In the independent Indian history no other issue has become more controversial as the merger of Hyderabad state with the Indian union. Each stakeholder in this history paints a different story from others.
Sangisetti Srinivas
Indian National Congress who was in the forefront in the fight against the tyrannical rule of VIIth Nizam Osman ali khan says due to its join india movement, The then Deputy prime minister, and Home minister Sardar vallabh bhai patel sent troops to Hyderabad to occupy it forcefully. This aggression against Hyderabad was named the “Operation Polo”. Patel even said that Communists led armed struggle is “cancer in the belly of India”. To treat the cancer his government acted with an operation called “police action”, this was against the “standstill agreement” in which the Indian government recognized Hyderabad’s autonomy in all spheres. At this juncture, a sudden rise in the Razakar, Communist, and Congress Border camp cadre activities led to the law and order in Hyderabad at lowest ebb.
Sangishetti Srinivas is a well known writer and historian of Telangana and his works are a great reference to understand the transforming state of affairs in terms of Politics, history and literature.
It is interesting to note that the father of Pakistan, Mohammed ali jinnah passed away on 11th September, 1948, at that time a case of Hyderabad’s autonomy was pending with the UNO, and the final hearing was slated to be held on 13th September. The Indian government, looking for an opportunity to eliminate the Nizam rule, found this as a convenient occasion to send its troops to invade Hyderabad.
Newspaper reports of 1948 claims that the surrender of Nizam was pre planned.
The Indian government with tacit understanding of Nizam (who is vexed with the Razakar menace) fought against his troops, whereas the Commander in chief El edroos surrendered to the J.N. Chowdhary the Indian commander without a gunshot at a ceremony in Hyderabad. After the ‘operation polo’ (it is called in the official documents as operation caterpillar) Nizam was made Raj pramukh, he was in that position till the Hyderabad state existed i.e. 31st October 1956. Newspaper reports of 1948 claims that the surrender of Nizam was pre planned, according to the Hindu 17 September 1948 report “Indian troops will enter Hyderabad tomorrow morning. The Nizam’s Army will surrender to General Chowdhry tomorrow evening at 5 p.m.,” these are the words of a New Delhi datelined report in The Hindu on September 17, 1948. The surrender ceremony took place at 4.30 p.m. and rung down the curtains of a dramatic period in the history of Indian union and Hyderabad.”
The Communist party of India and Communist party of Marxist both celebrate September 17 as liberation day and hoisting flags at their party offices on that day, conveniently ignoring the sacrifices made by activists in the armed struggle due to the high handedness of the Nehru government.
Hence the Congress called it “Merger” to avoid any controversy, which raked by the Hindutva fundamentalists. The Communists who fought in the initial days against Nizam compromised with him after the lifting the ban on the party, and now terming the police action as “Liberation”. The Communist party of India and Communist party of Marxist both celebrate September 17 as liberation day and hoisting flags at their party offices on that day, conveniently ignoring the sacrifices made by activists in the armed struggle due to the high handedness of the Nehru government. Communists’ view is not endorsed by many comrades, many of them terming it as “Betrayal day”.
Coming to the Bharatiya janata party which sees political mileage in police action and demands the state government should officially declare it as Liberation day as was in the Karnataka, their intention is very much clear that the majoritarian Hindus got freedom from the Nazi ruler the VIIth Nizam. Hence it demands all the Hindus should celebrate the fall of Nizam and the State government should declare it as Liberation day. In the agitation against the Nizam government Arya samajis and Congres, Socialist activists participated, they never thought on religious aspects, but the BJP giving it to religious colour to suit their interests. Linking the 1870s Ramji Gond, the tribal hero who fought against the Nizam and Britishers with the 1948 join india movement is unwarranted. Union Home minister Amit shah is visiting Nirmal town today to unveil a statue of Ramji.
BJP alleged that the ruling TRS party succumbed to the pressure of Majlis party in not declaring it as Liberation day, once the supremo of TRS party K. Chandrashekara rao promised in the Telangana agitation. Party is different from the government, hence now it declared to observe 17 September as “Merger day”, to the wishes of intellectuals in a non controversial way, which is a welcome move.
It’s a Betrayal day because till 2014 – Telangana was colonized and looted by Andhras. The promises made at the time of operation pole, or Gentlemen’s agreements were not fulfilled.
It is high time that all the intellectuals should think and act to bridge the gap between the Hindu, and Muslims, where the amity chord is at threat. Technically on 17th September should be seen as betrayal day, not liberation day as pronounced by BJP. It’s a Betrayal day because till 2014 – Telangana was colonized and looted by Andhras. The promises made at the time of operation pole, or Gentlemen’s agreements were not fulfilled. Now the youngest Indian state Telangana is striving hard to get it’s due promised while the bifurcation. Recently the railway coach factory promised to Telangana shifted to Maharashtra, Bayyaram steel factory, Tribal universities are still a dream.
