Muhammed Abdul Ali
Al-Hajj Nawab Ghulam Muhammad 'Abdu'l 'Ali Khan Bahadur; is the current and eighth titular Prince of Arcot and head of the House of Arcot in Tamil Nadu, India. He succeeded his father, Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader, as Prince in July 1993. Although the princely title is no longer legally recognised, it continues as a hereditary distinction acknowledged by the Government of India for ceremonial and cultural purposes.
Early life and education
Muhammed Abdul Ali was born on 9 August 1951 in Arcot, Tamil Nadu, as the eldest son of Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader and Shamsunissa Begum.He undertook the pilgrimage to Mecca in 1966, along with his family and staff, a notable religious journey in his youth.
Accession
Following the death of his father in July 1993, Abdul Ali acceded as the eighth Prince of Arcot. His succession was ceremonially acknowledged at the family seat, Amir Mahal, in Chennai.Under post-independence protocol, the Prince of Arcot retains a place in the Indian order of precedence roughly equivalent to that of a state cabinet minister, in recognition of historical standing.
Public life
Abdul Ali has continued the family’s tradition of civic and charitable engagement. He served twice as Sheriff of Madras, in 1984–85 and 1988–89.He founded the organisation Harmony India in the early 1990s to promote communal amity, secularism, and national integration.
He also presides over the All India Muslim Educational Society and the Carnatic Family Association.
Abdul Ali oversees the "Prince of Arcot Endowments", which administers various mosques, charitable trusts, and religious properties in Tamil Nadu, as well as endowed properties in Mecca and Medina. The body operates under the "Prince of Arcot Endowment Act, 1922".
Recognition and awards
In April 2023, the Indo-Australian Association of Chennai conferred upon him the Meritorious Service Award for promoting inter-faith harmony and communal peace.In 2019, the Madras High Court dismissed a public interest litigation seeking to revoke his title and associated privileges, finding the title use and related facilities permissible under existing arrangements.
Personal life
Muhammed Abdul Ali is married to Sayeeda Begum. They have two sons:Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, the heir-apparent and current Dewan to the Prince of Arcot; and Nawabzada Mohammed Naser Ali.He resides at Amir Mahal, Chennai, and is known for his interests in literature, art, and horticulture.