On September 17th, 2022, the Indian Central Government and the Telangana Government will mark the 75-year anniversary of the Liberation of Hyderabad. This significant event represents the merging of the former Hyderabad State, previously ruled by the Nizam, into the Indian Union.
Historical Background of Hyderabad’s Integration into India
Hyderabad was among the largest princely states in India, ruled by the Nizams who gave allegiance to British authority. Unlike other rulers, the Nizam of Hyderabad, alongside the Nawab of Junagadh and the ruler of Kashmir, did not accede to India before India’s independence day on August 15th, 1947. Encouraged by Pakistan and Muslim locals, the Nizam sought to maintain an independent position and strengthen his military forces to resist integration.
The Unrest and Operation Polo
It was within this context that internal unrest grew within Hyderabad. Consequently, to restore order and peace, the Indian Army intervened under Operation Polo on September 13th, 1948. The operation aimed to annex Hyderabad into the Union of India. Between September 13th and 18th, the Indian military took complete control of the state with minimal resistance from the Razakars, a private militia against the merger.
The Aftermath of Operation Polo
Operation Polo triggered extensive communal violence, with death toll estimates ranging from an official figure of 27,000 to scholarly estimates of over 200,000. Post the integration, the Nizam retained his status as the head of the state, akin to the remaining princes who had joined India.
Despite Pakistan’s vehement protests and criticism from other nations, the UN Security Council did not further consider the issue, leading to Hyderabad’s absorption into India.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
A PYQ related to Indian history is the correctness of the following statements:
1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged from Hyderabad State.
2. The Mysore Kingdom came into existence out of the Vijayanagara Empire.
3. The Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed from territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.
The correct answer to this question is (a).
The Nizamat of Carnatic (Arcot) was originally a dependency of the Mughal Deccan, legally under the purview of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Arcot indeed evolved from Hyderabad, consequently making statement 1 accurate.
The Yadu dynasty, originally a feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire, assumed power in Mysore in 1399 AD and played a pivotal role in Mysore’s development. Following the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, Mysore became an independent state under the Hindu Wodeyar Dynasty in 1565 AD. These historical facts confirm the accuracy of statement 2.
However, statement 3 is incorrect. The Kingdom of Rohilkhand, an influential Indian State nominally under Mughal Suzerainty, emerged in 1721. In 1774, the British annexation significantly reduced its borders into the Princely State of Rampur. The first Nawab of Rohilkhand, Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan, a scion of the ancient Barha Dynasty, established most of Rohilkhand’s borders. These borders largely exist as a check on the power of the Oudh State.
