Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali

Ibrahim Qutb Shah Wali (29 May 1530 – 5 June 1580), also known by his Telugu names Malki Bharama and Ibharama Chakravarti, was the fourth monarch of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. He was the first of the Qutb Shahi dynasty to use the title "Sultan". He ruled from 1550 to 1580. He lived for seven years in exile at the court of Vijayanagara as an honoured guest of its ruler Rama Raya. Ibrahim is known for patronizing Telugu extensively because he was moved by a genuine love for the language.

During his sojourn in Vijayanagara, Ibrahim developed very close and loving ties with the imperial family and with important members of the nobility. He also became deeply influenced by Hindu, Telugu culture. He adopted Hindu/Telugu ways of dress, food, etiquette, and above all, speech. He developed a strong love for the Telugu language, which he patronized and encouraged throughout his reign. Indeed, he even went so far as to adopt a new name for himself, "Malki BhaRama," which is his own name spoken with a strong, rustic Telugu accent. He used this name for himself in various official letters and documents and it therefore gained official recognition.

Reign Such favourable attitudes to Hindus had an effect. Ibrahim during his early reign got support from Telugu noblemen. In 1550 when Ibrahim was returning to Golconda, two envoys were sent to the sultan from the fort of Koilkonda pledging allegiance to him. He was crowned on 27 July 1550, upon returning to Golconda. According to the long inscription at the fort, the Hindus pledged allegiance to him, and anyone who 'dealt with any other person other than Ibrahim' would be considered being of low birth and would incur the sin of having killed cows and Brāhmaṇas at Varanasi.

In Vijayanagara, Ibrahim married Bagiradhi (correctly: "Bhagirathi"), a Hindu woman, according to Hindu rites and customs. Bagiradhi was also known as "Kaavya kanyaka" and she came from a family with a legacy in music and dance rooted in Hindu, and south Indian traditions. The son born to Ibrahim and Bhagirathi, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, would succeed his father to become the 5th ruler of the dynasty.

Ibrahim employed Hindus for administrative, diplomatic, and military purposes within his sultanate.

Death After a short illness, Ibrahim died on 5 June 1580. He was succeeded by his son, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, who was born to his Hindu wife Bhagirathi.

Family Wives Bhagirathi of Vijayanagar Bibi Jamil; daughter of Sultan Hussain Nizam Shah I of Ahmadnagar

Issue Abdul Qadir, eldest son, predeceased his father Husain Quli Abdul Fattah father of Muhammad Qutb Shah Chand Sultan; married Sultan Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur