Hyderabad:
It was the largest Princely state & was surrounded entirely by Indian territory.
It was ruled by the Nizam (one of the world’s richest men), Mir Osman Ali Khan.
Hyderabad had a majority Hindu population but was ruled by a Muslim ruler.
The Nizam wanted an independent status for Hyderabad.
He entered into Standstill Agreement with India in November 1947 for a year while negotiations with the Indian government were going on.
The people of Hyderabad State began a movement against the rule of the Nizam.
The Telangana region, especially the peasantry, faced oppressive measures under Nizam's rule and became a focal point of the movement.
Women, who had witnessed and experienced severe oppression, actively participated in the movement.
The city of Hyderabad served as the center of the movement.
The Communist Party and the Hyderabad Congress played leading roles in organizing and mobilizing the movement.
In response to the growing resistance, the Nizam deployed a para-military force called the Razakars to suppress the people's movement.
The Razakars murdered, maimed, raped, and looted, targeting, particularly the non-Muslims. The central government had to order the army to tackle the situation.
The Indian government launched "Operation Polo" in September 1948 to bring Hyderabad under Indian control.
The Indian military swiftly defeated the Hyderabad State Forces, and Nizam's administration surrendered.
In September 1948, the Nizam signed the Instrument of Accession, formally integrating Hyderabad into the Indian Union. |
