Asif Jahi dynasty, spanning from its establishment by Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jah I in 1724 to the political changes and their aftermath in 1948. In the absence of these two eminent researchers, this research paper is being read by researcher and educationist Dr. Sameen Kidwai.

Dr. Marcella Sirhindi is a distinguished scholar of Asian art history, specializing in South Asian art with a keen eye for Pakistani and Indian artists. After receiving her PhD from Ohio State University in 1985 with a dissertation on Abdul Rahman Chughtai, Dr. Sirhindi has made a significant contribution to the scholarly understanding of modern and contemporary art in South Asia. Her research on the important commission of Chughtai for the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1947 highlights his historical research on art, the Partition of India and royal patronage. As a dedicated educator, Dr. Sirhindi played a significant role in shaping art education, particularly in association with the Masters of Art program at the National College of Arts, Lahore.

She has also held teaching positions at the Kansas City Art Institute, the University of Missouri, and Oklahoma State University, where she is now Professor Emeritus in Art History.

Dr. Aruna Navare is a distinguished medical professional and historian with a keen interest in the Asif Jahi Nizam family of Hyderabad. Born into a prominent family during the Nizam era, Dr. Navare has successfully combined her professional career in medicine with her passion for historical research. Dr. Navare is a British citizen based in the United Kingdom, where she works as a fertility consultant in London.