75 years back, on 17 September 1948, the kingdom of the richest of all the Nizams Mir Osman Ali Khan, assets worth 660 crore, albeit because of taxes paid by the people, crumbled like a pack of cards down before the people of Hyderabad state. How heartless the Nizam government was that it used to collect taxes from people in the form of ‘Bambram’ for grazing cattle and gathering firewood for cooking. Thanks to the astute leadership of Sardar Vallabhai Patel people got freedom from draconian forces. Yet some people still fear celebrating the victory you must know why.
Nizam King Mir Osman Ali Khan Right bowing Before Iron Man of India Deputy PM Sardar Vallabhai Patel Left
Going back in history, Operation Polo, a military operation by India, was started on 13 September 1948, led by Major General Jayantho Nath Chaudari against this autocratic Nizam ruler under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Nizam’s rule, especially during the later end of its rule started to suck the people’s blood. Under Mir Osman Ali Khan’s rule Muslim separatists like Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung and Syed Mohammed Qasim Razvi flourished, who trampled ordinary citizens with brutal Razakar force.
People celebrating the Indian Army taking over Nizams rule
Major General Jayantho Nath Chaudari Right with surrendering Nizam forces Left
Bahadur Jung was one of the founders of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MIM (now called All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen-AIMIM), an outfit established at that time with the sole intention of creating to keeping Hyderabad state as an Islamic state with shariah rules. It developed Razakars, a military force that terrorized the Hindu population and forced them to flee into Jungles and hide in mud forts. It was unbearable pain and looked like a planned genocide only for their Islamic state ambitions.
After Hyderabad state integration into India, MIM was allowed to recharter its name as AIMIM, a political party serving people, especially Muslims and Dalits across India, recognized by the Election Commission of India. However, people can’t forget Kasim Razvi, founder of the Razakar militia force in MIM with the size of 1,50,000, who would harass and kill anyone who would resist the idea of forming an Islamic state. They were paramilitary volunteer forces that resisted Hyderabad state integration into India and targeted the Hindu majority under the Nizam rule.
Kasim Rivi
Razakars with sharp weapons in their hands Right
Today, Hyderabad is Independent. Freedom fighters who fought Razakars still recount the horror of times, but no Hyderabadi is taught in school textbooks about the atrocities of the Razakar militia on the people. People fear talking about history because there is fear that speaking about Bahadur Jung, and Kasim Rizvi would offend political leadership.
The success of any state or nation depends on how it perceives its freedom struggle and takes lessons from it. Remembering atrocities committed by Razakars against local people helps us to learn lessons that radicalization is harmful to society, and Razakars were radical Muslims who cared none.
Nizams used people’s tax money to develop infrastructure. They did great work for Hyderabad State. It must be acknowledged. However, Mir Osman Ali Khan’s faulty leadership also led to the growth of radical Muslims in his rule, which must also spoken.
The freedom to speak the truth is the ultimate Independence. No one has the right to stop us from speaking facts. Let us celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day by remembering history, speaking, and debating on every fact.
We are Independent.
