In India’s post-independence history, a crucial moment was the 1948 integration of Hyderabad into the Indian Union. The state’s Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, sought to maintain its independence rather than accede to India or Pakistan. The violence, however, of the Razakars, a paramilitary force led by Kasim Razvi, and the oppression of the Nizam’s police created such widespread unrest that it beyond any doubt justified the action Governor General C. Rajagopalachari, President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru took in ordering a military operation to integrate the state where the sun set.
The Join India Movement (1947)
The Join India Movement was launched on 7th August 1947, claiming Hyderabad’s accession to the Indian Union. However, on 13th August 1947, the Nizam declared Hyderabad’s independence, refusing to join either India or Pakistan. Meanwhile, Ramananda Theertha, in a defiance of sorts, hoisted the Indian National Flag on 15th August 1947, the day after Indians across the country bowled over the British forces to win the right to self-govern.
Within a short stretch of time, the movement morphed into a massive popular uprising. But instead of negotiating, as any sensible governing authority would, the Nizam had his policemen and the Razakars—a privately-recruited militia who were sworn to uphold the Nizam’s authority—carry out violent reprisals against people in the movement.
The Standstill Agreement and Its Violations (1947-1948)
On November 29, 1947, the Nizam signed a Standstill Agreement with the Indian government. Under this agreement, the government of India took over the defense of Hyderabad, as well as its foreign affairs, communication, and currency. The Nizam retained authority over the internal administration of the state, but this was only for one year. After that, the Indian government and the Nizam were supposed to have a conversation and decide on the future arrangement.
Almost immediately, however, the Nizam began violating the agreement. Instead of respecting the relationship and authority divested to the Indian government, he began once again to plot against it. He corresponded with the governments of America, England, and Pakistan, asking them to support Hyderabad’s move to complete independence.
He sent two of his top officials to England with specific orders. E.L. Edroos and Ahmed Sayyed were to procure arms for Hyderabad through some top British arms dealers (which they did).
In addition to seeking arms, the Nizam attempted to get some military organization together and contracted T.T. Moor, a former British army officer, to produce gunpowder for the state.
He also restricted the use of Indian currency in the state and was on the verge of establishing some auxiliary forms of currency when the Indian government ordered him to stop that also. He loaned Pakistan ₹20 crore from Hyderabad’s treasury.
The most serious breach of the agreement happened when Mir Laik Ali, Prime Minister of Hyderabad State, lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations about India’s alleged interference, with the help of Sir Walter Monkton. These stark violations of the Standstill Agreement made it necessary for the Indian Government to contemplate the use of military force to sort out the Hyderabad mess.
Police Action on Hyderabad State (1948) – Operation Polo
In the beginning, the Indian government was hesitant to order a military offensive against Hyderabad. This was because there was opposition from Lord Mountbatten, who was in favor of a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not want to order an offensive because he was worried that it would harm India’s international reputation as a non-violent country. Nehru, in fact, was so concerned that he thought it might also provoke communal riots between Hindus and Muslims. On the other hand, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was all for using military force. He was of the opinion that Hyderabad could not continue being a feudal state within the confines of a modern, independent India.
Immediately following the reorganization of the Indian Army, Operation Polo was launched on 13 September 1948, to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union. Hyderabad had a very large and powerful army at the time, and the Indian Army was risking much in undertaking this operation. Noor Mohammed, a major general from the Nizam’s army, commanded the anti-Indian forces in the operation’s area, while the Indian side was led by Lieutenant General Maharaj Singh, with Major General J.N. Choudary heading action from the Solapur front, and Major General Rudra leading from the Vijayawada front.
The Surrender of the Nizam (17th September 1948)
As the Indian Army advanced toward Hyderabad city, the Nizam’s government fell apart. On September 17, 1948, Prime Minister Mir Laik Ali left office, and the Nizam accepted defeat. That night, the Nizam spoke to the people of Hyderabad via Deccan Radio, telling them he had ordered his forces to stand down. The very next day, September 18, 1948, Hyderabad’s military commander, E.L. Edroos, officially surrendered to Major General J.N. Choudary. With that act, the military Nizam of Hyderabad was now replaced by a Nizam of peace as the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad became a part of India.
After the surrender, Major General J.N. Choudary was given the post of Military Governor of Hyderabad. The Nizam, however, continued to hold the office of Rajpramukh (Governor) of Hyderabad State under the Indian Union. On 22nd September 1948, the Nizam took back his complaint from the United Nations Security Council, which effectively got rid of all international arguments about the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union.
Secret Financial and Political Maneuvers by the Nizam
Before surrendering, the Nizam and his ministers engaged in several secret maneuvers aimed at safeguarding their wealth and influence. Prime Minister Mir Laik Ali ordered that all critical government documents be destroyed. He also transferred vast sums of money to personal accounts, including a transfer of 5000 pounds to the London agent Mir Nawab Jung. Meanwhile, Kasim Razvi had instructed the Razakars to attack Hindus right after Friday prayers on the 17th of September, 1948. But the Director General of Police in Hyderabad, Mendi Yar Jung, along with Muhammad Hyder, foiled that plan.
Impact of Hyderabad’s Integration
The celebrated integration of Hyderabad as ‘Mukti Diwas’ (Liberation Day) in Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka had Sardar Patel at the forefront. Famous for his iron-fisted leadership style that leaned more toward autocracy than democracy, Patel was much feared by the rulers of many erstwhile princely states. Hyderabad’s Nizam, Sir Mir Osman Ali Pasha, had bitterly resisted integration into the Indian Union for more than a year. Most of Hyderabad’s top government officials, including the Razakars, the Nizam’s secret police, were not even on speaking terms with the nizam.
Q. Evaluate the reasons and consequences of the police action (Operation Polo) that led to the merger of Hyderabad State into Indian Union in 1948.
| Why was this question asked? | Keywords in the syllabus: Merger of Hyderabad State into Indian Union in 1948. |
| Approach:
|
The examiner will expect your answer to include the following things:
· Reasons of police action by the Indian government. · Consequences of that action on people, polity. |
| Introduction:
|
On 13 September 1948, Indian troops began operation polo on the Hyderabad state. It was termed as police action by C. Rajagopalachari. This was a military operation by the Indian Army to merge the Hyderabad state into the Indian union. There were several reasons leading up to this situation. |
| Body:
|
Reasons for Police Action:
· Nizam’s refusal to join the Indian union: On 03 June 1947 Nizam passed an order that his State should be returned to him on 15 August 1947, as India was going to become free. He also made it clear that he was not willing to merge his kingdom either with India or Pakistan. He only signed the Stand Still Agreement in November 1947 to maintain status quo, which was later violated. Nizam also fetched weapons secretly through Sydney Cotton. · Nizam’s support to Razakars, a radical Muslim militia: The sadistic acts of Razakars with the support of Nizam Police were not limited to a particular area, as they spread like wildfire in the entire state. Their ruthless activities at some villages like Bairampally, Renikunta, Rayikodu and Machireddypally stand as the testimony of their ignominy. Razakars terrorized Hindu villagers and opposed any integration with India. · Understanding between Nizam and the communists: The Indian government was worried about the understanding between the Nizam government and the communist leaders, the lifting of ban on the Communist Party (04 May 1948), the release of Communist leaders and activists from the prison and abolition of their warrants. There is a possibility of a threat of armed struggle in Telangana spreading to rest of India. · Pressure from public opinion and the media: political parties working the state like Hyderabad State Congress, worked to influence public opinion in the state. The media portrayed the Nizam as a tyrant and a traitor, colluding with Pakistan to undermine India’s security and safety. Consequences of Police Action: · People take revenge on Razakars: Guerrilla groups under the leadership of Pasham Ram Reddy attacked Razakar camps and caught hold of the weapons. · Change in the polity of Hyderabad state: After Nizam’s surrender, Major General J.N. Chaudhari was appointed as the military ruler to streamline the administration of the Hyderabad state. The Nizam remained only as a nominal head of the government. · Hyderabad acceded to India: In November 1949, the Nizam issued a Farman which stated that Hyderabad would be under the constitution of India. · Many Muslims killed as a reaction: Pandit Sundarlal Committee reported the killings of nearly 40,000 Muslims by Indian forces. |
| Conclusion:
|
Within five days of the beginning of the operation, the Nizam’s forces surrendered themselves to Indian troops. On September 17, the Nizam surrendered. The Indian troops entered the city of Hyderabad with a warm welcome of the people of the city, marking the end of one of the most important chapters in Telangana history. |