Hyderabad was one of the princely states of India who resisted till 18th September 1948 and was finally annexed by force. Hyderabad was one of the most powerful and richest state in British India and its Nizam was the richest man at that time. After British were forced to return back, they tried to divide India into parts.
The last Governor General of India Lord Mountbatten gave the princely states the choice to either join India or Pakistan or remain independent. The Nizam of Hyderabad initially approached the British Government with a request to take on the status of an independent constitutional monarchy under the British Commonwealth of Nations. This request, however, was rejected by the Governor General of India.
When it was clear that India would not accept an independent Hyderabad, the Nizam even threatened to throw in his lot with Pakistan.
Reasons
- The Nizam had a tendency towards Pakistan and India was waging a war in Jammu and Kashmir with the same nation. The ruler was a muslim, even the rich and army men, whereas the majority of general people were hindus(85%). [ref]
- The state was actually self-reliant, had its own currency (Hyderabadi Rupee), its own army, railway network, radio network, postal system, etc.[ref]
- Constant support by Pakistan and Portugese led their dream of forming a totally different nation.[ref]
Resistance by Hyderabad
British Influence
Initially, the Nizam of Hyderabad approached the British Government with a request to get the status of an independent constitutional monarchy under the British Commonwealth of Nations. The British did not agree to the Nizam’s request. The then Indian Home Minister Sardar Patel requested the Nizam to join India, but he refused and instead declared Hyderabad an independent nation on 15th August 1947, the day Indian received Independence. After considering the idea on an independent Hyderabad right in the heart of India, Sardar Patel consulted the Governor General of India, Lord Mountbatten and he suggested Patel to resolve the challenge without having to resort to force.[ref]
Standstill Agreement
The Indian Government then offered Hyderabad a Standstill Agreement and promised no military action. In accordance with the Standstill Agreement, K.M. Munshi was appointed as the Indian Government's envoy and Agent General to Hyderabad.[ref] Unlike the other princely states which acceded to either India or Pakistan, Hyderabad only promised India that it would not join Pakistan. Hyderabadi ambassadors accused India of economically isolating the state and the Indians on the other hand accused the Hyderabadis of importing firearms from Pakistan.[ref]
In June 1948, Lord Mountbatten proposed the Heads of Agreement deal which gave Hyderabad the status of an autonomous dominion nation under India. The deal required the restriction of its armed forces and the adjourning of its voluntary forces. Hyderabad would be allowed to govern its territory, but only foreign affairs would be handled by the Indian Government. The deal was signed by India, but the Nizam refused to sign this saying that he either wanted complete independence or the status of a dominion under the British Commonwealth of Nations. While these negotiations were being carried out, communal riots between Hindus and Muslims had broken out in Hyderabad.[ref]
Opeartion Polo
Refer Operation Polo.
Result
Opearation Polo lasted five days and resulted in loss of life and casualties and it is estimated that 32 were killed and 97 injured on the Indian side and 490 killed and 122 wounded on the Hyderabadi side.[ref]
Lots of civilian casualty was also there due to communal riots and mass genocide attempt by Razakars but the numbers are still unconfirmed.
On 18th September 1948, Nizam finally surrendered and joined Indian Union and was headed by military government till 1949 under Major General J. C. Chaudhari after which Hyderabad came under civil government.
