30 Yrs

The 30 years political struggle of
HYDERABAD
By
K. KRISHNA SWAMY MUDIRAJ

(1894- 1967)
First published by him in 1948
Republished in 2011 by
Shri K. Krishna Swamy Mudiraj
Memorial Trust Hyderabad.
Translated from Urdu by

Architect Ansar Naqvi
The 30 years political struggle of HYDERABAD
by K. KRISHNA SWAMY MUDIRAJ
(1894- 1967)
First published by him in 1948
Translated from Urdu by

Architect ANSAR NAQVI
Republished by
Shri K. Krishna Swamy Mudiraj
Memorial Trust, Hyderabad
First Edition (English) : August, 2011
Copies : 1000
© Copyright : Publishers
Price : Rs. 200/-
Cover Design : Shakeel Ahmed
(A.P. Hindi Academy Awardee)
9959652570
Copies Available with : M. Narsimloo Mudiraj
11-37/4, New Gaddiannaram,
Hyderabad -500 060
Cell: 93463 56861
Printed at : Karshak Art Printers,
40, APHB, Vidyanagar,
Hyderabad - 500 044.
Ph: 040-27618261
“Lagenge har baras maylay shahidoun ki chitaoun par;
Watan par mitne waloun ka yehi naamo nishaan hoga.”
Fairs held yearly on the martyrs' pyres;

Are the only 'Aide Memoires' of their dying for the Mother
Land
DEDICATION
To those valiant sons of Hyderabad who lit the

lamp of freedom with their blood as the fuel.
The lamp that is radiant now in the niche of
democracy and the dazzling light emanating
from it would make all facets of life brilliant.
The 30 years of Political Struggle of Hyderabad
iv
K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj
Table of Contents
FOREWORD by the translatror vii
1. CHAPTER ONE 1
Dictatorship of the Desi Royals under the British Colonialism
2. CHAPTER TWO 8
British power in Hyderabad
3. CHAPTER THREE 13
The efforts to create political awakening in the masses
4. CHAPTER FOUR 24
Establishment of Political organizations
5. CHAPTER FIVE 34
Communal riots and Government policy
6. CHAPTER SIX 49
The political struggles of Hyderabad and News Papers
7. CHAPTER SEVEN 56
The Rise and Fall of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
8. CHAPTER EIGHT 62
Hyderabad State Congress
9. CHAPTER NINE 72
Congress preparations for a glorious struggle
10. CHAPTER TEN 83
The Nizam's shenanigans to maintain his independent sovereignty
11. CHAPTER ELEVEN 92
The last struggle of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
12. CHAPTER TWELVE 105
Rule of Repression and Violence in Hyderabad
13. CHAPTER THIRTEEN 124
The Rise of Communist Power in Telangana
14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN 135
Police Action
v
FOREWORD
T
his book titled as “THE 30 YEARS POLITICAL
STRUGGLE OF HYDERABAD” now being published
is the true and honest translation of an Urdue Book titled
as “Hyderabad-ki-Teessala Siayasi Jadujahed”. This urdu book was
authored by a great Personality, the Former Mayor of Hyderabad
late Sri K.Krishna Swamy Mudiraj, who was a Scholar, an Historian,
a Philontharaphist, Social reformer, founder of various Educational
Institutions, a Crusader of Down Trodden. Above all, he was a
renowned Jornalist and Author of several books, particularly
“PICTORIAL HYDERABAD” in two volumes which received
international appreciations and laurels.
The in depth study of this book throws light on the entire political,
social, economic status emphasing on various struggles events,
sacrifices, achievements, particularly certain secret dealings and
activities of political and other parties, such as the Congress the
Communists the Arya Samajis, MIM and Backward Classes
Associations particularly the militant organisation which was
suddently emerged and created havocs disturbing peace and
Tranquilty of the State for a very considerable period named as
“RAZAKARS” etc.,
The Author Sri K.Krishna Swamy Mudiraj who himself was a
noted writer with his natural skill endeavoured very honestly to depicit
those happinings, proceedings and the activities of all the persons
institutions, political parties involved during this 30 years period
starting from 1918 to 1948.
vi
The present day generation particularly who had witnessed

atleast a glimplse of pre-indepenaence period and the post
independence period of Hyderabad naturally shall enjoy and be able
to refresh and re-collect their memories to the events meticulously
described in this Book, and for the younger- generations who are
born much after the independence it shall not only prove to be an
interesting collection of historical facts, but shall be a valuable Book
of History knowledge and valued information.
Late Sri K.Krishna Swamy Mudiraj, the author, who is regarded
as the “JATHI PITHAMAHA OF MUDIRAJ CASTE” died in the
year 1967. Besides the above titled “30 years political struggle of
Hyderabad” he was an Author of Internationally recognised a
volumious Book titled as “PICTORIAL HYDERABAD” along with
several other Books.
In the year 1993-94 with an aim and objective to propagate the
great ideals and teachings of this personality Late Sri Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj and to render necessary assistance, financial help and
guidance etc to the Poor Mudiraj Students with a name of SRI K.
KRISHNA SWAMI MUDIRAJ JAYANTHI CELEBRATIONS
along with a Trust named as “SRI K.KRISHNA SWAMI MUDIRAJ
MEMORIAL TRUST” was formed. This Celebrations committee
and it’s Trust have been very promptly celebrating his Birthday
functions every year without fail on a grand scale and struggling very
hard and making all of it’s efforts to implement and propagate by all
means utilising all resources the teachings and high ideals of this
Personality among all.
The very noteworthy and praisworthy action taken by this
Committee is re-printing of the “PICTORIAL HYDERABAD” in
vii
two volumes comprising 1000 pages. This action has been highly
appreciated by several sections of the Society, top Bearucats,
politicians.
The decision taken by this Celebrations committee headed by
Sri M.Narsimloo Mudiraj and extraordinary efforts they have taken
to get this Book translated and got printed facing innumerable
hardships is really loudable and praiseworthy.
Sri M. Farook Ali Khan, Founder Chairman and Sri M.
Narsimloo Mudiraj Secretary of “Subedar Amir Ali Khan global peace
foundation” met Sri Dawood Ashraf, Retired Asst Director A.P.
Archives in connection with the Amir Peace Foundation (A. P. F.)
and during the discussion the later told that “the Book” 30 years
political struggle in Hyderabad” authored by Sri K. Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj was available with him which was presented by sri K. Krishna
Swamy Mudiraj personally to his father Sri Syed. Ali Ashraf who was
the Editor of several News papers. Sri M. Nasimloo Mudiraj requested
Sri Dawood Ashraf to give the said Book to reprint the same in English
and Urdu.
He was kind enough to give the said Book. Sri K. Krishna
Swamy Mudiraj Jayanthi Celebrations Committee offers its sincere
gratitudes to him.
In this context it is just and appropriate to describe that an
expert and an authority in Urdu, English languages Sri Ansar Naqvi
along with his sister Mrs. Farhat Naqvi, M.A., M.Phil has taken
extreme care, interest and with great dedication sincerely completed
the True Translation of this Book into English from its original Urdu
script.
viii
It shall be in the fitness of things to mention the able wise and

proper guidance, help, assistance given by the President Andhra
Pradesh Mudiraj Mahasabha Sri Kasani Gnaneshwar Mudiraj.
Further, it is a matter of great satisfaction, that several Office Bearers
namely Sri D. Lakshminarayana, Sri G.Sathyanarayana, Sri Kotla
Narayana, Sri P. Yadiah, Sri. R. Bhasker Raju, Sri S. Srinivasulu and
others have also rendered their very valuable services. The Celebrations
Committee expresses its gratitudes to all of them.
Now, this Book containing several un-noticed and un-recorded
historical facts some of them very sensatianal, thrilling, emotional
also surprsing informative, educative, very rare and valuable is ready
to be read and preserved by all.
JAIHIND
SRI KRISHNA SYAMY MUDIRAJ

JAYANTHI CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
ANDHRA PRADESH MUDIRAJ MAHASABHA
ix
POTRAIT OF JATHI PITHAMAHA KRISHNA SWAMY MUDIRAJ

(1893-1967)
Krishnaswamy Mudiraj was born

on August 25th 1893, the holy day of Sri
Krishna Janmastami at Jalna,
Aurangabad dist. He was born to a poor
peasant family.
Education : He passed matriculation in
1911 from Chaderghat High School,
Hyderabad. After his intermediate from
Nizam College he studied Printing and
Publishing Technology at Bombay
including type writing and shorthand.
KRISHNA SWAMY
Service : He served as Private Secretary MUDIRAJ
to the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad

State Maharaja Sri Krishna Prasad Bahadur, subsequently joined in
Govt. Service at Accountant General Office and served for 9 years.
Social Service : As the leader in him got an awakening, when,
influenza was ravaging the city then, he became a volunteer in the
relief Organisation. The foundation was laid for the social service
conference in 1917 he joined them in its working and attended the
conference at Hadgaun in Maharashtra. In 1918 he became the
member of its Working Committee. He became member of Standing
Committee in 1921, 1923 and 1927. He was entrusted with the
Publicity and Volunteer Corps work during the annual meetings.
x
He has a great affinity for congress during those days and was
professing and propagating the ideals of Congress.
Writer / Journalist : At this juncture he started writing “The Pictorial
Hyderabad” in 1929 in two
volumes. This is an epitome
of book for all the people of
India as it depicts many a
picture of Hyderabad in
those glory days of Nizam.
This depicts the way of life
the costumes people wear
and the culture therein. He was the editor of Deccan Star an English
weekly in 1926, and was also a Urdu weekly - Masaavat in 1939. He
was the Editor of New Era an English daily after independence. He
served as Coloumnist to several Urdu papers i.et., Siyasat, Rayat,
Rehnumae Daccan, Emroz etc., He established his own
Chakdrakantha Press in 1925 which was one of the premier presses
in South India. He was an author of several books, such as “30 years
Political struggle of Hyderabad”, “Liberation of GOA”, “Mudiraj
Jati Charitra”, Biography of Nawab Deen Yar Jung Bahadur” etc.,
Jathipitha / Service to Backward Classes : He had a great affinity for
his sect and clan - Mudiraj and was founder President of the Mudiraj
community from 1920 to 1941 doing yeomen service and uplifted
them from the ruins. He brought some sense in their life and educated
them. He was one of the founder members of Hyderabad Backward
classes association and also instrumental in formation of Yadava
xi
Sangham, Munnuru Kapu Sangham. As organising any CASTE based

committees, Political party meetings were prohibited during the days
of Nizam, as such he conducted meetings during Ganesh Chaturthi,
Janmashtami and through Harikathas.
Municipal Services : He was elected as
councilor from Chudibazar
Constituency continously for more than
25 years; was Naib Mir Majlis before
Independence. Chairman of several
committies; was elected as IV Mayor of
Hyderabad Municipality in 1957-58.
Greater Hyderabad Master plan was
finalised during his Mayorship; was
instrumental in abolishing “Manual
Riksha Pulling System” while providing
alternate employment to the effected.
Resolution to instal Sardar Vallabhai
Patel’s Statue infront of Public Gardens; was passed during his tenure.
As Mayor he received Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of
India in 1958 and hosted a dinner for him. Civic reception was
accorded to Marshal Tito, President of Yogoslavia. Marshal Tito
presented him his personal Wrist Watch as a token of his deep
adminration and love.
Crusader of Ill-Literacy, Popularising Hindi/Women Education :
He was Joint Secretary for Jeeva Raksha Samithi and carried all such
activities under this guise. He founded many libraries along with
xii
Padmabhushan
Madapati Hanumantha
Rao and founded the
Chudibazaar Libarary.
He founded Hindi
Kanya Pathasala in 1921
and encouraged female
literacy and education in
those days. He is the co-founder of Narayanguda Girls High School
and Venkatrama Reddy Memorial Girls College. This act was
appreciated by Messers Pandit Hridayanath Kunzru, Malaviya, DK
Karve of Pune, and even Mahatma Gandhi.
He was the member of Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha
and attended the Lahore session as representiative of the Sabha. He
was habitual Khadi wearer, and propogated the untouchability as
sin. He was member of Yadagiri Gutta Temple for 14 years and
member of the advisory committee for the welfare of Backward
Classes. He was a member from MCH of Osmania University senate
in 1957.
He passed away in 1967. He has done great service to his clan
and if not for him the race wouldn’t be what it is now. The Mudiraj
Community owe their life to him, people like him are born only
once in a life time.
Naming the Road in his memory : As a fitting tribute to this
great personality, the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued orders
vide GORt No. 996 MA dated 4.11.1996 to name the road from
xiii
Begum Bazar cross roads to Jummerat Bazzar as “Krishna Swamy

Mudiraj Marg” by the then Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu
and was inaugurated on 25-8-1997 by the Honourable Minister for
Muncipal Administration of A.P. Sri Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy.
A Tribute : In 1993, K. Krishna Swamy Mudiraj Jayanthotsava
Committee was formed to celebrate his birth anniversaries and
propagate the ideals of Krishnaswamy Mudiraj under the patronage
of A.P. Mudiraj Mahasabha by B. Babu Shankar Mudiraj as founder
President and M. Narsimhulu Mudiraj as founder secretary along
with others as members.
xiv
GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

ABSTRACT
Naming the road from Begum Bazar Cross Road to Jummerath
Bazar ofter Late Sri K. Krishna Swamy Mudiraj, former Mayor of
Hyderabad - ordes - Issued.
MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION & URBAN DEVELOPMENT (F2) DEPARTMENT
G.O. Rt. No. 996. MA., Dated : 4.11.1996

Read the following : -
1. From Sri K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj Jayanthi
Celebrations Committee, Hyderabad.
representation dt. Nill.
2. Govt. Memo No. 15116/F2/96-1, M.A., dt. : 5.7.96.
3. From the Commissioner and Spl. Officer, M.C.H.
Lr. No. 2239/SE/G7/96. dt : 22.8.1996
*****
ORDER :
The Sri K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj Jayanthi Celebrations Committee,
Hyderabad has represented on the eve of the Centenary Celebrations
of a great Hyderabadian late Sri K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj that he was a
Mir Majilie in the earstwhile state of Hyderabad prior to Independence.
Subsequently in the year 1958-59 he was elected as a Mayor of
Hyderabad, and he was a Councillor from Chudi Bazar constituency with-
out break for 25 years. During the Councillorship, he rendered remark-
able services to the locality in particular and to the city of Hyderabad in
general. Hence, the celebrations committee has therefore requested to
name the road from Begum Bazar Cross Roads to Jummerath Bazar
after late Sri K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj former Mayor of Hyderabad.
The Commissioner and Spl. Officer, Municipal Corporation of
Hyderabad has reported that the Committee specially has constituted
for the erection of statues and naming of streets has agreed the pro-
posal for naming of the Road from Begum Bazar road to Jummerath
Bazar to name after late Sri K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj former mayor.
xv
Government after careful examination of the proposal decided to name
the raod from Begum Bazar Cross Roads to Jummerath Bazar after Sri
K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj.
The Commissioner and Spl. Officer, Municipal Corporation of
Hyderabad is requested to take further necessary action in the matter.
(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA
PRADESH)
C. ARJUNA RAO,
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.

To
The Commissioner and Spl. Officer,
Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad.
The Chairman,
Sri K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj Jayanthi Celebrations
Committee, Hyderabad. H.No. 3-5-762, Narayanguda, Hyderabad.
SF/SC.
// Forwarded by Order //
Section Officer
CHAPTER ONE
Dictatorship of the Desi Royals under the
British Colonialism.
T
he Pillars of the British Empire: - The role played by
the Desi States in maintaining the power and hegemony
of the English and strengthening of the British Empire
in India is unprecedented anywhere in the world.
The faithful help rendered by the Princely States of India under
the Rajahs and Nawabs and especially that of the Hyderabad State
under the Nizams has been acknowledged from time to time by the
British Empire. And many English intellectuals have presented this
fact in no uncertain terms "Had the rulers of the Princely States of
India and the Nizams of the Hyderabad State not come to their
rescue in critical times, the power and hegemony of the Englishmen
and the British Rule on Indian soil would have come to an end
much earlier."
Tipu's Challenge to the British: -
At a time when Tipu Sultan had challenged the growing power
of the British Empire and was trying to safeguard his countrymen
from the deadly grip of the Englishmen was thundering like
lightening in the battlefield, the Nizams of Hyderabad helped their
white Allies. And when this flame of independence was extinguished,
the fate of India was sealed. The blood stains of Tipu's blood that
appeared prominently on the Nizam's hem never vanished.
1
The Nizam's help against the Mutineers: -

In the Political Upheaval of 1857 AD, known as the Ghadar or
Sepoy Mutiny the blood of thousands of Patriots was spilled. And it
was with the Nizam's invaluable aid to the British that this first
movement for independence was brutally crushed and the British
regained their power and hegemony.
The grazing lands of British Imperialism in India: -
For the very survival of the British Imperialism in India, the
Englishmen badly needed such faithful allies who would help them
from time to time in their political and economic exploitation of
India, so that their oppressive regime is perpetuated. In the 200 years
of foreign rule the Desi Rajahs always supported the powers that be
at every turn and every juncture assuming that the yellow patches
denoting their fiefdoms will remain embossed for ever on the political
map of India and this unfortunate country will never see the spring
of democracy. They thought that these grazing lands of imperialism
will forever remain luxuriantly verdant and they will continue to
rule over the millions of their naïve and voiceless subjects like they
had been over the ages. But perhaps they never knew that the honor,
dignity, greatness and glory of freedom that once shone like a
lightening on Tipu's brow and the torrent of uprising that manifested
itself in 1857 could become an irrepressible tornado and a furious
tsunami that could tear as under all from New Delhi to White Hall.
The Dual Slavery of the Ryots: -
The rulers of the Princely States of India, under the patronage
of the British continued to express their oppression and despotism.
It never bothered them to consider the sorry state of millions of
those who had the misfortune of being their subjects. Destitution,
penury and ignorance never allowed them to come out of their vicious
2
cycle towards progress since they were caught within the clasp of
dual slavery, on the one side was the iron grip of British imperialism
and on the other the dictatorship of the Desi rulers and the oppression
of these tyrannical regimes had rendered them spineless and half dead.
The public wealth always filled the coffers of the rich but this
wealth was put to use to either maintain the grandeur of the mansions
of pleasure and gratification or to boost the royal shelters of majesty
and glory. The money kept being splurged on tours and travels to
Paris, London and New York and on having fun with the western
beauties but the poor Ryots remained in hunger and destitution under
the millstones of dictatorship.
The pitch darkness of ignorance and indigence: -
This all pervading gloom of ignorance and deprivation that was
devoid of any ray of hope for the populace, was brought about
primarily by the native princely states and the rich upper classes who
kowtowed to the British hegemony. Even the civil liberties were
utterly nonexistent let alone the possibility of a political struggle.
There were restrictions even on the social and religious activities of
people of the native princely states, lest they get awakened through
these gatherings and get united to seek their just rights and demands.
India, under the yoke of dual slavery of British imperialism and
dictatorship of the Desi rulers could not come out of its backwardness
for a long time as all avenues of awareness and development were
shut down, under such circumstances it was obvious that the political,
economic, educational and social life of the people of native princely
states could have been anything but lowly and deprived. The test of
loyalty of the Ryots was their remaining content and being reasonably
happy and satisfied with the way things were, without demur or any
word or gesture of protest against their rulers under any circumstances.
3
Efforts to keep the state Ryots away from Nationalist

Movements;
The oppressive violence, persecution, dictatorship and tyrannical
repression cannot perpetuate themselves forever. When the winds of
change and revolution started blowing in British India and Nationalist
movements kept on growing and gained strength, the native princely
states too could not remain insulated for long from their effects. The
doors of political activities were firmly shut for the Ryots of the native
princely states and no effort was spared to keep them isolated from
the ongoing political struggles and nationalistic resistance movements
in the rest of India. But in spite of all such efforts, political awareness
gradually began to grow within the native princely states and the
people's understanding about their exploitation and persecution by
the rich upper classes in the native princely states, as well as their
own capabilities to counter and oppose such atrocities also started to
grow. This was a pleasant beginning with a pleasant ending for the
Ryots of the native princely states. Although some token
developmental works were undertaken in some native princely states
of India with the state of Hyderabad leading them in such
developmental activities, which were undertaken more as a means of
personal glorification of the ruler or as window dressing and external
showcasing than as a foundation for the real welfare and development
of the people. However such activities did neither change the
fundamental structure of the old feudal system nor make any dent in
its spirit.
The Nizam as Karaoh, the richest man of the world: -
Among the rulers of the native princely states, His Exalted
Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad had an eminent position as an
intelligent and wise ruler but all his intelligence and wisdom was
4
consumed by his passion to be known as the world's richest man and

not as the world's biggest philanthropist. The peasant, the labor and
the working classes and also the plebeians of Hyderabad wallowed in
their poverty, penury, misery destitution, and hardships as ever but
the Nizam went on collecting heaps and heaps of wealth, went on
erecting minarets of gold sovereigns and continued to boost the
captivating glitter of gold and bedazzlement of diamond studded
jewelry until he was awarded the soubriquet or title of the richest
man of the world and the stories and anecdotes of his legendry wealth
became the topics of discussions among the rich and famous glitterati
of the world from Europe to the Americas.
Economic exploitation of the people of Hyderabad: -
The legendry wealth of the Nizam, that is still talked about in
the world was nothing but the result of a series of measures designed
to loot the people of Hyderabad state of their money and to exploit
their economy for the benefit of the Nizam. It is a deplorable fact
that the wealth that should have been used for public welfare is lying
idle as a huge stash for the last 30-35 years and would likely remain
so for an unknown period. Sir Ali Imam, the then prime minister of
the Government of Hyderabad had submitted a proposal that if under
a well considered plan, the Nizam invested a large portion of his
wealth as his share capital in a number of profitable large scale
industries in the state, it would on the one hand result in an increase
of his wealth and on the other, lead to the development of the industry
and economy of Hyderabad besides the benefits for the people of
Hyderabad it would bring. But since the Nizam was least bothered
about the benefits for the people of Hyderabad and was concerned
only with his own wealth, he rejected the proposal.
5
The Nizam's loot: -

The Nizam's loot and plunder continued in full swing and
unabated until 25-30 years ago. His full, unrestrained power and
direct control on the administration afforded him vast opportunities
to increase his wealth. The "Nazrana Season" (a period of offerings)
was in full bloom. Appointments for senior and middle level posts in
Government, promotions, awards, decorations, Jagirs, Mansabs,
grants and titles were all the manifestations of the "Nazrana" magic.
It looked as if this spring harvest of wealth was only for the Nizam
that was raining only gold sovereigns on a very clever sovereign who
had devised such a devious revenue stream of "Nazrana" that it would
never dry up so long as his monarchy lasted.
The beauty of the whole scheme was that the lesser nobles and
Nawabs, Jagirdars, Mansbdars and officials used to feel privileged
and honored to receive the gift sent to their palaces, mansions and
houses as a head load carried by the liveried Chobdars and lead by a
Munshi so graciously from Aala Hazrat's King Kothi Mubarak, but
which more often than not consisted of the rotten left over mangoes
and tomatoes from the orchards of the Sarf-e-Khas Mubarak or merely
a fistful of roasted Bengal gram. And the recipient Jagirdars,
Mansbdars and officials used to vie with each other for the honor of
being the one to have sent the return gift highest value to Aala Hazrat's
King Kothi Mubarak, with the highest Nazrana in the form of Gold,
Jewelry, pearls, and Cash.
The direct administration from 1914 to 1919 and this type of
loot and plunder by the Nizam naturally generated a strong reaction
among the masses as it was ultimately their wealth that was being
collected from them to be channeled to the coffers of the Nizam
through the Jagirdars, Mansabdars Tahsildars and officials by way of
the Nazrana.
6
Consequently when the frequent complaints about the misdeeds

of the royal ally of the British crown and a loyal friend of the empire
reached the Viceroy, the possibilities of intervention and reform were
opened up and to mitigate the system and remove this direct
administration of the Nizam, an Working Committee was set up in
1919 AD. which was expanded later to include other issues of
governance. But the Nizam chose to find other ways and methods to
perpetuate his dictatorship in spite of the Working Committee.
Although a Working Committee was set up in Hyderabad and
even a legislative council too was established but the Governance
never crossed the principles of feudal system and the legislature
remained just a namesake. Attempts were made at every stage to
keep the people in the dark and to trample their awareness because
the Nizam and his Government were free to crush the public and the
power of the British Imperialism was behind him for support.
7
CHAPTER TWO
British power in Hyderabad
B
efore going any further to know about the political
struggle of the people of Hyderabad, it may be necessary
to consider the political background that was composed
of the British imperial power mixed with the dictatorship and tyranny
of the Nizam and which had cast its shadows on the body politic
until the end of the British power and Indian independence.
The Paramountcy Concept: -
Hyderabad state was the safest and fortified refuge of the British
Imperialism in India and the British efforts were on until the very
last moment to extract various benefits from it.
The spirit of the agreements entered into by the East India
Company with Hyderabad and other princely states of India was
being altered commensurate with the exigencies of the times and
the convenience of the British until finally all such agreements and
covenants were given the importance of not more than the waste
paper. The Hyderabad rulers were recognized as autonomous within
their dominion and there was no interference in the internal affairs
of the state by the British Viceroy. But with the change of
circumstances and events all conventions and agreements were thrown
to the wind and when the last Nizam tried to assert his dominion
over the province of Berar during his correspondence with the then
Viceroy, Lord Reading, the concept of Paramountcy was most
8
vehemently invoked by the Viceroy. His argument was that since

Hyderabad and other princely states were under the Government of
India which in turn was subservient to the British parliament, the
British Government as the Paramount power had the right to interfere
in all the affairs of the states as it deemed fit and proper. This new
interpretation of authority created a flutter among the Desi rulers
but they were powerless against the might of the British Empire as
they were themselves responsible for strengthening the roots of the
Empire in India and the leading ruler among them, the Nizam, as
the specialally and faithful friend of the British Government had
been helping it most faithfully at every step.
Interference in the form of advice and implementation: -
The British Viceroys and Residents began openly interfering in
the internal affairs of Hyderabad sidelining all agreements and after
1920 this interference intensified and expanded further and further
in the form of implementation and advice, which had all been
designed fundamentally to ensure, expand and protect the British
vested interests.
The toy Chamber of the Princes: -
Before the First World War the cornerstone of British policy
Vis a Vis the Desi states was to ensure mutual exclusivity and no
relations between them. But after the war a toy in the form of the
Chamber of Princes was created to amuse them. The Nizam of
Hyderabad kept himself away from the Chamber apparently to
protect his personal fiefdom and self respect. But his power that was
at loggerheads with the British Imperial interests was already eclipsed
and it was beyond the capacity of the Nizam and a fistful of his
cohorts to save it.
9
The Nizam continued to accept the directions and advices of

the Viceroys and Residents halfheartedly and efforts were made to
keep them satisfied and happy but the British representatives could
not be satisfied with either the Nizam or his Government. They
repeatedly went on reminding him of his responsibilities and
continued criticizing the state administration.
British officials in Hyderabad: -
After a while British officials were deputed to Hyderabad and
none could object as there was no moral ground for any protest. The
right or wrong intervention and interference of the British might
have been prevented had there been any cooperation between the
ruler and the ruled. But the Nizam was allowed to exercise his powers
in the internal affairs of the state so long as these did not hinder the
British vested interests, especially when such unquestionable powers
were used to suppress and subjugate the ordinary people of the state
and to keep them in a state of helplessness and vulnerability. Rather
the British helped the Nizam from time to time in order to ensure
that the people of Hyderabad did not get involved in any political
struggle and this great bastion of support for the British among the
princely states of India remained intact and the great loyal friend of
the Raj too remained insulated from the democratic aspirations of
the people and their effects.
The Nizam sought to get back Hyderabad's erstwhile province
of Berar from the British but he failed miserably in this constitutional
battle with his mentors who were bent upon smothering all voices of
dissent to their hegemony in India even if it was the voice of the
most faithful friend of the British Crown, the Nizam of Hyderabad.
And on this issue even his voice became the lone and weak song of a
nightingale in the cacophony of the British Bandstand. Because of
10
the dominance of British officers in Hyderabad the process of

Paramount Power reached its pinnacle and the state repression became
doubly repressive for the poor peasants by the division of power with
the land revenue and law and order, the two most important
departments of state administration captured by the British officers
and the rest remaining with the local officers. Thus the people who
were already surrounded by their ignorance and deprivation were
caught in the tussle for holding on to their respective turfs between
the local and the British officers and they became even more powerless
and incapacitated.
The peak of dispossession: -
This incapacitation and inaction that had overtaken the people
of Hyderabad for a very long time and which was actually perpetuated
by successful diplomacy of the Nizam and the British was for long
misconstrued as a sign of peoples happiness and well being in the
Nizam's dominions, their silence and helplessness was covered up
under the golden swathe of their fidelity and loyalty to the Nizam.
The propaganda continued that under the traditional eastern values
and conventions all the Hindus, Muslims and other communities of
Hyderabad consider the Nizam as the centre of their hopes and
aspirations and their loyalty, love and devotion to the personality of
their ruler is a firm reality. The only way that a dictatorial monarchy
could be saved and perpetuated was through the constant mass
anesthesia of the body politic of the state with the opiate of the so
called loyalty, love and devotion of the ruled to the ruler. But when
the nationalistic struggle in British India gained momentum and
winds of democracy started blowing then this stupor of the so called
loyalist inebriation got diminished and people of the princely states
as well as Hyderabad began sobering up and they realized that they
11
had now reached the peak of dispossession and until they developed
the power to face up to the might of the oppressive regimes and had
the ability to demand their rights within their own selves their present
condition cannot change for better.
Interest in public welfare by some patriots: -
There was no political awareness among the people of Hyderabad
some 25-30 years ago. (from the time when this book was first
published in Urdu in1948) It seemed as though they are content
with their pitiable condition, so much so that there was no specific
movement or glamour even in the socio cultural life of the common
man. Although there were some concerned people among both
Hindus and Muslims who were inwardly fuming with the autocracy
of the Nizam and their patriotism and nationalist fervor was inclined
to create political awareness and understanding among the people
but their efforts were scuttled and any such beginning was nipped in
the bud by the Nizam's aristocracy and the British hegemony. Such
nationalists were kept under strict surveillance and all their activities
were considered suspect because they were discontented with the
ways of Governance and their hearts were brimming with the urge
to serve the people for their welfare. The C.I.D. of the Nizam's
Government used to monitor their activities and efforts were made
to ensure that they could not establish close contacts with the public
and do not draw the public attention to their rights and benefits. It
seemed impossible under the dual despotism of the Nizam and the
British to create a political front and to make people adhere to it but
despite these circumstances the constant and untiring efforts of the
nationalists to gradually awaken the masses through different ways
and means and to make them inclined to join the political struggle
did succeed.
12
CHAPTER THREE
The efforts to create political awakening
in the masses
U
nsuitable state of affairs: -
It was well nigh impossible to create political awareness
among the people of Hyderabad and to gather them
in a united front. To open a diatribe against an ancient feudal system
and to establish happy and healthy changes appeared to be unfeasible
as the task of cutting the roots of aristocracy and oppression that had
grown very strong needed a very potent mass weapon. A large part of
the state consisted of Jagirs and Zamistans owned and controlled by
the various Rajahs and Nawabs through their own retinue of loyal
and brutal village strongmen who were entrusted to procure the best
portion of the harvest or its price as the share or tahsil of the Raja or
the Nawab concerned, each such jagir and Zamistan was spread over
thousands of acres of arable land, ponds, rivers, orchards and
plantations. And the thousands of peasants living in hundreds of
villages under such Jagirs and Zamistans were considered as the
bondsmen and bondmaids of the Dora (Lord). The civil rights were
unheard of and the conditions of such villages were the worst. The
Nobles, the Rajahs and Nawabs, Jagirdars, Taluqdars, Maqtadars,
Zamindars, Qawldars, Seths, Sahukars, Capitalists and other vested
interests like the Taluqdars, Tahsildars, Patels and Patwaris were all
supporting the prevalent exploitative feudal system because the system
suited them and their vested interests as they had an unopposed run
13
in the villages to do what they wanted including picking up any girl

or woman at will for the pleasure of themselves and their friends or
guests or killing someone for no reason at all without any let or
hindrance or appeal. Under such an unsuitable state of affairs, creating
awareness and awakening the masses against the feudal lords and
their patron saint the Nizam was no doubt an uphill task.
Indifference of the Muslims: -
The two major communities in the state i.e. the Hindus and
the Muslims both were in a state of suspended animation or were
frozen, especially the Muslims who were afraid to come near politics
as the Nizam's Government had thrown some crumbs of the politico
economic pie towards them by way of jobs and entitlements which
kept them content upon their condition. And there was this wrong
notion in their hearts and minds that it was their own Government,
whereas in reality it belonged to none but the Nizam and a fistful of
his cohorts and minions who were looting the public for their own
power and vested interests.
Initial rumblings:-
But except for some socio religious activities most prominent
being the Miladun Nabi, Muslims of the state were unwilling to take
part in any mass activities. About the Hindus the Government of
the Nizam had by now suspected that some form of initial political
rumbling had begun among them. It was because of this suspicion
that the Government imposed the condition of prior approval even
for educational, social and religious gatherings of the community.
Thus finding no possibility of a platform for political discourse, the
religious and social meetings and congregations were utilized as a
means of furthering the political awareness and it began with the
Hari Katha and Shri Jeev Rakhsha Mandalis.
14
Political awareness through Socio-Religious Congrega-

tions: -
Eminent personalities were invited to the Hari Kathas and they
used to give speeches. Social reforms and unity were often the topics
that were discussed and debated on the occasion of Janmashtami
and Ganesh Chauth, political lyrics were recited and short plays on
Hindu Muslim unity were enacted. The purpose of all such apparently
innocuous activities was to gradually guide the people to a state of
political awareness without getting on the wrong side of the regime
and obviously this effort took many years to fructify.
Hindu Social Conference:-
When it was felt that as a result of all these years of socio religious
activities and discourses, some amount of awareness has been created
among the masses, it was decided to establish the Hindu Social Service
Conference. The first session of the conference was held at Hadgaon
(Nanded, Maharashtra) on April 13, 1918, under the chairmanship
of Sat Nandi Maharaj. The second session too was held Hadgaon
and Pundit Keshav Rao, Advocate High court presided. On June 30,
1920 the Hindu Social Service Conference held at Nanded under
the chairmanship of Pundit Waman Rao Nayak. Three more sessions
of the Hindu Social Service Conference were held in 1921, 1923
and 1927 at Hyderabad, Bombay and Gulbarga, presided respectively
by Prof. D. K. Kurve of Puna, Barrister Mr. R. Jayakar of Bombay
and Mrs Sarla Devi Chowdhary.
The Hindu Social Service Conference was apparently a social
organization and generally resolutions on religious and social reform
were passed through its platform and overtly all discussion, debate
and discourse was limited to such topics but the fact is that this
organization was actually used covertly to spread political awareness
15
among the people and it performed this task very well. And through
it educational demands too were raised.
Osmania University strengthened the intellectual aware-
ness:-
This was the period when Osmania University was being
established. It was Nawab Imadul Mulk who first felt the need for a
university in Hyderabad; Sir Ali Imam, the then prime minister of
the Government of Hyderabad moved the proposal forward during
his incumbency and finally this movement succeeded with the
personal interest and attention of Sir Akbar Hydari (Home Secretary).
Had the rulers of Hyderabad known the fact that the University
would become a catalyst for an intellectual transformation bordering
the political awareness and struggle, besides the avowed growth of
higher education in Hyderabad, they would have never agreed to
establish it in Hyderabad state. The Nizam of Hyderabad was merely
hankering after the title Sultanul Uloom that was to be conferred
upon him as the founder of the University and he was completely
unaware of the intellectual atmosphere the University was bound to
create. This unintentional act of the Nizam eventually proved to be
very effective to strengthen the general political awareness in the state
and some communal people conceded later that it was the University
that caused the trouble of political awakening among the majority
community in the state.
Movement to establish public libraries in Telangana dis-
tricts: -
It was Shri Madapati Hanumanta Rao who deserves all accolades
and kudos for the way he quietly and wisely spread the political
awareness among the people of Hyderabad, especially the people of
16
Telangana. During this period he started a campaign to set up public

libraries at the District and Taluq head quarters and it went on to
become a grand success. The Nizam's Government could not stop
this clever ploy to spread the political awareness and awakening among
the people since ostensibly this was an innocent educational campaign
and because of it the youth developed a taste for reading and they
began to be indirectly indoctrinated theoretically and gradually
attached themselves to the political situation and events of the state.
Besides this Shri Madapati Hanumanta Rao also began attempts to
unite and organize various Hindu castes and creeds. Hence various
organizations such as the Yadav Jan Sangham, Mannuru Kapu
Sangham, Mudiraj Maha Sabha etc. were established.
These organizations proved handy to prepare the ground and
the efforts to make people ready for the grand movement that was
later to be known as the Andhra Conference, eventually bore fruit.
Hindi Libraries:-
To promote the same purposes Hindi Public Libraries were
established in the capital city Hyderabad itself at Hashmat Ganj,
Chowk and Churhi Bazar which continued to flourish under Shri
Rama Kishan Dhoot, Mohan Lalji Baldewa and this writer, Krishna
Swami Mudiraj respectively. The first annual function of the Churhi
Bazar Hindi Public Library was presided over by Raja Govind Pershad
Arya (brother of Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad Bahadur), the second
annual function of the Churhi Bazar Hindi Public Library was
presided over by Raja Indira Karan Bahadur Asifjahi. The third annual
function of the Churhi Bazar Hindi Public Library was held in 1923
which was presided over by Pundit Deen Dayal Sharma with great
fanfare.
17
Ban on entry of Malawiyaji:-

The fourth annual function of the Churhi Bazar Hindi Public
Library was to be held on May 23 1925 and it was to be presided
over by Pundit Madan Mohan Malawiyaji and when all arrangements
for the grand function were made ready, suddenly through his Firman
(Royal Edict) dated May 15, 1925 the Nizam banned the entry of
Pundit Malawiyaji into Hyderabad. Punditji was obviously
disappointed with this development and he sent a telegram to this
writer Krishna Swami Mudiraj to carry on the good work with full
vigor. Since despite the best efforts of the office bearers of the library
the ban was not lifted and the function had to be cancelled. The ban
was protested throughout India and people gave vent to their anger
on this ban order of the Nizam in many meetings and rallies in the
British India.
The Khilafat Movement and show of grand unity of Hin-
dus and Muslims: -
In 1922 the Khilafat Movement was at its peak in all of British
India. The spectacular growth of this movement under the joint
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Moulana Mohahammad Ali and
Moulana Shaukat Ali and the spirited spectacle of Hindu Muslim
unity seen those days was the brightest chapter of the India's
nationalistic life. This movement entered Hyderabad too with full
force and in spite of all the joint attempts of British and the Nizam
to scuttle it the Khilafat meetings and rallies were successfully held
throughout Hyderabad. This was the first spectacular public
demonstration of political awakening of people of Hyderabad. Hindus
and Muslims of Hyderabad emerged as such a united and dynamic
moving force that the Nizam and the then Resident were anxious
that this swift torrent of unity may one day become a deluge to wash
18
them away. The great gathering at Vivek Vardhini Theatre public

meet was an exemplary meeting of Hyderabad where Hindus and
Muslims were embracing each other in full sincerity and making
solemn pledges to take forward the cause of Indian nationalists'
movement for independence. The pious and leading lawer of
Hyderabad Moulvi Abdul Qayyoom was presiding over the meeting.
Pundit Madapati Hanumanta Rao, Pundit Raghavendra Rao Sharma,
Pundit Waman Nayak, Barrister Asghar Ansari (Asghar Yar Jung)
Pundit Keshav Rao and Sirajul Hasan Tirmizi mesmerized and
electrified the huge gathering with their highly emotionally charged
and arousing oratory and the meeting reverberated and the air echoed
with sky rending and enlivening slogans of Hindu Muslim unity.
This meeting was held on the day of Raksha Bandhan and the Hindus
tied the Rakhi as a token of love and unity to the wrist of the president
of the meeting, Moulvi Abdul Qayyoom. The president thanked his
Hindu brethren for this public display of sincerity and love and
declared that Muslims should now respect and preserve the honor of
this Rakhi which in effect is a symbol of an unbreakable bond of love
and unity.
While such Khilafat meetings were proving to be very effective
for uniting the people of our state and in advancing their political
awareness, the Nizam forcibly ended them through a Firman. This
order of the Nizam caused an uproarious reaction, especially among
the Muslim youth it manifested a frenzy and emotional outburst
against the Nizam. Some youth addressed the Nizam in a derogatory
manner through a telegram. Police made some arrests and irate youth
attacked the office of the residency and shattered its window panes.
Mohammad Abdul Rahman Sahab Raees, was arrested for inciting
the Muslim youth against the Residency and the Government of the
Nizam and he was incarcerated at Mannanur and the movement was
19
crushed with full force. After the Khilafat movement the Hindu
Muslim unity was never seen again in the state. Inatead after awhile
they began drifting away from each other in diametrically opposite
directions.
Kakinada Congress Session: -
The Congress Session that was to be conducted in 1933 at
Kakinada under the chairmanship of Moulana Mohammad Ali was
even otherwise being considered a very important session but for the
people of Hyderabad it became an extraordinary attraction. Not only
some important leaders of the Indian National Congress were
contacted and the people of Hyderabad got an opportunity to benefit
from the views of the national leaders of congress but the occasion
was used to conduct a public meeting at Kakinada to make some
political demands from the Nizam.
Hyderabad peoples' contacts with Congress leaders: -
The details of this brief are that, in those days all those congress
leaders and delegates travelling to Kakinada (which was then part of
the Madras Chairmanship) by train for the Kakinada Congress
Session from Bombay, Puna, Ahmedabad and Gujarat had to break
their journey for some time in Hyderabad and proceed to Kakinada
by another train. Pundit Waman Nayak, Pundit Madapati
Hanumanta Rao, Pundit Keshav Rao and Pundit Raghavendra Rao
Sharma thought this to be a good opportunity and set up a camp at
Secunderabad Railway station and made the leading congress leaders
a guest of Hyderabad for the 6-7 hours of their break journey time.
Among the congress leaders were such stalwarts as Deshbandhu C.R.
Das, Vitthalbhai Patel, Motilal Nehru and Mrs. Sarojini Naidu etc.
These congress leaders used to address the people at the station itself
and used to remind them of their nationalistic responsibilities. For
20
three days Secunderabad station became the hub of all political

activities because the people of Hyderabad got this extraordinary
opportunity to benefit from the views of the national leaders of
congress. The angst and anxiety of the Government of the Nizam
was to be seen to be believed. Secunderabad area was beyond its
jurisdiction and it could do nothing to stop the ongoing activities
and for a long time it bore a grudge and wanted to take revenge
against the Hyderabad leaders who used such an ingenious method
to establish contacts with the top congress leaders.
The special train that left for Kakinada on the last day had some
leading congress leader in it. Some 250 youth of Hyderabad too had
the opportunity to travel with them upto Kakinada. The ban on the
entry of Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, which was in force for many years, was
lifted a few days ago. This afforded Sarojini Naidu to set foot on her
mother land and to travel with 250 sons of the soil for the national
yatra of congress.
An important meeting of Hyderabad representatives in
Kakinada:-
Those youth who had accompanied the congress leaders to
Kakinada decided that a meeting of the delegates from Hyderabad
should be organized here so as to demand the setting up of an assembly
in Hyderabad from the Nizam. A request was made to the secretary
of the reception committee of the Kakinada congress session to
conduct the meeting at the some venue and finally the announcement
was made for the public meeting about Hyderabad at such a far off
but a very important centre. The national leaders who specially
attended this meeting included Deshbandhu C.R. Das, Pundit
Motilal Nehru, Moulaua Shaukat Ali, Babu Subha's Chandra Bose,
Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru & Mr. Vitthal Bhai Patel Roy Baseshwar
21
Nath Presided over the meeting, Mr. Anne (Berar) was the Secretary
of Mr. Roy, Pundit Keshaw Rao moved the resolution of demands
and after it was seconded by Pundit Waman Nyak and Pundit
Madapati Hanumantha Rao, it was adopted unanimously. On this
occasion same leaders of the Indian National Congress spoke in favor
of the demands and the passed resolution was sent to the Nizam and
his Government by Telegram.
The C.I.D. Devils:
An interesting incident on this occasion shows the ways how
the C.I.D. sleuths stalk the political leaders and the tricks they adopt
to get details of their activities. Nobody had an idea that among
those who traveled in the special train from Hyderabad to Kakinada,
there was a gentleman who was from the Nizam's C.I.D. in Kakinada
he seems to have set his sights on the hand bag of Pundit Waman
Nayak, which contained some important papers. One day this C.I.D.
officer of the Nizam beautifully conned Waman Nayak's servant and
vanished with the hand bag and the many political leaders at Kakinada
had to admit that the Nizam's C.I.D. was very sharp in deed.
Anyway, the public meeting of Hyderabad representatives at
Kakinada proved to be very successful in many ways. The Hyderabad
youth who had the opportunity to listen to the debates and resolutions
of congress leaders in Kakinada and who received the inspiration to
deliberate under the guidance of National Leaders on various issues
facing them felt their resolve strengthened and they realized that if
they persisted with their activities of awakening the masses to their
political and civil rights and to make the way forward through a
continued struggle and prepared them for a major political face off
then the victory of the masses will be certain in the end.
22
The Govt. of the Nizam went against the organizers of the

Kakinada Meet and they were threatened and harassed in various
ways but it could not get an opportunity to take any vengeful action
against them. However in the end it had to give up the efforts one to
its own wise counsel.
Memorandum for State Reformation by B. Ramksihan
Rao: -
The Hyderabad Reform Association submitted a memorandum
in April 1924 to the Govt. of Hyderabad, which contained certain
proposals for the legislative council. The Nizam and his Government,
issued a Firman on 14 Jamadiul Awwal 1338 A.H reassuring the
people of Hyderabad that in order to run the state administration
properly a legislative council will soon be established in a proper
manner.
23
CHAPTER FOUR
Establishment of Political organizations
W
hen the political struggle of Hyderabad emerged
from its initial silent stages into a middle course
and it was felt that it was about time to set up
political organizations here on a solid basis, then the ground was
prepared for it, Shri M. Hanumantha Rao, having successfully
established public libraries at the District and Taluq, headquarters
and having the task of uniting and organizing different Hindu Caste
and creeds achieved to a large extent through the establishment of
the various Sabhas was now very much eager to the establishment of
the Andhra Conference.
A grand meet in Suryapet: -
He therefore organized a meeting with the cooperation of the
nationalist cadre, in the name of Vartak Sabha at Suryapet (Nalgonda).
He had to face a lot of difficulties in getting the Govt. permission for
this meeting. Finally with a lot of strict pre-conditions the permission
to hold the meeting was granted. Thousands of people from all
districts of Telangana and Hyderabad attended the meeting. The
Govt. deputed the deputy director general of police (districts) Mr.
Manoharlal Puri to monitor the meeting.
This meeting was actually a prelude to the proposed Andhra
Conference. Different resolutions were passed in the meeting raising
various demands; many of them were of a political nature too. This
24
meeting had a very good impact on the people of Telangana districts

and they braced themselves for a long political battle and became
prepared to face the consequences.
Establishment of Andhra Conference: -
The establishment of Andhra Conference was an important
milestone in the history of Hyderabad's political struggle since
following its footsteps many other organizations were set up later
and the amalgamation of all such organizations finally gave birth to
the Hyderabad State Congress. There were a lot of difficulties, hurdles
and objections in the way of setting up the Andhra Conference but
it was the perseverance and courage of Madapati Hanumanth Rao,
with which he overcame all such hurdles and succeeded in establishing
it. The Govt. was bent upon putting up all sorts of prohibitions and
hurdles on it so as to make it an ineffectual organization and Madapati
Hanumanth Rao wanted it to be established at any cost. Ultimately
he succeeded and the first session of the Andhra Conference was
held on 30th Ardibehisht 1339 Fasli, corresponding to 29 Feb. 1930
AD. at Jogipet. Mr. B. Pratap Reddy, B.A.B.L, editor Golconda
Patrika presided over it. The second session of the Conference was
held at Devarkonda, Nalagonda on 29 Feb. 1931, which was presided
over by Mr. B. Ram Kishen Rao [1], and Advocate High court. Some
other annual sessions of the Andhra Conference were presided over
by Pundit Hanumant Rao, Shri Konda Venkat Reddy and Mr.
Narsing Rao, editor 'Ryot'
Madapati's Leadership: -
The Andhra Conference kept growing from strength to strength
under the wise leadership of Madapati Hanumanth Rao and within
a few years it proved its importance and benefits to the people of
Andhra. The misgivings and reservations of the Nizam's Government
25
at the time of giving permission to set up the Andhra Conference

proved to be right. The fear of the Government that gripped the
hearts of people began to gradually wear off and the people of
Telangana began to become a bit bolder through the Andhra
Conference. The annual sessions of the Andhra Conference became
the platform for promoting and taking forward the political struggle
of the people of Hyderabad through peaceful and constitutional
methods and it increased the worries of the Government of the Nizam.
[1] He is at present the Chief Minister of Hyderabad.
The Government Headache with the conference resolu-
tions:-
The Andhra Conference was like a pricking thorn in the eyes of
the Government of the Nizam, because through its platform the
Government of the Nizam was being constantly criticized. The
political debates, resolutions and memoranda of the Andhra
Conference became a constant headache for the Government because
time and again demands were being raised from its platform for the
reform of University and state educational system, civil rights,
cancellation of circular 53, amelioration of farmers' woes and
introduction of certain agrarian reforms.
Demand for a responsible Government: -
The major and fundamental demand was for a responsible
Government that was being made with full force in the open sessions
of the Andhra Conference. For the Government of the Nizam the
call for a responsible Government was becoming a fearsome call as it
was a negation of his Governance and a clarion call for opening the
doors of democracy in the state. Andhra Conference sessions were
being held regularly until the time when the political struggle in the
26
state entered its most turbulent period and the Andhra Conference
and other such organizations were merged into a much larger
organization, the Hyderabad state congress.
Maharashtra Conference: -
Impressed by the awareness created by the Andhra conference
in Telangana districts, the need to create a similar political organization
in Marathwada districts of Hyderabad was felt strongly and the
Government too tried to create hurdles in its establishment. But the
founders did not give up until they succeeded in setting up the
Maharashtra Conference. The first session of the Maharashtra
Conference was held on April 1st. 1925, at Vivek Vardhini Theatre
in Hyderabad. Raja Pratapgirji presided over the session which was
well attended by a large number of nationalists from Poona, Bombay,
Nagpur and other places as special invitees. Jagatguru Shankar Bharati
and Swami Kuruweer Peeth, Doctor Karatkoi came down to
Hyderabad to participate in the deliberations of the conference despite
their other pressing engagements. Lectures of the Swamiji were
organized at many other places after the concluding session of the
Maharashtra Conference.
Maharashtra Conference too got engaged in the battle for
people's rights especially those of the people of Marathwada and
demands were being raised for fulfillment of public welfare measures
through establishment of a responsible Government. While
Maharashtra Conference sessions were being held regularly their
success led to the founding of Karnataka Conference.
Andhra Volunteer Corps:-
The Andhra leaders were feeling the need for a regular volunteer
corps, therefore when the silver jubilee meeting of Telugu Library
27
Sultan Bazar was celebrated under the chairmanship o f Raja Bahadur

Venkat Ram Reddy, the city police commissioner in 1926, the need
for such a corps was felt even more strongly. Hence the Andhra
Volunteer Corps was set up under the captaincy of this writer, Krishna
Swamy Mudiraj. There were no restrictions on joining the corps that
only those Andhraites whose mother tongue was Telugu could join
it as volunteers but the idea was that any resident of Telangana,
whether his mother tongue was Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada
or Urdu was an Andhraite, hence he was eligible. Even Andhra
Conference worked under the same principles. Therefore while among
its volunteers were people like Jumlapuram Keshav Rao, Umapati
Ramachandra Rao and Nandagiri Venkat Rao, there were also the
likes of Pundit Narendarji, Mugunde Rao Purwalkar, Pundit Mangal
Pershad Tiwari and Shri Dharnidhar (presently inspector CID).
Besides the Andhra Volunteer Corps, there was another volunteer
corps, Adi Hindu Social Service league, working under Bhagya Reddy
Varma. The activities of the young volunteers from both these corps
had an impact on young kids and small corps of children were set up
in various localities thus the spirit that was activated among the youth
was also seen in younger children too.
Shri Vishnu Conference:-
As mentioned earlier, the political goals were being achieved
through the religious and social functions and congregations, under
the same strategy, attempts were made to conduct the first session of
the All India Shri Vishnu Conference in Hyderbad but the
Government of the Nizam refused to grant permission. However on
Nov 26 1926 a session of the All India Shri Vishnu Conference was
held in the residency area under the chairmanship of Jagat guru
Swamy Anant chari Maharaj. In this session some religious resolutions
28
were passed along with some political demands. Political leaders too
were often invited to such conferences along with the religious leaders
in order to fulfill the political purposes too and a number of political
leaders from Madras participated in this All India Shri Vishnu
Conference.
In 1926 different pamphlets and articles in different languages
were published and distributed inside Hyderabad and outside
especially to the members of the congress and legislative assemblies
so that the poor condition of the Hyderabad administration and the
backwardness of its people was highlighted. Among such pamphlets
and publications a voluminous book entitled "Misrule of the Nizam"
became very popular and people outside Hyderabad became interested
in the feelings and intent of the people of Hyderabad. Late Tekmalkar
Ranga Rao, Advocate was responsible for the contents and publication
of this book.
Peoples Educational Conference: -
The urgency to mobilize public opinion for political awareness
and educational aspirations was felt because, Hyderabad Educational
Conference, the organization that was primarily concerned with
educational development of the people was coming under increased
Governmental view point and pressure.
In 1928 a separate organization was set up in the name of Peoples
Educational Conference and the first of its sessions was conducted
under the chairmanship of Pundit Hruday Nath Kunzru at the Vivek
Vardhini Theatre, Gowliguda. Hundreds of delegates from
Marathwada and Karnataka attended this conference. From the
platform of Peoples Educational Conference, many educational
demands were presented before the Government. Although this
29
organization was set up upon educational foundations but its views

were entirely nationalistic and the educational reform demands that
were being raised through it couldn't have been fulfilled without
changes in the system of Governance. Thus this conference too
increased the worries of the Government and through it the political
affairs and the will of the people was being strengthened clandestinely.
The second session of Peoples Educational Conference was held
on Dec 1931 under the chairmanship of Dr. Ram Pershad Tripathi
again at the Vivek Vardhini Theatre and the conference kept on
growing every year. This organization still exists but it doesn't have
the kind of fervor it used to have in those days and it is being neglected
perhaps due to the fact that the goals set for it have mostly been
achieved. The restrictions on civil rights imposed by the Government
can be imagined by the fact that even condolence meetings held to
commemorate the death of national leaders were either not allowed
or many hurdles were put up in their way.
Hurdles in Lala Lajpat Roy's condolence meeting: -
Famous national leader Lala Lajpat Roy died at 7.30 A.M. on
April 17 1928 in Lahore and the news reached Hyderabad on the
same day within a few hours. Every where it sent shockwaves, and
shops in Pathergatti, Charkman, Teksal, Mitti ka Sher, Kasarhatta,
Begum Bazar, Siddi Ambar Bazar, Osmanganj, Gowliguda,
Hashmatganj, Residency Bazar, and Isamian Bazar were shut down
in mourning but the city commissioner of police forced the shops
open within a few hours. On Nov 18, 1928 a condolence meeting
was organized at Arya Samaj Mandir (Residency Bazar) which was
presided over by Pundit Keshav Raoji and all shops in the area
remained closed. The proposal to hold a number of public condolence
meetings by the citizens of Hyderabad was delayed because it was
30
rejected by the Government at first but when the organizers

threatened to hold the meetings in violation of Government orders
and the Government would be responsible for the consequences then
the Government was forced to relent. This incident shows how people
were unable to even show their grief openly. However on Nov 29,
1929 public condolence meeting was held at the Vivek Vardhini
Theatre under the chairmanship of Pundit Waman Nayak and the
condolence resolution was presented by Diwan Bahadur Aramudu
Ayengar and it was seconded by Maulvi Sirajul Hasan Tirmizi, Pundit
M. Hanumant Rao and Mr. Ram Chander Nayak Barrister.
Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Hyderabad: -
It was a great occasion for the people of Hyderabad that the
greatest leader of India and the centre of peoples hope and aspirations,
Mahatma Gandhi were to arrive in Hyderabad in April. The entire
city was so eager to welcome him that they were waiting with abated
breath to see him. So when on April 6 1929, he arrived by Bombay
Mail at Nampally Railway station along with a contingent of the
Andhra Volunteer Corps that was sent to Wadi Junction as an advance
reception party under the leadership of Krishna Swami Mudiraj there
were passionate scenes of mob euphoria at the station in spite of the
wider Bandobast by the Police as well as the volunteers of the Andhra
Volunteer Corps. The public was so eager that they were falling one
over the other to just have look of the Mahatma. There were so many
people that there was no place at the station and it was well nigh
impossible for even a hat to drop to the ground. With great difficulty
Bapuji was whisked away to the waiting car through a backdoor of
the train compartment and he was lead in a procession up to the
Vivek Vardhini Theatre the venue, where already a enormous crowd
of people were waiting. The Mahatma addressed the people here. A
memento and an official public acknowledgement and recognition
31
of the work of the Mahatma were presented to him. Gandhiji stayed

in the city for three days and he inspected various organizations and
institutions. On behalf of the Hindi Sabha Kanya Path Shala Churi
Bazar, Krishna Swamy Mudiraj haad the honor of presenting an
acknowledgement along with money bag to the Mahatma in the
Path Shala hall. The Mahatma wrote in the visitors' book of the Path
Shala the following comment in Hindi:
"Mein is Pathshala ki Unnati chahta hoon" i.e. I wish all success
for this school.
Mahatma Gandhi also addressed a public meeting in
Secunderabad. He also addressed the Harijans in the Adi Hindu Social
Service league Bhavan and congratulated Mr. Bhagya Reddy on his
performance. This visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Hyderabad and his
speeches encouraged the people and they felt that they were not alone
and have somebody to patronize them.
Arrival of the Ali Brothers:-
Whenever national leaders came to Hyderabad or passed
through, the people used to receive them and offered them a warm
and tumultuous welcome because the very presence of the national
leaders among them even for a short while was like a shot in the arm
for them and their struggle. So when Moulana Mohammad Ali and
Moulana Shaukat Ali came to Hyderabad along with their famous
mother, who was the real inspiration behind the Ali brothers and
was known as Amma Bi among the public as well as among the
freedom fighters of India, people of Hyderabad showed the same
verve and vitality in welcoming them. There was a huge crowd of
emotional supporters at Secunderabad Railway station jostling with
each other for a glimpse of the legendary Ali Brothers and in the
melee quite a few people fell unconscious. With great difficulty these
32
respectable leaders were brought from the station to their host's

residence.
Hindu Dharam Parishad: -
In order to fulfill certain political needs a religious body under
the name of Hindu Dharam Parishad was set up. Its president was
Rja Pratap Girji nd secretary was Pundit Waman Nayak. The first
conference of the parishad was held on April 1925, hundreds of
delegates from the Telangana, Marathwada and Karnataka participated
in the conference. The sessions continued for three days. Leaders
like Pundit Seshadri from Bombay, Puna and Sholapur were invited
as special guests. Jagatguru Shankrcharia, Maharaj Keru Veer Seth
and Dr. Karatkoti had a leading role in making the Hindu Dharam
Parishad a grand success. A number of resolutions including some of
a political nature were passed from the platform of the Hindu Dharam
Parishad. When a resolution on the Harijan welfare was presented,
the pundits and shastris opposed it vehemently. There was
pandemonium in the session and the situation was brought under
control with great difficulty. Then Bhagya Reddy rose to support the
resolution and there was complete silence in the hall. His speech was
so emotional and effective that the entire audience was affected by
the pathos, the speaker, Bhagya Reddy himself broke down and in
such an emotionally charged scenario Jagadguru Shankrcharia got
up and embraced Bhagya Reddy and the people began cheering him,
the entire hall began reverberating with shouts and slogans of
"Jagadguru ki Jai" "Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai" "Bhratmata ki Jai" and
this resolution that was being opposed with such ferocity was adopted
unanimously. The arrangements for the conference were made by
the Andhra Volunteer Corps and Adi Hindu Social Service league.
Since the Government had denied permission to hold it within the
city limits, it was held in the residency area.
33
CHAPTER FIVE
Communal riots and Government policy
T
he exciting unity that was established between the
Hindus and Muslims as a result of the Khilafat
Movement could not last for long. And both
communities drifted away from each other shortly after the Shuddhi
and Sanghatan Movements were launched by the Hindus in British
India. Although there was no noticeable reaction of the movements
in Hyderabad and the Shuddhi movement did not spread here.
However as a result of external influences communal tensions began
spreading beneath the surface. Even the Government of the Nizam
felt it appropriate to follow the policy of the British Imperialism for
its own survival.
The Patronage of Muslim:-
From 1928 onwards there were perceptible changes in the
policies of the Nizam's Government and ignoring the ground realities
it assumed that in view of the increasing political activism of the
Hindus which was becoming dangerous for the Nizam's Government
it must bring the Muslims closer to itself. The riots began in the
districts. On Dec. 28, 1928, with due permission the Hindus of
Nanded took out a religious procession in Taluq Wazeerabad. The
Hindus and Muslims clashed with each other in the procession and
a large number of Hindus were injured.
34
Riot near the Sikh Gurudwara Nanded:-

On the same day a riot broke out near the Sikh Gurudwara and
there was a serious clash between the Sikhs and Muslims leading to
aa lot of people getting injured from both communities but there
were more Sikhs among the injured as the Muslims had the support
of the Government and the Police.
The strife of the Maal Tekri: -
Had the Govt. attempted sincerely to pre-empt the factors
causing such riots then perhaps the fire wouldn't have spread as much
as it eventually did. But not only the Government ignored them but
it began acting in a partisan manner.
The Muslims buried a destitute beggar in the land of a place in
Nanded that was known as Maal Tekri and which was considered by
the Sikhs as their land and on the day of the Eid ul Adhha (Bakrid
Tir 15, 1338 F.) there was a bloody clash between the Sikhs and
Muslims, there were more Sikhs among the injured and a general
tension prevailed in the city. Sikhs in Punjab got emotionally involved
in the dispute and they became eager to support their co-religionists
in Hyderabad. Questions on this rioting were raised in the Punjab
Assembly and when the situation began to get wider with possibly
serious repercussions, the Govt. of the Nizam was forced to take a
step.
The appointment of an English Judge: -
The Nizam obtained through the residency, the services of Sir
H. Cuming, Judge of the Bengal province to investigate the Maal
Tekri cases. The gentleman arrived in Hyderabad on Sept. 12, 1929
nd fter conducting his inquiry gave his judgment on DEC. 7, 1929
in favor of the Sikhs, which also ordered that the Muslim corpse
35
buried in the Sikh property of Maal Tekri must be removed there

from within a month to some other place and in case of failure to do
so by the concerned party, the Sikhs will have the right to do so. The
Muslims of Nanded were against this judgment but they had to wily
nilly abide by it and the corpse of the Muslim Fakir buried in Maal
Tekri was removed from there and buried elsewhere.
The Gulbarga Riots: -
There was a serious riot in Gulbarga. A Palki used to be taken
out traditionally in procession from the famous Shaarana Basappa
temple in Gulbarga. So on Muharram 9, 1343 AH. The palki
procession was taken out and when the band in the procession
continued playing music near a mosque, Muslims objected to it and
there was an altercation but on the next day on 10th. of Muharram
it blew up into a major rioting and mayhem, the temple too was
damaged and on 12th. Muharram Mr. Azizullah, the superintendant
of secret police was shot dead by Muslims; his body was brought to
Hyderabad for burial. Many people were injured in this riot.
The Government appointed a commission of inquiry. The
members included Nawab Zulqadar Jung Bahadur, Nawab Agha Yar
jung and Pundit Keshav Rao. But the commission's report was never
made public.
Riot in the Ganj of Bidar:-
After while there was a serious and bloody riot in Bidar. Shops
in the Ganj were doused with kerosene and were burn down in broad
daylight. Muslims looted many Hindu shops. Many people were
injured in the rioting and arson. A Sahukar (moneylender) from the
Ganj was arrested for the disturbance and a case was filed against
him. It was not as if the Government was unaware of these riots and
36
the factors responsible for them but nothing was done to prevent
the repetition of such unfortunate events. So the communal riots
continued unabated and from time to time news kept coming about
such occurrences from the villages and districts, the enmity and
antagonism between the communities kept growing. In Hyderabad
where people were living in complete communal harmony for ages
became antagonistic and hostile to each other because of the divide
and rule policy of the Government. The Government was attempting
to provoke the Muslims to stand up against the Hindus to frighten
them into giving up their political activities; an event in this regard
was seen on 10th. Zilhijj 1339 AH. When the Muslims armed with
swords and batons were demonstrating on the roads and streets of
the city with impunity and nobody stopped them.
The Government of the Nizam had sown the seeds of Hindu
Muslim riots but when the desired goals were not achieved it tried to
absolve itself and come clean from such a policy. And for this purpose
the Government set up a commission known as the religious functions
commission in 1335 F. This commission consisted of Nawab Akhtar
Yar Jung, Nawab Ahmed Yar Jung, Roy Bal Mukand and Raja
Narsingh Raj. The mandate of the commission was to suggest change
of routes for the Palki Seva and Rath Yatra etc. wherever any mosque
was located on their routes and if there were difficulties in change of
route, then to ensure that any band / music group was stopped from
playing the music at some distance from the mosque. Mr. Giri Raj,
Judge High Court and Roy Roop Lal too worked in this commission
for some time and there were some others who helped in its
investigations but the commission continued to work at the beck
and call of the Government and it was far from justice. The people
disregarded the commission's decisions because they were bent upon
achieving their rights at any cost and they were no more afraid to go
37
to jail. However the goals the Government had wished to achieve by

patronizing the Muslims were obvious and the efforts in this direction
were visible from time to time in different ways and its violent ways
kept on growing. When the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was
established and it assumed the full-fledged role of a political party,
its activities started benefitting the Government. Although a large
section of Muslims was against the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
but it achieved a wider acceptability. Khaksaar Party and Siddiq
Deendar Chinna Baseshwar too were used to provoke the Hindus.
Vitriolic speeches were made, especially against those Hindus who
were taking leading part in the political struggle. Siddiq Deendar
Chinna Baseshwar continued to spread communal poison against
the Hindu religion and its Avatars through pamphlets. So in a protest
public meeting held at the Seetha Ram Bagh Temple under the
chairmanship of Raja Bahadur Bansilal Pitti, the attention of the
Government was drawn to such propaganda. And the Government
was warned that if such a sorry state of affairs was allowed to continue
and the religious sentiments of Hindus were allowed to be hurt in
this manner the results would be very dangerous and communal riots
would break out. But such protests fell on deaf ears and the
Government remained a mute spectator. Such hurting and hateful
propaganda and pamphlets were not banned on the contrary the
Nizam's Government banned the entry in Hyderabad of a number
of news papers and magazines published outside the state which were
critical of the administration and were highlighting the plight of the
Hyderabad people.
Arrival of Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru: -
When the young and youthful leader of India, Pundit Jawahar
Lal Nehru arrived in Hyderabad on June 30, 1930 the people of
38
Hyderabad gave him a rousing reception. Punditji stayed at Golden

Threshold, the residence of Mrs. Sarojini Naidu. There was a great
Bandobast of C.I.D. and police upon his arrival. People were eager
to listen to Punditji's speeches but the Government of the Nizam
had imposed a condition that during his stay in Hyderabad Pundit
Jawahar Lal Nehru would neither attend any public meeting nor
deliver any speech or address. There was a always a milling crowd of
people around the residence of Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, just to have a
glimpse of Punditji that used to disperse despondently everyday
without either seeing him or hearing him. There was widespread
unrest among the people against such restrictions. Finally Punditji
had to go back carrying an impression of Hyderabad as a medieval
feudal state.
Second coming of Punditji: -
Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru arrived in Hyderabad in 1349 F. for
a second time. This time he stayed at the residence of Mirza Yar Jung
Bahadur, former chief justice. Thousands of people came for a stirring
welcome to their leader at the airport. Mrs. Padmaja Naidu garlanded
him and Mr. Krishna Swamy Mudiraj, in his capacity as the Deputy
Mayor of the Municipality had the honor of garlanding him on behalf
of the citizens of Hyderabad. On this occasion too the people could
not benefit from his speeches. It might have been that Punditji was
being over cautious about the restrictions imposed on him by the
Nizam's Government due to the fact that the Indian national
Congress did not like meddling in the internal affairs of the states.
There were murmurings among the people about the intrepid act of
the Nizam's Government in imposing such restrictions on such an
important leader. However people continued to gather around the
Bungalow of Mirza Yar Jung Bahadur, for a glimpse of Punditji and
39
their resolve against the oppression of the Nizam continued to be

strengthened.
Arrival of Moulana Shaukat Ali:-
Moulana Shaukat Ali arrived in Hyderabad on July 26, 1931by
Bejwada Mail. A large number of people welcomed him at
Secunderabad railway station. He stayed as a guest of Nawab Asghar
Yar Jung, member High Court. Many nobles and leading businessmen
of Hyderabad hosted dinners and receptions for him but even he
was denied the opportunity to address the people.
A Firman of the Nizam: -
The extent to which the political struggle of the people of
Hyderabad had progressed and had become a threat to the monarchy
of the Nizam can be gauged from the under mentioned Firman of
the Huzoor Nizam that was issued on 25th. Ramzan, 1350 H.
"The few misguided opponents of this state who, either out of
ignorance or malice are ready to be sympathetic to the enemies of
law and order who are bent upon boycott and civil disobedience of
the British Crown are hereby strictly warned and cautioned that in
the event of any of their overt and covert activities with a view to
cause any disturbance in the established order and as a result thereof
civil disobedience or any acts similar to it are committed against the
trusted ally of the Asafiyah Sovereignty i.e. the British Crown or any
of their enemies are sided with or supported by any of the citizens of
this state, such persons will be held guilty of treason and they will be
liable to the severe chastisement of the Aala Hazrat H.E.H. The
Nizam's Government"
The Nizam considered the nationalistic awareness of the people
of Hyderabad and their political struggle as malicious and ignorant
40
but look at the miracle of change and revolution that the same people
today are the manifestations and quintessence of power and
sovereignty and the Government of the Nizam is in smithereens in
spite of the graciousness and people friendliness of the national leaders.
When Moulana Muhammad Ali died in London in 1930the
news was heard in the nationalist circles of India with great grief and
mourning and his old congress colleagues were greatly affected. The
people of Hyderabad sought permission to hold a condolence meeting
which was immediately granted and a condolence meeting was held
at Kothi near Putli Bowli.
Ban on Motilal Nehru's condolence meeting:-
But when Motilal Nehru died the same year all sorts of hurdles
were created in the way of the condolence meeting. The Government
of the Nizam delayed permission for the meeting so much that the
organizers were forced to conduct the condolence meeting in the
residency area. One newspaper from Hyderabad and many
newspapers of British India protested this attitude of the Government.
The condolence meeting for Motilal Nehru was held under the
chairmanship of Maulvi Sirajul Hasan Tirmizi in Devi Deen Bagh.
Thousands of people gathered to pay their tributes to the departed
leader. On Feb. 15, 1931 at 2.30 PM a mourning procession was
taken out from the house of Waman Nayak at Gowli Guda and
reached Arya Vatika in the residency. This was a one mile long
procession; Pundit Waman Nayak was leading the procession when
the procession reached Devi Deen Bagh it became a large public
meeting. Waman Nayak read out an article written by Mahatma
Gandhi in condolence for the death of Motilal Nehru. Pundit Waman
Nayak made the people take an oath and pledge to carry forward the
mission of Motilal Nehru.
41
This kind of procession was the first of its kind for Hyderabad.
All the shops were closed both inside and outside the city limits. But
the police commissioner Raja Bahadur Venkat Rama Reddy forcibly
got all the shops opened by 12 noon at the orders of the Government.
These events show how much powerless the people were in those
days and how their struggles were tried to be crushed.
Akola Conference: -
There was a proposal to hold a political conference in Hyderabad
but the Government was unwilling to give permission for the same.
When all plans in this regard failed then perforce Akola (Berar) was
selected as the venue.
This conference was held under the chairmanship of Shri
Ramchandar Naik Barrister at law, former chief justice of the
Hyderabad state. Thousands of delegates from all districts of
Hyderabad participated and the general public too attended in large
numbers. The honorable chairman in his presidential address
pinpointed the reforms with the help of statistics that were required
urgently in various sectors such as education, public health,
agriculture, industry and commerce, finance and revenue, police and
army, religious affairs, jagirdari system, excise and customs, journalism,
banking, courts and all others including public administration and
Governance. He showed how these reforms were necessary and how
the people were distressed in the absence of reforms. One of the
many resolutions passed in the conference was to demand the setting
up of a truly representative legislative council and a responsible
Government. This conference also contributed to the public unrest
that they have been made so powerless that they cannot even hold a
political conference in their own house and were forced to go out of
Hyderabad to present their demands.
42
Establishment of a Municipal council:-

One of the demands made through the resolutions passed in
the Akola conference was that the Government establish a Municipal
council in Hyderabad on par with other civilized cities. The question
of passing a new municipal law was also raised and it took ten years
of constant struggle for this to be passed. The organizations like the
Andhra, Marathwada and Karnataka Conferences kept on pressing
for the establishment of the Municipal council every year and people
among the members of the then Sanitary committee such as Pundit
Waman Nayak, Pundit M. Hanumantha Rao and Roy Baseshwar
Nath etc. too kept pressing for the need for a new Municipal Act
from time to time.
When the Municipal council was established it followed the
new Municipal Act for 9 years. During this period elections were
held for 13 wards twice or thrice but when the performance of the
elected representatives became well known and the Governments'
shortcomings became obvious as a result of their better performance
in exercise of their powers then these powers were taken away through
a Firman which were won by the people a after a long and arduous
struggle.
The new Municipal Act that was made into law after the Police
Action, under which the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has
come into existence, is not worth keeping for a longer time.
It is a sad commentary on the present state of affairs that the
rights given to the public representatives in Municipal administration
under the Nizam's Monarchy twenty years before the Police Action
have been forfeited under this so called democracy and Janata Raj.
The Municipal Act of 1342 Fasli had lesser public representation
43
but more and wider powers to the public representatives but the
Municipal Act of 1950 has wider public representation with limited
powers. This cannot be tolerated.
This large public office of local self Government should be so
powerful and with such authority that it catered to the civic and
public needs without any let or hindrance. But unfortunately all the
powers of this present Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad are
now vested in the state Government, under this dominance and with
shrunken powers it is not in a position to fulfill its important and
heavy responsibilities.
Hurdles in setting up of private schools:-
The restrictions imposed on the public by the Government were
such that the people had to obtain prior approval of the Government
even to conduct such religious meetings as the Hari Katha, Ganesh
Utsav and Janmashtami etc. The nationalistic leaders of Hyderabad
wanted to set up such private schools where intellectual awareness
can be inculcated at a nationalistic level among the students and
they could be prepared for their future responsibilities. But even here
restrictions were imposed. And it was made necessary to obtain
permission under the rules in force to set up a private school as under:
"From now onwards as per the rules prescribed, it is ordered
hereby that the permission to establish a private school in the state
shall be obtained from the office of the District Superintendant of
Education located at the district head quarters. And the founders
and patrons of all such schools that have been established until now
are hereby required that after acquainting themselves with the rules
prescribed therein, they shall submit in the prescribed form an
application for approval latest by 1335 Fasli in the office of the District
44
Superintendant of Education located at the district head quarters of

the district concerned. Filing which action for the closure of such
schools shall be initiated as per rules prescribed in this regard."
There were widespread protests against this order and people
continued to struggle against such restrictions, every public meeting
had the resolutions passed against this imposition but the Government
did not budge.
An evil Circular # 53:-
Circular # 53 that was later infamously called the evil circular
was for long time the main hurdle in conducting any public meeting.
Under the stipulations of the Circular 53, the organizers desirous of
holding a public meeting had to give a written guarantee to the Police
commissioner or other officers of the Government authorized therein
that the speakers will not express their opinions on any political topic
and will not criticize the Government. Such hurdles in a political
struggle were daunting but the resolve of the public leaders remained
unshaken nevertheless. And they continued their march forward.
There was a lot of strife on account of Circular # 53 and at
every stage; every place vociferous demands were made for its
cancellation. The text of the Circular # 53 is reproduced below to
enable the readers to have a feel of the difficulties of those times.
"Any person, who is desirous of holding any kind of public
meeting, is required to inform in writing about his intent in this
regard to the Police Commissioner when the proposed meeting is to
be held within the city limits or in other cases to the Taluqdar of the
District concerned at least 10 days in advance. If prima facie the
proposed meeting is apolitical in nature or in the opinion of the
Police Commissioner or the Taluqdar concerned as the case may be,
45
the event is entirely unlikely to have any possibility of any political

repercussions, the applicant person shall immediately be informed
that there is no need for the permission for the proposed public
meeting and he may go ahead with the program. It shall be to the
entire satisfaction and discretion of the Police Commissioner or the
Taluqdar concerned as the case may be, to call for the agenda or the
program of the meeting and the manuscripts of the speeches the
details of the listed or other speakers. However unless there is an
apparent or reasonable ground to call for such details from the
organizer (s) this stipulation must not be resorted to, provided
however that the organizer (s) take the full responsibility that the
proceedings of the proposed meeting will be entirely apolitical.
Provided further that if it found that the event is even remotely likely
to have any possibility of any political repercussions, the applicant
person shall immediately be informed that there is a need for the
Government permission for the proposed public meeting and he
may not go ahead with the program without such permission in
writing from the Government, save and except where the Government
has already granted such a permission in general for a political
meeting. In the absence of Government permission for such meetings
the chief organizer will be held entirely responsible for ensuring that
the meeting will not take a political form or color. And if in the
opinion of the Government, it becomes necessary or expedient to
obtain a guarantee in writing or other surety securities and assurances
as it deems fit and proper from the organizer (s) the same shall be so
obtained to the satisfaction of the authority concerned"
Almost all organizations protested against the above circular.
When after the Andhra and Marathwada conferences, the Karnataka
Conference was established; it too struggled for the abolition of the
Circular # 53. The Karnataka Conference owes its birth to the long
46
and relentless efforts of Shri Rama Chari and Shri Janardhan Rao
Desai because the Government had put all sorts of hurdles in its
establishment but these leaders succeeded in its establishment
nevertheless.
Nizam's Subjects' League: -
The Hindus of Hyderabad had a longstanding grievance that to
a large extent they were being kept away from the state administration
and attempts were being made to give them a lesser opportunity in
Government jobs. Even some of the Muslims had a similar grievance
that their rights were being overlooked and Muslims from outside
the state were being preferred especially for senior positions. Therefore
some of the Jagirdars joined hands with some leaders of the state to
form a new association in the name of the Nizam's Subjects' League.
The exams for the Hyderabad Civil Service (HCS) were reduced to a
mere formality and intelligent people of Hyderabad had no
opportunities. However there was no dearth of opportunities for
Muslims from other states. There was a continuous inflow of U.P.
Muslims in top Government jobs. This generated a lot of tumult
among the Hyderabadis. The Mulki Movement was started and the
younger Hindu / Muslim Jagirdars stood up to protect their rights.
While the Nizam's Subjects' League had the patronage of the state
leaders, it also had the backing of some senior Mulki bureaucrats.
The League had the likes of Shri B. Ramakrishna Rao, Pundit Waman
Nayak, Mrs. Padmaja Naidu, M. Narsing Rao and Sir Nizamat Jung
(Minister for Political affairs) as members. An active member of the
League got a book "Whither Hyderabad" printed and published from
Madras. The government promptly banned the book and all copies
were confiscated from those who had it.
47
The Nizam's Subjects' League had one of its most important

meetings in the West End Theatre (Raj Mahal Talkies Kacheguda)
presided over by Nawab Shamsher Jung Bahadur. The bold way the
younger generation of the Jagirdars expressed themselves in their
criticism of the Government was unprecedented. Because, never
before, did anybody raise his voice against the Nizam with such force
and fervor.
As usual the Government was able to crush this movement too.
The English minister of revenue and police, Colonel Shnox Trench
warned the young Jagirdars that they will be denied their Jagir shares
if they continued with their rebellious activities. The cooperation of
the state leaders with the Jagirdars was only to ensure indirect benefits
for the nationalist movement through the awareness and struggle of
the Jagirdar classes and a new front was opened against the Nizam.
Otherwise they were poles apart in terms of principles and goals.
48
CHAPTER SIX
The political struggles of Hyderabad
and News Papers
T
he story of the political struggles of Hyderabad will be
incomplete without enlightening the readers about the
attitudes of the Press towards it, as quite often the Press
has played a fundamental role in creating the political awareness and
reporting the struggle of the people. The extraordinary importance
of the Press as the fourth pillar of the state is well recognized.
The initial period of Journalism:-
About 30 years ago, the Press in Hyderabad was in its infancy.
The Mushir-e-Deccan, the Sahifa and (Urdu Newspapers) were the
only dailies published from the city then. The Rahbar-e-Deccan,
under the editorship of Mr. Ahmed Mohiuddin and Mr. Abdullah
Khan had begun its publication not long ago. The addition of this
third Newspaper was welcomed in journalistic circles.
In late 1928, Subh-e-Deccan under the editorship of Mr. Ahmed
Arif and Mr. Ali Ashraf began publishing. Because of its progressive
policies it soon became popular in certain circles of the state.
The Nizam Gazette weekly as a semi political, scientific and
literary journal was already in publication from a year before this
and Mr. Syed Viqar Ahmed and Mr. Habeebullah Rushdi were its
editors. The rumors about this Journal’s being a mouthpiece of the
49
Nizam’s Govt. were almost proven right because from the time of
Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad to the end of Sir Akbar Hydary’s period
it was committed to support the Government policies and remained
completely isolated from the nationalist and political struggle of the
state until the advent of the stormy period of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen when it adopted a rabid communal color.
The Iron grip of the Press law:-
During those days when civil rights were non-existent and strong
measures were taken to keep the public away from political awareness,
the old press law was so draconian and grid iron like tight that any
political topic was taboo. It was months of hard work to obtain a
press declaration. The only saving grace of this unjust law and its
firm grip could be that it prevented the entry of people with puerile
taste and rank ignorance in the field of journalism.
Trouble for the free press:-
In a Monarchy and Dictatorship there was obviously no room
for a free press. But nonetheless a few sparks were beginning to grow
into flames which would later become beacons of the free press.
It appears strange that in spite of so many restrictions, the
Hyderabad papers were able to express their views upon the political
movements of the British India quite freely to a certain extent and
these appeared to be almost in line with the views of their
contemporaries in British India in the freedom movement. And this
can be verified by sifting through the archive files of the local News
papers. But it was impossible for the local press to comment upon
the political movements within the state or to be even mildly critical
of the state Government or administration. To write anything against
any departmental head or the secretary was not as easy as it is to
50
criticize the Indian Prime Minister these days. In those days every
news paper was under close scrutiny and the Government was keenly
watching everything being written by them. The papers were
threatened from time to time with closure if the writing was found
to be sympathetic to the political activists of the state.
Support for political activism:--
Mr. Narsing Rao’s weekly paper the “ Ryot” presented itself as
the herald of contemporary national political movements. The plain
speaking of the “Ryot” on various issues was hard to bear for the
Government, especially when some of its contemporary papers began
following its lead on many issues e.g. the purchase of the Nizam’s
guaranteed state railway, the Berar issue, problems in the Roads and
Buildings department, the questionable behavior and performance
of some officials etc. were some issues upon which the “Subh-e-
Deccan” and the “Musheer-e-Deccan” often concurred with the views
expressed by the “Ryot”.
The campaign for Hindu Muslim unity by the Journals:-
The Muslim press could not have supported the demand for a
Responsible Government but they were critical of the existing
dispensations’ shortcoming and it’s acts of omission and commission;
they were emphasizing the need for good governance. “The Golconda
Patrika” of Shri Gopal Reddy too played an important role in taking
forward the political struggle of the state and continued writing
against the administration quite strongly. “The Nizam Vijay” was a
standard bearer of the Maharashtra movement and its articles too
were not to the Government’s liking. “The Mamlikat Daily” too
remained an adherent of nationalist thoughts for a long time and it
used to discuss seriously about the political issues and movements of
the state. Hindu Muslim unity was the slogan of every newspaper
51
and journal for long; especially the leading papers among them were
the “Ryot”, the “Subh-e-Deccan” and the “Musheer-e-Deccan”. On
the Nanded, Gulbarga and Bidar communal riots almost all
newspapers strongly pleaded that the Government must find the true
causes of these riots and crush such elements with full force, that are
found to be responsible for spreading hatred among the Hindus and
Muslims and fanning the fires of communalism in the state. But the
Government did nothing. Not only that there was no punitive action
taken against the guilty but no one was even questioned.
The Nizam’s grip over the Press: -
With the growth of the Ittehadul Muslimeen the attitudes of
the Muslim publications too changed. On the one hand they got an
opportunity to write rather freely and on the other hand the Nizam’s
interest in the newspapers too increased. From1930 onwards the
Nizam started paying attention to the press. And he liked the ‘Subh-
e-Deccan” among the Urdu periodicals. Initially this interest was
limited to the publication of his poetry but later it expanded to the
movements and resources. At first unofficial publication of the
Firmans in the paper began and then personal criticism of the
editorials started from time to time. Whenever any senior official or
any Jagirdar was affected by the press criticism he used to present
himself before the Nizam. And any issue that the Nizam himself
preferred to be criticized by the press was discreetly pointed out to
the editors of the Subh-e-Deccan. But when some criticism was not
to the liking of the Nizam, the Subh-e-Deccan was advised caution
through private instruction. When the Nizam’s grip on the paper
tightened and he was angered by an article of the Subh-e-Deccan, it
fell from favor and the “Rahbar-e-Deccan and the Nizam Gazette”
became his favorites and the King Kothi correspondence began to be
published in these papers.
52
Effects of communalism on Newspapers:-

When the “Manshoor” started publication under a new name
“Waqt” it began the trend of communal and sensational journalism.
It used to claim itself as the herald of Ittehadul Muslimeen and started
attempts to provoke the Muslims against the Hindus and tried
unsuccessfully to crush the political struggle of Hyderabad demanding
a responsible Government. Mr Abdul Rahman Raees, who was an
emotional and communal person, was fomenting trouble as a
journalist. His extremely communal and provocative writings and a
general demand from the public to curb such writings forced the
Government to close the paper temporarily.
Free Press:-
The “Payam” of Qazi Abdul Ghaffar kept up its Jihad against
communalism and for presenting the democratic aspirations of the
people of the state. It especially took up the cudgels against the divisive
politics of Ittehadul Muslimeen and continued criticizing the
waywardness of its leaders.
After disassociating himself from the Subh-e-Deccan” Mr. Ali
Ashraf started the “Tanzeem” in 1938. The Tanzeem continued with
its independent policies for a long time.
The “Ryot” in its second round, when it had become a daily,
carried on with its bold criticism of the ongoing policies of the
Government with regard to the political movements of the state.
The Deccan Chronicle and the Daily News (both English dailies)
too proved their nationalistic credentials as ought. The “Meezan”
that was started by Mr. Ghulam Muhammad, a capitalist Muslim
businessman from Calcutta soon joined the communal bandwagon.
At a time when there was a clash of ideologies between the Ittehadul
53
Muslimeen and the State Congress and the State Congress was on
the verge of success, the “Rahbar-e-Deccan”, the the “Waqt”, the
“Meezan” and the “Ittehad” were strongly siding with the Majlis-e-
Ittehadul Muslimeen”.
Assassination of the “Imroze” editor: -
During those tumultuous days a young nationalist Mr.
Shoebullah Khan started his newspaper “Imroze”. Shoebullah Khan
was not some leading or well known journalist and it was not very
long that he began his career as a journalist. But by becoming a martyr
for his country and fellow countrymen he became a distinct journalist,
who became the target of the bullet of an unknown assassin and he
was killed for his practicing the ideals of a free press, for his anti
communal stance and for his nationalistic point of view. Qasim Rizvi,
the leader of the Razakar movement and some of his friends were
tried by a special court for the assassination and finally they were
acquitted. The people of Hyderabad admit and acknowledge the
greatest contribution to their struggle made by Mr. Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj, the bold local correspondent of “The Hindu” Madras, who
often staked his own life to get the correct news and transmit it to
the periodicals of the British India and who was one among the other
correspondents of the non local news agencies that were sending the
news of that violent and wildly tyrannical period to the rest of the
country. The Hindu, Madras proved its mettle and used all its might
in support of democracy, whereas there was a local news agency known
as the “Deccan News” that was born out of a communalist agenda
and during the Razakar period it took its communalist and sectarian
madness to a new height and limit. However the Modern News
Agency deserves kudos for its excellent work and contribution to
ensure perpetuation of democratic values. There were some other
54
news agencies too that were more or less inclined towards the unity
between all communities and democracy. Such were the times during
the political struggle of Hyderabad and the roles played by the press
in it. And such are the times now when the state is independent and
the press is truly free, it is incumbent upon the press to fulfill its
responsibilities as a big force in a democratic set up and the general
expectation is that the press will never be lagging behind in fulfillment
of this responsibility.
55
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Rise and Fall of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen
T
he Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was originally set up
to unite the various Muslim sects into a single entity
and to educate the ignorant Muslims who were mostly
from the rural areas about the religious tenets, obligatory practices
and rituals and it continued to carry on with its original objectives
for a long time. But when the issue of Federation cropped up with its
full import and its importance in relation to the states became obvious
and the question of representation of Hindus and Muslims in the
council presented itself before the Muslims then Nawab Bahadur Yar
Jung became willing to organize the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
as a political entity.
Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung was the scion and heir of a Pathan
Jagirdar family. He was naturally gifted with an intelligent mind and
awakened heart. He was educated and trained under the oriental
scholars and the religious ethos, ethics and values were dominant in
his conduct since his childhood. When he grew up his oratory and
discourses brought him name and fame. As the founder president of
the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen he acquired more clout and when
he ventured outside Hyderabad and met Mr. Jinah a number of times
there was a change of heart in him.
56
The opposition to Majlis by Muslims:-

At a time when the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was on the
ascendant as a political organization, many sincere and moderate
Muslims were of the view that this kind of politics will be detrimental
in the days to come to not only the Muslims but it will also have a
devastating impact on the state and its ruler.
Many Muslims were against the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
and especially the nationalist Muslims were quite wary of its policies.
With the passage of time and the changing political events and
scenarios the clout and reach of this sectarian organization’s poisonous
effect kept on spreading far and wide.
Nizam and Hyderi Hands in Glove with Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen:-
The Self Rule formula that was being pursued by the Muslim
League in the British India was a God Send for Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen. When the Majlis organized itself fully and gained
strength, it marched forward with a dangerous policy. In the previous
chapters it has been made plain how the Government of the Nizam
had adopted a policy of preferential treatment and appeasement of
its Muslim subjects merely to look after its own interests. The Nizam
and Sir Akbar Hyderi’s ministry began considering the Majlis-e-
Ittehadul Muslimeen and Bahadur Yar Jung as an unanticipated boon
for their own purposes. And they kept trying to strengthen them on
the sly. But later on differences cropped up between Bahadur Yar
Jung and Sir Akbar Hyderi and the mutual tensions were aggravated
further especially during the constitutional reforms.
The “Ana al Malik” (I am the Sovereign) slogan:-
Bahadur Yar Jung had become the Qa’ed-e-Millat (the
57
undisputed leader of the community) of the Hyderabadi Muslims.

The Nizam was under the impression that Bahadur Yar Jung would
never have much of popularity and power but when the slogan from
the platform of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was raised that
the Muslims of Hyderabad were the real Sovereign and the Nizam
was only a representative of this Sovereignty; the Nizam considered
it a challenge to his power. Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung raised the
slogan of “Ana al Malik” (I am the Sovereign) and raised it with full
force. He began reminding even the British their status with regard
to Hyderabad based on their treaties with the state. This made both
the Nizam and the British wary of Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung and
their apprehensions persisted until his death.
Boycott of constitutional reform:-
The Iyengar committee on constitutional reforms was busy in
preparing its report. And after toiling for ten months the report was
submitted to the Working Committee and the Council submitted it
with a few amendments along with a long petition to the Nizam.
On July 17, 1939, the constitutional reforms were announced. This
announcement created a great turmoil in all circles and the reforms
were rejected outright. The groups with nationalist and congress view
point did not like the reforms because they were not fully satisfied
with them. But surprisingly even the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
cast off these reforms because these were contrary to what was
promised to the Muslims.
The secret assurances to the Muslims:-
The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen published the assurances
given to it through a secret Memorandum by the Government, which
were as under:
58
“The council has made these two recommendations with regard

to the representation made by the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.
The first; insofar as the demand that “the overall Muslim
representation in the Legislative Council; with the exception of the
members of the Government, shall not be reduced to a minority in
the council” is concerned; it is recommended that the Qanuncha
Mubarak may include a proviso that all the three representatives of
the Sarf-e-Khas Mubarak, to be nominated by Aala Hazrat Bandagan-
e-Aali (the Nizam) will only be Muslims”.
The second; insofar as the demand that “the representatives in
the Legislative Council; must obtain the mandatory votes” is
concerned; it is recommended that the Qanuncha Mubarak may
include a proviso that the votes obtained by the representative
concerned from his own party must be increased to 51 percent from
the proposed 40 percent”
Therefore the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Hyderabad is
hereby assured that the above resolutions will be enforced when the
constitutional reforms are implemented”.
This secret Memorandum is hereby handed over to Nawab
Bahadur Yar Jung, the leader of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen as per
the orders of Aala Hazrat Bandagan-e-Aali (the Nizam).
(Kazim Yar Jung Secretary, Peshi, October 4, 1939).
Obviously this double speak policy of the Government couldn’t
have succeeded. After strong opposition to and rejection of the
announced reforms, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen struggled to
get the above secret assurances enforced and conflict between the
Government and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen kept growing.
59
Dissatisfied with the Nizam’s policies Bahadur Yar Jung abdicated

his titles and jagirs. The Nizam ordered a ban on his speeches. As the
president of the All India states Muslim League, Bahadur Yar Jung
had been well known in British India and was becoming quite close
to Mr. Jinnah, his political mentor.
Disappointment of Qae’ed-e-Millat with the Nizam:-
In his last days Bahadur Yar Jung had become disillusioned with
the Nizam and his Government as the reality had become plain to
him that the Nizam and his Government were using the Muslims as
an instrument to achieve their own ends and they were sympathetic
neither to the Hindus nor the Muslims and that it was only a
Responsible Government or its equivalent dispensation that could
set right all that was wrong with the state administration. While the
Government was thinking of mollifying him with a ministerial berth,
he died under mysterious circumstances. This loss was felt across all
sections of not only Muslims but also the Hindus of the state. The
general consensus was that had he lived longer, a reasonable
compromise could have been worked out between the Hindus and
Muslims in the days to come and the allied forces would not have
turned towards the perilous position that eventually destroyed
Hyderabad and its people.
An attempt for a compromise: -
After Bahadur Yar Jung the presidency of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen devolved to Moulvi Abul Hasan Syed Ali who was
considered a staid and realistic leader. After Bahadur Yar Jung, it was
difficult to reign in the rabidly communal and violence prone
elements of the Majlis. And Abul Hasan Syed Ali’s temperament was
not such that he would stoop down to any unbecoming methods to
balance the conspiratorial groups of the Majlis. He planned to have
60
a comprehensive long term settlement with the Majority Hindus

because the prevalent times and events justified such an arrangement.
However there was a huge and vociferous resistance in Majlis to such
attempts by him and he disassociated from the Majlis in such a way
that he never even talked about it.
Ittehadul Muslimeen on the way to its destruction:-
Ittehadul Muslimeen now began its journey towards its
destruction. Politics and Pondering became so cheap that they were
now a commodity on sale at the street corners. When Qasim Rizvi
assumed the presidency of Ittehadul Muslimeen, and declared himself
to be a Mujahid-e-Aazam, every other Muslim too became a Mujahid
and Sarfarosh. Dreams of reviving the grandeur and glory of the
Islamic Medieval kingdoms were being evoked. The right to rule
over Hindus was being thought of as a birth right of Muslims. Swords
and Scimitars were being sharpened and exhibited openly.
Distribution of guns and military organization were commenced on
a wide scale. The persecution and ethnic cleansing began, Razakars
unleashed a reign of terror everywhere. Muhajireen (Muslim migrants
from the rest of India) were being welcomed in Hyderabad and Crores
of Rupees were being spent on them to strengthen the Islamic
Sultanate of Hyderabad and to unfurl the Asifjahi Flag on the Red
Fort at an appropriate time.
The last round of Madness and terror:-
It was as if this period of destruction and devastation and these
crazy and terrible hours were waiting for a severe reaction. The
Ittehadul Muslimeen had sunk Hyderabad and it will perhaps be
very long before the people of Hyderabad can lead a normal life
again. With the Police Action this fascist group was annihilated and
a new period began.
61
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hyderabad State Congress
I
n view of the trial and tribulations faced by the state on the
issue of constitutional reforms and the direction the general
political events were taking a need was being felt for an
organization that was founded on non communal and non sectarian
basis and which could become a powerful centre for the people. A
number of informal meetings and consultations were held in
Hyderabad and the districts.
Upon being appointed as the Sadr-e-Azam (prime minister),
Sir Akbar Hyderi read out a Firman of the Nizam in a special session
of the Legislative Council that the Nizam has set up a committee
headed by Divan Bahadur Amod Iyengar for taking the process of
constitutional reforms further.
Public convention before constitutional reforms: -
This committee generated a lot of public interest, it was therefore
felt necessary to solicit public opinions and demand that could be
presented before the Government. Shri Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy
(member legislative council) and Shri G. Ramachari held a convention
of various sections of Hyderabad people on Nov. 13, 1937. Moulvi
Abul Hasan Syed Ali presided over this convention. Wide ranging
debate and discussions were held freely on various aspects of the
proposed constitutional reforms; thereafter the following resolution
was passed.
62
“This convention of the representatives of various sections of

the people of Hyderabad resolves hereby that a committee be and is
hereby formed consisting of the following members present in this
convention, with powers to increase its members as it deems fit from
time to time for the purpose of formulating a scheme for the proposed
constitutional reforms so that the same is presented to the
Government”
Members of the committee:
1) Mr. M. Hanumant Rao, 2) Mr. Govind Rao Nanal, 3) Mr.
Bhagya Reddy, 4) Mr. Sripat Rao Palnitkar, 5) Mr. M. Narsing Rao,
6) Mr. Konda Venkat Ranga Reddy, 7) Mr. D.D. Italia, 8) Mr.
Mohammad Abdullah Pasha, 9) Mr. Ganpat Lal, 10) Moulvi Abul
Hasan Syed Ali, 11) Mr. B. Ram Kishan Rao, 12) Mr. S. V. Nayak,
13) Mr. S. B. Sharma, 14) Mr. Sirajul Hasan Tirmizi, 15) Mr. Krishna
Sharma, 16) Mr. Krishna Swamy Mudiraj, 17) Mr. Rama Chari, 18)
Mr. Janardhan Rao Desai, 19) Mr. Kalimuddin Ansari, 20) Mr. Syed
Mohammad Ahsan, 21) Raja Panna Lal, 22) Mrs. Rustomji and 23)
Mrs. Cornelious.
Mr. M. Hanumant Rao was unanimously elected as the president
of the committee. The committee held a number of meetings to
formulate a scheme for the proposed constitutional reforms.
Disassociation of the Muslim representatives from the
convention:-
In the last meeting of the committee , when the proposed scheme
was to be adopted, (13/12/1938) Moulvi Abul Hasan Syed Ali Mr.
Mohammad Abdullah Pasha Mr. Kalimuddin Ansari and Mr. Syed
Mohammad Ahsan expressed their wish to disassociate from the
convention. Because in their view, the issue of reservation of the
63
council seats for Muslims was not resolved satisfactorily. They

proposed that at least 50% of the seats, including those that were
proposed to be filled through a general election must be reserved for
Muslims. The members of the committee were against this proposal.
However they agreed that in case of the Muslims’ insistence on
reservations, the Hindus might agree to a proposal for 20%
reservations for Muslims and the rest open with freedom to contest
for all. There was no settlement on the issue and the talks ended
inconclusively at this stage. Moulvi Abul Hasan Syed Ali and his
associates maintained that from the point of view of the right to vote
and the powers of the legislature this was a fundamental issue and
was likely to affect them and as they disagree with the principle of
majority vote to decide such issue in the legislature they can no longer
cooperate with the convention.
The constituent committee presented its report in a public
meeting and got it approved. It was then sent to the Government so
that it can reflect upon the peoples’ demands and aspirations while
finalizing the constitutional reforms. It was at this juncture that the
need for a purely political institution was strongly felt because people
had been politically active for years and it was now showing results.
After a number of informal meetings and deliberations it was
decided that this political institution is named as the Hyderabad
State Congress. In July 1938 a provisional committee was set up for
working out its bylaws. After this initial work a membership drive
was taken up. In its objects clause it was made clear that anybody
who was a member of any sectarian or communal organization could
not become a member or office bearer of this organization nor there
be any place in it for anybody who were associated with any religious
or communal group.
64
Unconstitutional ban on the Congress:-

People from all castes, creeds and religions were members of
the Congress. It was already made clear that the Congress was founded
on entirely secular and nationalist basis. But in spite of this the
Government began to view it as a sectarian and communal
organization and thus a ban was imposed on the State Congress even
before it was practically born. On Sep. 8, 1938 the Government
proved its wisdom by imposing a ban and declaring it an illegal
organization. When a meeting of the general body of the State
Congress was about to be held on Sep. 9, 1938 at the residence of
Shri G. Rama Chari at Abids, an order from the Police Commissioner
was received that “Since the Government has declared the State
Congress illegal you are requested not to hold its public meeting
that was scheduled to be held on September 9 at your place”.
This act of the Government of the Nizam was in itself
unconstitutional; because a political organization that was constituted
on democratic and nationalistic principles and that had made it
clear that anybody who was a member of any sectarian or communal
organization could not become its member or an office bearer nor
will there be any place in it for anybody who were associated with
any religious or communal group, was being declared as communal
and was being banned and was being prevented as an illegal
organization before it even began any of its political activities. As if
the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen was not a communal organization
in its view.
However a conflict ensued against this strange behavior of the
Government. The founders and leaders of the State Congress strived
a lot to get this ban order rescinded and when all constitutional
remedies were exhausted and they became hopeless with the
65
Government then it was decided to begin a Satya Graha as there was

no other means available to draw the attention of the Government
to its unjust ways.
Commencement of Satya Graha: -
On Oct. 24, 1938, State Congress began its Satya Graha and
Shri Govind Rao Nanal, president of the State Congress along with
four of his associates i.e. Shri Janardhan Rao Desai, Shri Ram Kishen
Dhoot, Shri Raavi Narayan Reddy and Shri Srinivas Rao Borekar
was arrested during their Satya Graha at Putli Bowli, Sultan Bazar
road. Subsequently other leaders and active members of the Congress
did Satya Graha one after the other and graced the Jails. And more
than 400 Congress Satya Grahis were made Government guests.
It was the first ever experience of this type of Satya Graha for
Hyderabad hence it drew a lot of public attention. There used to be
strict security arrangements by the Police and C.I.D. at the Satya
Graha venues so that the public would not gather at such places and
get practically interested in it. The address of the Congress office was
unknown but daily bulletins were published that a Satya Graha will
be held at such and such time and place. The Police were clueless till
the last moments about the place from where the Satya Grahis were
to come but right on the dot they would appear as if from nowhere
shouting slogans and were arrested promptly. The public was
prevented from passing through the Satya Graha venues and
sometimes the area was cordoned off, roads were closed. There was
an announcement that Shri Digambar Rao Bindhu would offer Satya
Graha at Kacheguda Railway Station. So the police had made strict
security arrangements on all roads leading to Kacheguda. They had
decided to prevent Bindhuji from entering the area. But Shri Rama
Chari took him by car to Falaknuma Railway Station from where he
66
boarded a local train and reached Kacheguda. And when he came

out of the station shouting nationalistic slogans along with a group
of supporters the police were taken aback and pounced on them.
They were all arrested and taken away to jail.
Release of the 400 Satya Grahis:-
So this Satya Graha continued for a long time and on April 10,
1939 the Government released the 400 Satya Grahis, without lifting
its ban on the State Congress but it had become clear to it that it
cannot continue imposing it for long.
Satya Graha by Arya Samaj:-
In the same period the Arya Samaj launched a movement for its
religious rights. Pundit Vinayak Rao Vidyalankaar was the president
of the Arya Samaj Hyderabad. The Satya Graha of the Arya Samajis
became so wide spread that bands upon bands of the Arya Samajis
from Punjab, Delhi, Bombay and Nagpur began coming and offering
Satya Graha in Hyderabad, which made the Government circles to
worry and there were attempts to somehow end this chain of Satya
Grahas.
The Government compromise with the Samaj:-
The Government got tired of arresting the Satya Grahis and
when it realized that use of force is becoming ineffective, then it was
decided to have a negotiated settlement of the issues. The Government
invited Shri Desh Bandhu Gupta from Delhi and Shri Ghansham
singh Gupta from Nagpur for talks and the demands of the Arya
Samaj were accepted upon which the Satya Graha was called off.
During the same period, a party named as the Hindu Social
Liberties too was doing Satya Graha to seek the right to protest and
67
processions. So the number of detainees from these two parties alone

had reached about 10,000. All of them were unconditionally released
in August 1939.
The efforts to evacuate the prohibition on the State Congress
continued unabated. And Pundit Kashinath Rao Vaidya was in
correspondence on the subject until Dec. 2, 1939.
The proposal of name change for the Congress:-
So as a result of all such correspondence, the Government
appeared to be somewhat inclined. A proposal was made by the
Government that if the State Congress changed its name and if it
was not affiliated to any party or organization from outside
Hyderabad state, only then the Government may consider revoking
the ban orders. The standing committee of the Congress agreed to
both these conditions and the resolution of the standing committee
was sent to the Government.
The Government’s Volte Face:-
The Government was not expecting the State Congress to agree
to the said conditions but when finally it found the Congress firm
on its commitment to these conditions, it went back on its promise
and an additional condition was stipulated that if the demand for a
responsible Government was given up then the matter of lifting the
ban on Congress may come up for consideration.
Dread of the name of Responsible Government:-
The State Congress understood from such tricks of the
Government that it was not willing to lift the ban in any way. The
demand for a Responsible Government was anathema to it. Although
then it did not mean anything more than the Government being
68
answerable to the legislature. And Huzoor Nizam being free to use

his royal powers wherever and wherever he deemed fit. The founder
of the State Congress himself had expressly stated that the Responsible
Government would strengthen the Asif Jahi Monarchy. Had the then
powers that be, shown any wisdom, then perhaps the Government
of the Nizam would not have faced the fate that it did in 1948. But
the fact is that the then ruling coterie did not have the statesmanship
and farsightedness which is required at such momentous occasions.
They wished to keep a large part of their subjects away from the
responsibilities of the Government and administration and were
thinking of strengthening their rule by overlooking the effects of the
voice of the public. Obviously this was nothing short of a lunatic’s
dream.
Jawahar Lal Nehru’s support:-
There was no change in the unjust policy of the Government
against the Hyderabad State Congress and it was bent upon
continuing with its ban on it. Thus many years passed.
In the British India, the States Peoples’ Conference was looking
after the interests of the people of the princely states in order to
guide them and to get their demands accepted by the rulers. The
States Peoples’ Conference had to turn its attention to Hyderabad
too. And on June 10, 1946, its general council passed a resolution
showing sympathy and support to the just demands of the people of
Hyderabad. It demanded that the Government of the Nizam should
concede the demands of the State Congress. Pundit Jawahar Lal
Nehru, the president of the States Peoples’ Conference, addressed a
letter to the Prime Minister of Hyderabad pressing for lifting the
ban on the State Congress. Hence on July 3, 1946 the Government
lifted the ban albeit half heartedly. However the unceasing efforts of
69
Shri Rama Chari and his active struggle till the last with regard to
the revoking of the ban on State Congress cannot be forgotten.
A Great session of the State Congress:-
Soon after the ban on the State Congress was lifted the
organizational work was undertaken from July 3, 1946 itself. And its
first session under the presidency of Swamy Ramanand Teerth was
held at a grand scale at Musheerabad. Shri Shankar Rao Dev, the
general secretary of the Indian National Congress participated in
this session. Hundreds of delegates came from the districts and almost
one lakh people were present in this historical session. Mr. B. Ram
Kishen Rao presented a resolution demanding the immediate setting
up of a responsible Government in Hyderabad and accession of the
state in the Indian Union. This resolution was in fact a challenge to
the Firman of the Nizam issued on June 12, 1946, with a slogan of
independent Hyderabad.
Swamyji’s programme for Congressmen:-
Swamy Ramanand Teerth, the president of the Hyderabad State
Congress in his presidential address stressed upon the congressmen
to strictly adhere to the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, because unless
they follow his principles and his strategies their mission cannot have
the moral force. Swamy Ramanand Teerth also presented a
programme as to how the aims and objects of the State Congress
can be propagated and popularized in public. He advised further
that public meetings should be held at different places and the
Congress demands should be forwarded by letters and telegrams to
the Nizam and his Government with copies marked and forwarded
to the president of the Legislative Assembly, Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru
and to Dr. Pattabhi Seeta Ramaiah, the president, States Peoples
Conference.
70
The circumstances under which this session of the congress was

held were conducive to its objectives and people were intently focused
towards it. When the Government realized that the State Congress is
readying itself for a great and final conflict then it too began gathering
all its forces and thus the stage was set for the fierce clash of two
powers and two ideologies.
71
CHAPTER NINE
Congress preparations for a magnificent
struggle
I
ndia was to see the dawn of independence on August 15,
1947. While the country was being partitioned and the
British were about to hand over power to two different
dominions and depart from India, the Nizam was dreaming about
keeping Hyderabad as his own independent country. And the people
of Hyderabad who had been struggling for years against the monarchy
and dictatorship had decided to escape tyranny and persecution by
attaching their fate with the Indian Union. The Hyderabad State
Congress gave the people a program at this juncture and began its
preparations for a great resistance.
Plan to push us to the front: -
The Government began to garner support of those who were in
favor of an independent Hyderabad. It therefore appointed the Aman
Sabha and the Azad group, which were set up under the leadership
of a Hindu Jagirdar, to take up a struggle to oppose the State Congress.
During this period the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen had a
spectacular growth in its power and reach with an increasingly evident
martial spirit.
The Majlis held a number of meetings at different places. Armed
rallies were taken out and the atmosphere was vitiated by its
communal speeches and slogans. Therefore the riots of Warangal
72
were a direct consequence of such practices. The executive committee

of the State Congress felt the urgent need for a review of the situation
and to work out plans and strategies to strengthen its cause. On
June 29-30 and July 1, a meeting was held at Sholapur and after due
deliberations it was resolved that despite all the coercion and violence
unleashed by the Government, the movement must be carried
forward. The meeting instructed the people to oppose at any cost
the Government’s attempts for crushing the civil liberties and to push
forward their demands with full force.
Hundreds of group meetings and public meetings were held
across the length and breadth of the state. And thousands of pamphlets
containing the resolutions of the State Congress translated in Telugu,
Marathi, Urdu, Kannada and Hindi etc. were cyclostyled and
distributed. Thousands of telegrams were sent and the people showed
an extraordinary interest in the struggle. Except for Warangal,
Nizamabad and Nanded the meetings everywhere were conducted
freely and without any Government restrictions. The movement was
getting stronger and it appeared as though the talks in Delhi might
break down. The Nawab Saheb Chhattari, (the then Prime Minister
of Hyderabad) broadcast a speech that was in support of the Nizam’s
point of view. In reply, Swami Ramanand Teerth made a proposal
for conducting a plebiscite on the question of the accession of
Hyderabad state in the Indian Union but it was neglected.
Non Cooperation with the Nizam’s Government:-
The president of the State Congress motivated the public for
Non Cooperation with the Nizam’s Government and detailed
instructions were published in this regard, which were as under:
1) All members of the Legislative Council, Municipal Council,
District Boards and Village Panchayats should resign.
73
2) Public should withdraw their deposits from the State Bank of

Hyderabad and boycott it.
3) Postal Saving Banks, Taluq Unions, and Mutual Cooperative
Associations should be boycotted.
4) There should be no interaction with the Government in the
matters connected with the Levi and all members of the Food
Committees should resign.
5) All Government functions should be boycotted.
The Hyderabad State Congress had a special session at
Hyderabad at the end of July and it was decided to celebrate August
7 as the Indian Union Day. An appeal was made to the public to
violate the prohibitory orders on meetings and rallies, take out Prabhat
Pheris, Processions and Rallies and to go on strikes everywhere. And
this proposal of the State Congress executive committee became a
success. The Indian Union Day was celebrated not only in the cities
and towns of Hyderabad but it spread even to some villages too.
Many people were arrested in connection with violation of the
prohibitory orders and conducting public meetings and rallies, taking
out Prabhat Pheris, Processions and Rallies and going on strikes in
many places. People in Khammam, Auragabad and elsewhere were
attacked with Lathi Charge. The Government adopted a new policy
and detention of the public was left to the discretion of the local
district authorities. Swamy Ramanand Teerth and Shri Krishnama
Chari violated the prohibitory orders in Hyderabad but they were
not arrested. The president of the Andhra Provincial State Congress,
Shri Jallapuram Keshav Rao was arrested, but it was considered
unnecessary to detain the president of the Maharashtra Provincial
State Congress, Shri Mukund Rao Pudgaonkar, however Mr.
Manikchand Pahade was not only arrested but he was brutally beaten
74
up by the Police in Aurangabad. In Gulbarga, Shri Ashwat Rao

courted arrest but he was not arrested however in Raichur, Mr. Godhel
Hanumant Rao together with three other leading citizens was arrested.
It was being felt among the Congress circles that on August 15, when
the Nizam would declare his independence, the Government may
try to hit the Congress movement very hard. Perhaps as an
advancement of the same view, Swamy Ramanand Teertha was
arrested in Madhira on August, 12 but he was later released.
When the Hyderabad State Congress sensed that the possibilities
of the Nizam and his Government’s joining the Indian Union were
over and the slogan of an independent Hyderabad was gaining ground
then Swamy Ramanand Teertha through his very effective statement
issued on August 11, made a proposal before the public that they
should celebrate August 15 as the Independence day of India, Hoist
the Union Flag and take a pledge to ensure the merger of Hyderabad
in the Indian Union. The people were further exhorted to commence
Civil Disobedience to strengthen their struggle. The time had now
come for a severe collision, conflict and sacrifice and it appeared as
though the people were ready to face everything.
Help and cooperation of parties from outside: -
The Congress executive committee in its Sholapur session took
stock of the situation and appointed Madapati Hanumant Rao,
Govind Das Shroff, Murlidhar Kashekar, and Dr. Melkote incharge
of Andhra, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Hyderabad / Secunderabad
respectively. An action committee too was set up. The executive
committee decided further that it was essential to set up a coordination
and propaganda / publicity committee. And this section was handed
over to Shri S. K. Deshampayen. The office of the publicity committee
was working from the office of Bombay Provincial Congress
Committee.
75
The all India significance of the Movement: -

While this movement of the Hyderabad State Congress was a
manifestation of the political aspirations and independence of the
local people it was also closely related with the interest of Indian
Union itself and it had thus gained an all India character. It was
therefore thought necessary to make known the significance and
usefulness of the movement to the people of the adjoining states /
provinces of Hyderabad and to seek the support and help of the
outside institutions and parties. In this regard the members of the
working committee began touring and established a rapport with
the Provincial Congress Committees and other leading persons. Shri
Ramchandar Rao went to Madras, and there he had talks with the
city Congress leaders. He also met the Journalists and succeeded in
getting their cooperation in publicizing the Hyderabad movement.
Ramchandar Rao also met Professor Ranga, Obul Reddy, Kaleshwar
Rao and others in Bezwada. As a result the Andhra Provincial Congress
Committee set up a subcommittee for Hyderabad and it later
celebrated a Hyderabad Day.
Similar tours were undertaken by Swamy Ramanand Teertha,
A. K. Waghmare, Manikchand Pahade and Phoolchand Gandhi in
the Central Provinces, Maharashtra and Berar.
As a result of these meetings, Shri Brijlal Binyani, Keshav Rao
Jadhe, Dr. Antrolekar, Rao Saheb Patwardhan and others assured
their cooperation in Hyderabad’s struggle. Swamy Ramanand Teertha
went to Bombay along with Shri Digambar Rao Bindhu, the president
of the action committee and there he talked to the president of the
Bombay State Congress Committee, S.K. Patil. He also met and
discussed with the leader of the Socialist Party of India, Jay Prakash
Narayan. Shri Pranshicharya toured Karnataka and arranged for
76
responsible people. He also went to Hubli, Dharwar, Bangalore and

Mysore to talk to some of the leading political leaders as a result, the
Karnataka Provincial Congress set up its Sub-Committees so as to
enable them to take necessary steps for supporting the Hyderabad
Movement.
In order to accelerate and strengthen the Congress struggle in
Hyderabad and Secunderabad, work was started in the first week of
July and Shri Laxman Rao, Shri Jagannath Rao Burdapurkar, Shri
Ramulu, Sham Spingslekar, Shri Narender Ji, Shri Hardikar and Shri
Pasolkar were the leading activist in this regard. A number of group
meeting were conducted in different parts of the city and these
meetings were addressed specially those of the students by Shri
Ramanand Teertha and Dr. Melkote. More than 9000 special cards
and registered letters containing the demands of the State Congress
were sent by people and different organizations to the president of
the constituent assembly. On 26th and 27th July two leading activists
Shri Krishna Dubey and Shri Jaganaath Rao were arrested. Pandit
Narender Ji and three of his associates were arrested on July 3rd.
Preparations in Andhra Districts:
The great public meeting that was held by the Congress workers
at Bezwada on July 10th had participation of 225 delegates from the
10 districts of the Andhra Region. The delegates vowed to leave no
stone unturned to make the program and struggle of the Congress a
grand success. The initial work in Warangal and Mahboobnagar was
already completed and this meeting of Bezwada held in spreading
the movement in Andhra area.
A lot propaganda work was already taken up in the Andhra
region about the Congress demands. A number of group meetings
77
were conducted but the officials promulgated Section 144 in the

Warangal city and Madheera Taluq. Warangal district was declared
as a sensitive area and the purpose of such promulgation was that
there should be no meetings in connection with the movement. The
riot in Warangal diverted the attention of the workers towards relief
work. This riot was the handy work of the partisans of Majlis-e-
Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen. In which a lot of bloodshed, vandalism and
arson was indulged in by the troublemakers. The police began
arresting the political workers instead of the rioters. Much before
this the detention of Shri Raj Lingum, Chandramuleshwar Rao, Shri
Vishwanathan, Shri Malikarjun Rao, Ji Satyanarayana and Ranga
Reddy had affected the movement in Andhra but in spite of this the
new workers came forward and the movement carried on.
Preparations in Marathwada:
As far as Maharashtra was concerned, Aurangabad, Parbandi and
Nanded districts were already prepared for the movement. After a
little while Beedh and Osmanabad also joined the movement. In
Marathwada too meeting were held on the lines of the meetings held
in Andhra. The demands for a responsible government in Hyderabad
and the State of Hyderabad joining the Indian Union were made
through resolutions passed in such meetings. These resolutions were
sent to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders of India. The Non
cooperation movement launched by the president of the State
Congress had a telling effect in these areas and the members of the
peace committees and the food committees resigned en masse. Many
members of the village panchayats including the Patels too resigned
from their posts. Itehad-ul-Muslimeen and its supporters celebrated
the independent Hyderabad day in all districts and Taluq headquarters
and took out armed processions but it did not affect the Marathwada
78
people and they carried on with their movement without being

deterred.
A number of group meetings were held in Nanded. It was
planned to hold public meetings at 25 places which were prohibited.
The president of the Maharashtra Congress Committee Shri Mukund
Rao Pudgaonkar visited Parbhani and prepared the people for struggle
and except for Karonda, in no other place the public meetings were
prohibited.
The public meetings in Aurangabad and its Taluqs like Gangapur,
Jalna, Paithan, Vijapur and Ambardh was quite successful and from
here too a number of letters and telegrams about the congress demands
were sent. Purushuttam Rao, Ratanlal Koticha, Ramling Swami,
Narahara Rao, Vamanrao Wazay and Narayan Rao Joshi played a
major role in preparing the people for the struggle in Parbani district
and these people addressed a number of group meetings and public
meetings in contravention of the prohibitory orders in Beedh, Ashti,
Georai and Mominabad. Similarly meetings were held in Osmanabad
district also and hundreds of telegrams were sent.
Preparations in Karnataka:
Preparations in Karnataka began comparatively later. Some work
was done earlier in preparing the people of Bidar, Gulbarga and
Raichur for the struggle by Murlidhar Rao Kamtakar, Devalgaonkar
and Arhwi Rao. The working committees had appointed Murlidhar
Rao tour Karnataka and he had visited a number of places, but since
he was arrested in Hyderabad on July 14th he could not attend the
group meetings. Now, Shri Bedap was made in charge of Karnataka
districts and more than 75 group meetings were held in Gulbarga
and a number of telegrams were sent.
79
The communal situation in Karnataka especially in Bidar was

becoming critical day by day because the Unionists were being
instigated by the delay. Under these circumstances there was no place
for public meetings. Shops were being looted in Bidar, Zaheerabad
etc. Despite of these difficulties and restrictions workers were
boisterous and they were busy in taking the nationalistic movement
forward.
Great success of the Indian Union Day:-
In response to the Nizam’s declaration that on August 15, he
will assume the position of an independent ruler and against his
resolve that Hyderabad will in no way join the Indian Union and
that it will maintain its status and dignity as an independent sovereign
state, the State Congress and the people had pledged to take their
struggle to its logical conclusion and to offer all possible sacrifices.
This great conflict therefore manifested itself in the form of the Indian
Union Day on August, 7.
The Ittehadul Muslimeen was busy in its activities with a lot of
gusto and verve. Communal tensions were rising day by day. The
Government had promulgated prohibitory orders in order to subdue
the Congress. Section 144 was imposed and national leaders and
workers were attacked with lathis but in spite of all this, the movement
spread all over, not only in urban but also in the rural areas the Indian
Union Day was celebrated; students, laborers and other sections
showed extraordinary interest in it.
Swamy Ramanand Teertha, the president of the Hyderabad State
Congress, inaugurated the celebration of the Indian Union Day with
a grand public meeting at Sultan Bazar where the national flag was
saluted. Section 144 was imposed in the afternoon of the same day
80
in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Swamy Ramanand Teertha along

with Shri Krishna Chari Joshi (member of the executive committee)
violated the prohibitory orders and addressed the public at many
places, so both were arrested but they were soon released.
The Indian Union Day was celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm
in Andhra. Police had surrounded Madhira, however the president
of the Andhra Congress Committee, Shri Jamalapuram Keshav Rao
managed to enter along with his associates and conducted Satyagraha.
The demonstrations were very successful in Warangal, Yellandu, Yerra
Paliyam, Kal Kota, Manu Kota, Mahaboob Abad, Srisailam and
Tallada. Processions were taken out, national flags were hoisted and
strikes were organized in 30 centers of Manthani. Same activities
were taken up in Sirsilla, Huzoorabad, Jagtiyal and Metpally. In Taluq.
Parkal the Indian Union Day was celebrated at 32 places. More than
10,000 people participated in the public meeting at Parkal.
In Mahaboobnagar, Nizamabad etc. large scale demonstrations
were held. On the whole, the Indian Union Day was celebrated at
196 places in Andhra and 118 people were arrested on August 7.
In Maharashtra the Indian Union Day was celebrated at 117
centers and Parbhani was on the top in this regard as demonstrations
were held at 46 places in the district. Prohibitory orders were violated
at many places and Satyagrahis cour arrested. In all 132 persons were
detained in the Province on August 7. The situation in Aurangabad
was different when compared with the other districts since it was
virtually under the Police Raj. In Nanded the labour class went on a
complete strike.
Karnataka too came up to the expectations of the center to a
large extent. Well known leaders in Karnataka organized Satya Graha,
81
many public meetings were held in Gulbarga and people went on a

complete strike. In Raichur, Prohibitory orders were violated at many
places. the Indian Union Day was celebrated in Bidar too. Thus this
campaign of the Hyderabad State Congress became a grand
success to such an extent that even the 12000 millworkers of Bombay
went on a strike in support of the Indian Union Day of the Hyderabad
State Congress, shutting down all the mills on August 7. On this
occasion the Government of the Nizam tried to suppress this
campaign of the State Congress through the use of force but soon it
realized that it was not easy to face the growing wrath of the public.
82
CHAPTER TEN
The Nizam’s shenanigans to maintain his
independent sovereignty
T
he circumstances under which the transfer of British
power was taking place in India provided the Nizam a
window of opportunity to attempt strengthening his
aristocratic dictatorship on an even keel and by assuming the position
of an independent monarchy; he planned to keep the state separate
from the Indian Union against the public wishes.
The Ittehadul Muslimeen had gathered its full strength and
had gone quite far to help maintain this new political status of
Hyderabad and the Nizam. But it was forgotten that in matters and
issues that have a direct bearing on the present and future of the
state and on the collective life of the people, the wish of the people
is of utmost importance and it is impossible to move forward and
achieve success by overlooking it.
The State Congress’ challenge to the Nizam:
The initial firman (the Royal edict) issued by the Nizam on
th
11 June 1947 was already challenged by the Hyderabad State
Congress and in order to make known the public view-point on the
issue, the Indian Union day and the Independence of India day were
celebrated with full fervor and enthusiasm on 7th and 15th August
respectively.
83
Through the said firman the Nizam had refused to send his
representatives to both the constituent assemblies and had announced
that the legal result of the departure of the prevalent power from
India in near future would be that he would be eligible to declare his
own Independent monarchy and it was political wisdom that the
integrity and the safety of the dominion of the Nizam must be the
main focus of all activities in Hyderabad.
Negotiations with New Delhi and Karachi:
When the issue of the establishment of relations with the Indian
Union was considered in its totality in view of the geographical
position of India, Pakistan and Hyderabad in the Indian subcontinent,
negotiations were started with the governments of India and Pakistan.
The Nizam was desirous to have discussions with the Indian Union
on the basis of an agreement but the government of India was not
agreeable to have any negotiations on this basis and the matter became
critical. There were strong differences of opinion among the
delegation of the state which had affected the Nizam as well and the
Ittehadul Muslimeen was getting irritable. A member of the state
delegation and a minister of the unionists Mr. Abdur Rahim said in
a statement on 8th August 1947 “We shall not hand over the defense
and foreign affairs to any other state, so we will not continue discussing
these issues”. The two minister members of the delegation, Nawab Ali
Yawar Jung and Mr. Abdur Rahim went to Karachi on 9th August to
have discussions with the government of Pakistan and there they
began secret deliberations with Mr. Jinnah and Mr. Liyaqat Ali Khan.
The Delhi talks were broken and a critical situation of suspension
was created.
In certain circles it was being thought that the Nizam will decide
about his joining of the Indian Union before 15th August but then
84
the question had not attained the criticality before the government
of India to an extent that it would affect the celebrations of 15th
August 1947, the first independence day of India. The auspicious
day of 15th August came and went but the Nizam did not declare his
position. On the other hand the slogans for an Independent
Hyderabad gained strength and the activities of Ittehadul-Muslimeen
gained momentum.
Nizam’s participation in the Independent Hyderabad Day:
The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen celebrated the Independent
Hyderabad Day on August 15th. 1947. Public meetings were held
everywhere and armed processions were taken out. The Nizam himself
attended the Hyderabad Day function organized by the Majlis-e-
Ittehadul Muslimeen. While addressing a farewell meeting held in
honor of the last resident of Hyderabad, the Nizam once again
declared:
“I will become an independent monarch after the British leave
India”. The Nizam also expressed his wish to make Hyderabad united
with the British Common Wealth and His Majesty the Nizam himself
would be the living example of such a unity.
Nizam’s position on August 15th, 1947:-
The Nizam assumed the position of an independent monarch
on August 15th, 1947 and he declared the same through a firman:
“I had made known my stance in context of the emerging issues
with regard to the independence of India through my firman dated June
11, 1947 and my address on August 14, 1947; that in so far as my state
was concerned; I shall become an independent monarch as soon as the
British leave India”. Hence, with effect from August 15, 1947, I have
attained this position.
85
Talks with Mountbatten:-

The Nizam published a manifesto about Berar that his
Paramountcy on Berar was subsisting as usual and until its
amalgamation with Hyderabad State the administrative arrangements
would continue as they were.
The plan of the Nizam to strengthen his independent monarchy
and simultaneous efforts to begin talks with New Delhi resulted in
the revival of the talks with Lord Mountbatten that were broken off
before 15th August.
The differences between the members of the Hyderabad
delegation went on increasing and in the local Muslim press, some
delegates were severely criticized and there was an expression of no
confidence on such members. The press coverage of these differences
and the criticism was so severe that the Nizam had to issue a firman
on 2nd September 1947.
Criticism of the ministers and the constitutional advisors:
The firman read:
“Recently there have been some irresponsible and uncalled for attacks
on my ministers especially the prime minister and my constitutional
advisor Sir Walter Monkton. Such criticisms have made the members of
the Hyderabad delegation wary while they were busy in very important
and critical talks at Delhi, which has acted as an obstacle in their work
and has damaged the interests of the state”. The hullabaloo in the Muslim
press led to Nawab Ali Yawar Jung’s exit from the campaign of
discussion with the Indian Union. The critical issues that had to be
tackled by the Titular Governor General of India, Lord Mountbatten,
included the Hyderabad issue. Initially it was thought that the Nizam
would act wisely and would reach an amicable settlement. But as the
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days passed his indecisiveness and delaying tactics made the situation
still more critical. The Ittehadul Muslimeen had such a grip on the
Nizam that he was unable to take any decision by himself and his
unstable nature affected the real issues and made them even more
confused.
Sir Walter Monkton had gone to New Delhi along with the
Hyderabad delegation as its spokesman on 19th September 1947. He
had informed the government of Hyderabad beforehand that the
breaking off of the Delhi talks would prove detrimental to the interests
of Hyderabad. He had also expressed his intention to return to
England immediately. This resolute decision of Sir Walter made the
Ittehadul Muslimeen a worried lot and the unionist leaders pressed
Sir Walter that if he left for England under the present circumstances
then his return would be disastrous for the Ittehadul Muslimeen.
The talks that began from 20th September had Sardar Patel along
with Lord Mountbatten on behalf of the Government of India. The
Hyderabad delegation stressed that the Nizam gives a lot of
importance to the difference between joining and being associated
with the Indian Union. According to them joining the union would
lead to a great bloodshed. Besides they were apprehensive of the
external interference as well. In reply, Sardar Patel said that the
apprehensions expressed by the members of the Hyderabad delegation
are unfounded and in case there were riots in the state then the
government of India would put all its resources and forces at the
disposal of the Nizam to quell them.
The results of the Nizam’s unstable policies:
Lord Mountbatten warned the delegation that if there was no
agreement or settlement before 15th October and the talks were
discontinued, then the issue would become very serious for the
87
government of India and it will become more so for the Hyderabad

state as well. The Hyderabad delegation had taken with them a few
possible solutions for the Delhi talks which were not helpful in solving
the actual issues but were likely to cause increasing confusion. Sir
Walter Monkton had a better understanding of the constitutional
position of Hyderabad in the changed circumstances and the overall
view of the Indian Union. There were no differences worth
mentioning about the approach to these talks between him and Lord
Mountbatten but the problem was that the instructions received from
the Nizam by the delegation and the lines on which the Nizam wished
the talks to proceed further had created a difficult situation for him
and the delegation.
Sir Walter Monkton’s formula:-
Sir Walter Monkton wanted to present a formula of “Statutory
independence” so that the distinct status of the Nizam was maintained
without affecting the greater interests of the Indian Union. But the
talks did not proceed on these lines. The Nizam was not firm in his
place. Sometimes he seemed amenable to a reasonable compromise
and at other times the desire for total independence would create
extremism in his views. This unstable policy resulted in making the
situation even worse and no suitable agreement could be reached.
The Indian Government view point:-
The Government of India was willing to give certain special
privileges in so far as the Hyderabad state was concerned. For example
it had no objection that Hyderabad’s Agent General be appointed at
London or any other place. It had offered to provide all facilities for
the procurement of the state’s military requirements, arms and
ammunition. It was also ready to remove its military bases from the
Secunderabad Cantonment and provide other trade and commerce
88
facilities to the state. But the Nizam and his Government adamantly
wanted nothing except full independence as a result the Hyderabad
delegation kept going to New Delhi and coming back from time to
time and as far as the agreement was concerned no useful work could
be completed and finally not only the talks were broken down but
the mutual relations too got soured and the Government of India
was forced to consider economic blockade of Hyderabad.
Increasing military strength of Hyderabad: -
Meanwhile there was a continuous effort to make Hyderabad
militarily strong, plans for reorganization and expansion of the Army
and the Police on a strong foundation were being implemented.
Irregular armed forces were made regular and the National Guards
of the Ittehadul Muslimeen, who gained notoriety later as the Razakars
(volunteers) were made to grow fast into a powerful paramilitary
wing of the armed forces and they were helped to become armed to
the teeth. New recruits were drafted into the army. The Pathans,
Mayos and Malabari tribals were especially preferred besides many
of the Muslim immigrants from outside the state too were recruited
into the army. Thus the autocracy and oppression of Hyderabad were
being sought to be strengthened and many nationalists were of the
opinion that if and when the Nizam and Nizam’s Government
succeeded in their plans, Hyderabad state would become a permanent
security risk to the Indian Union and the democratic aspirations and
freedom of the people would be crushed with full force.
In the Hyderabad Legislative Assembly’s session it was stated
that all steps were being taken to protect the independent status of
the state. A Reserve Bank for the state was being established,
negotiations were in progress for setting up a Dollar Exchange and
the budget was to be firmed up through a new executive.
89
Heights of Propaganda:-
The Nizam was hell bent on maintaining his independent status.
So among other plans, the powerful tool of propaganda was put to
use and Lakhs of Rupees were spent recklessly on this department.
Propaganda agents were sent to different countries abroad. Journals
and the press were manipulated. Attempts were made to contact some
of the British Members of Parliament. It was the result of such
attempts that the then leader of opposition in the British Parliament,
Sir Winston Churchill too raised his voice.
A delegation of British and American Journalists consisting of
about 16 members was invited to Hyderabad at state expenditure
costing Lakhs of Rupees.
This delegation was a state guest in Hyderabad. The state
department of information and communications was instructed to
work as a representative for all departments of the independent
Hyderabad state using the latest propaganda techniques. So the anti
Indian Union propaganda reached a crescendo and when about three
or four weeks were left for the Police Action to begin it reached its
peak. However Dr. Jaysuriya and Pundit Kashinath Rao presented
very informative and open statements to the leader of the delegation
which impressed the members. These open statements are indicative
of the courage of both these gentlemen.
The efforts to make the radio broadcasts of those days more
exciting and sensational in order to instigate and exhort the public
against the Indian Union and to tell the stories of the power and
might of Hyderabad state and to project its passion for Jihad are well
known to everybody.
90
Detention of Swamy Ramanand Teertha and the full

powers of the Working Committee: -
The Working Committee of the Hyderabad State Congress had
already passed a resolution in its session held on July 1, 1947 at
Sholapur that in the event of the detention of the president of the
State Congress, the Action Committee, established by him would
automatically assume all the powers vested in the Working Committee
with regard to the ongoing movement. When Swamy Ramanand
Teertha and some members of the Working Committee were arrested
by the Government of Hyderabad on August 15, 1947, Shri Digambar
Rao Bindu, the president of the Congress Action Committee took
all powers in his hand and handed over the Sholapur resolution to
the press, which read as under:
“In the event of the detention of the president of the State
Congress, which would be an emergency situation for the Working
Committee, the Congress Action Committee would automatically
assume all the powers vested in the Working Committee and its
president with regard to the ongoing movement and it would be
considered as the highest authority to run the movement on the
broad outlines proposed by the Working Committee”.
After the arrest of Swamy Ramanand Teertha the State Congress
entered the final and greatest phase and it became incumbent upon
Shri Digambar Rao Bindu to lead us forward with utmost acumen
and wisdom because on the one hand was our confrontation with
the Government and on the other was the clash with the Ittehadul
Muslimeen which had become very strong as a political party.
91
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The last struggle of Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen.
T
he Royalist Party: -
Among the important factors that shaped the political life in
Hyderabad was the activism of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen. This political outfit first established its way among the
Muslims of the state and when it gained strength and was well
organized the Government too was inclined towards it, so much so
that four of its representatives were included in the then last cabinet.
But practically The Majlis controlled the entire Government
machinery and the Nizam himself came under its spell. The close
and deep relations between the Majlis and the Nizam prompted the
State Congress to label the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen as the King’s
Party. For a considerable period the Majlis was like a chunk of tasty
food in Nizam’s mouth and when the movement for Independent
Hyderabad began the Majlis reached the pinnacle of its power and
reach. Even the conscientious officers in the Army, Police and other
important departments were mentally allied with the Majlis and the
National Guards of the Majlis finally became a wing of the state Army
and Police.
Nizam’s Power handed over to Majlis:-
Some non-partisan observers were of the view that all the powers
of the Nizam were defunct and in his desire to become an independent
92
sovereign against the Indian Union he had surrendered all his powers
to the Majlis.
Crazy Campaign:-
The Ittehadul Muslimeen during the secondary phase of its
campaign was focused on gaining special privileges for the ruling
classes and on proving the Muslims as the embodiment of Royal
power and when India reached near the stage of independence, its
political struggle was devoted to seek an Independent Greater
Hyderabad and after August 15, 1947, all its energies were thrown
into its crazy campaign that was begun to attain full independence
for Hyderabad and independent sovereignty for the Nizam. The
power and sway of the Majlis in those days was unprecedented,
because the Government and the King were completely under its fist
and couldn’t proceed an inch without its permission.
Resignation of Sir Mirza Ismail: -
When Sir Mirza Ismail became the Prime Minister of Hyderabad
there were expectations in some circles that the Nizam’s Government
would now be in a position to discharge its duties in an unbiased
manner without any let or hindrance but within a very short time
political conspiracies began and Sir Mirza Ismail had to submit his
resignation from the Prime Minister ship. The removal of Ali Yavar
Jung and other members from the Hyderabad delegation as well as
the resignation of Sir Mirza Ismail was a result of the Majlis’ power
and sway.
The Nizam originally wanted the Delhi talks to proceed as those
between two sovereign states for an agreement but the Government
of India absolutely refused to negotiate on this basis. When the talks
could not proceed on the lines of an Independent Greater Hyderabad,
93
the Ittehadul Muslimeen began to instigate the people for a sacrifice

and created a fear psychosis. The president of the Majlis in his
statement dtd. July 28 1947 said:
Threats by the Action Committee: -
“They have a lot of doubts and the way the situation has been
in a flux for the last two days, I can say that none can help the Muslims
except Allah. Even a small error can destroy the Muslims”
The president of the Majlis appealed to the Muslims: “Do not
keep an eye on the present events like mere spectators but understand
that only a great sacrifice alone can save you from the imminent
calamity. Everybody must be prepared for sacrifice and Muslims must
remember that the Islamic King of the Deccan is theirs alone”
The president of the Majlis appealed further to the Muslims
that they should be ready for whatever struggle the action committee
would launch and participate in it wholeheartedly for the freedom
of Hyderabad. They should not shy away from any possible sacrifice
that may be required at this stage. The secretary of the action
committee, Mr. Abdul Rauf made an announcement on August 8,
1947 that from August 15 onwards when the Paramountcy has ceased
the 25 lakh Muslims have pledged to maintain the Freedom of
Hyderabad and its Independent Sovereignty.
Communalism over Politics:-
With the transfer of power, the Nizam, his Government and
the Majlis reckoned that they now had a golden opportunity to
maintain and safeguard their own freedom and that of Hyderabad
but the fact that it was well nigh impossible to succeed in any
campaign by neglecting the hopes and aspirations of 15 million
people of the state and without getting their help and cooperation in
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the endeavor, was forgotten. Majlis and the Government coterie were
swept in emotional currents and communalism had overtaken their
politics with full force. This was the reason why their struggle was
launched on a wrong footing and they never had an opportunity
until the very last to think realistically and take a correct step.
Congress opposes the Standstill Pact: -
Since July 1947 the need was being felt that after August 15,
when both states (Indi and Pakistan) would have got the power, a
Standstill Pact with the Indian Union would become necessary. The
Government of the Nizam wished to have a similar pact with the
Government of India and according to its point of view negotiations
should continue for a larger political settlement. The Hyderabad State
Congress was against the Standstill Agreement on the ground that
until the fundamental question of Hyderabad’s joining the Indian
Union is decided no agreement of even an interim nature be entered
by the Government of India with the Nizam. The working committee
of the State Congress in its meeting held on July 30, 1947 passed the
following resolution in the matter.
“It has come to the knowledge of the Hyderabad State Congress
Working Committee, through reliable sources that negotiations are
underway between the Government of India and the Government
of the Nizam that Hyderabad should hand over defense, foreign affairs
and communications and join the Indian Union and a Standstill
Agreement be executed between the Indian Union and Hyderabad
State. It is important that the difference between these two issues is
made clear. The issue of Hyderabad State joining the Indian Union
is of a fundamental nature whereas the Standstill Pact is of an
administrative nature”.
95
“The Working Committee is of the view that in these days of a

revolutionary but basically interim period, the most important and
fundamental issue must be resolved first through an agreement and
in its absence the Standstill Pact is improper”
“The Working Committee expects that until the issue of the
joining of Hyderabad State in the Indian Union is fully settled no
interim agreement will be executed”.
The Hyderabad State Congress Working Committee also
challenged the declaration of the Nizam that he had attained his
position of an independent sovereign and ruler with effect from
August 15, 1947. For this purpose the Hyderabad State Congress
Working Committee held its meeting on August 24, 1947 at Bezwada
and passed the following resolution:
The truth about independent Hyderabad:-
“Hyderabad has decided to remain independent and separate
from the Indian Union and the ruler of Hyderabad claims to have
attained his full royal status and sovereignty. This body without soul
is neither supported by history nor by the public. The Action
Committee considers the claim of Monarchial Sovereign power an
imaginary and make-believe story. The Princely States and the rulers
of Hyderabad have always considered their very existence as dependent
upon the British Crown and even now they were falling head over
heels to find a place among the comity of nations under the British
Common Wealth and to remain subservient to it in order to prolong
their undemocratic rule. The people of Hyderabad have rebelled
against the separatist ways of the Nizam and their struggle against
the present unconstitutional regime in the state is continuing.
Without the initial marks and symbols of democracy the Fascist
96
Hyderabad cannot have a place among the comity of United Nations

of the world and cannot establish independent foreign relations”.
The resolution of the Congress Action Committee:-
“In view of the Geographical location of Hyderabad and its
being surrounded on all sides by the Indian Union, it is sheer
foolhardy to build up its military power unless it is meant to confront
the peoples’ freedom struggle and the freedom of the Indian Union.
Therefore the Action Committee considers the policies of the
Government of Hyderabad unrealistic and entirely disastrous. It
repeats its opinion once again that it is only through joining the
Indian Union that Hyderabad and the people of Hyderabad can
achieve greatest freedom, peace and prosperity. This is the Mandate
of the people who have become the real sovereigns at the end of
British Paramountcy”.
“The Action Committee has noted that there are attempts to
deceive and defraud the public through trickery about some of the
constitutional changes. The sole purpose of such steps is to obfuscate
the prevailing fundamental democratic issues. But the committee is
confident that the people are fully aware and would not be misguided
by such deceptions. It feels it necessary to declare that people with a
personal need or those having vested interests would desist from
discussing these issues on such a basis because this will be entirely
against the democratic freedoms and common interests of the people.
Nothing less than Hyderabad’s joining the Indian Union and
formation of a responsible Government in Hyderabad can be
acceptable to the public. The people have commenced a great struggle
to achieve these goals under the banner of the Hyderabad State
Congress and they will continue their struggle until the time they
reach their goals”.
97
“The Action Committee invites the farmers, workers, general

public, legislature, rich and poor all to contribute their might to the
extent possible in this public struggle for freedom and democracy”.
The most worrisome issue for the Majlis was that the Delhi
talks were not progressing as per its wishes. Hence its misgivings
about some members of the Hyderabad Delegation and about Sir
Walter Monkton were increasing and these misgivings eventually took
the form of an agitation. The Nizam had to express his confidence
upon his Prime Minister and Constitutional advisor through a Firman
once again. In his Firman the Nizam made it clear that appointment
and suspension or dismissal of officials was the sole prerogative of
the King and his Government and any protests or agitations in this
regard from any quarter in future will be dealt with strictly.
The direction of the Delhi talks: -
When it became plain about the Delhi talks that the Government
of India and Lord Mountbatten were not willing to let Hyderabad
have the important portfolios of Defense, Foreign affairs and
Communications and Sardar Patel was unwilling to let the
negotiations continue any longer the Majlis agitation turned against
New Delhi. In a meeting of the Majlis-e-Shura of Ittehadul
Muslimeen, Mr Qasim Razvi president of the Majlis gave a speech in
which he said:
“Sardar Patel is issuing threats on behalf of the Indian Union
that there will be serious repercussions if Hyderabad does not join
the Indian Union. These threats signify that economic sanctions will
be imposed against Hyderabad and Hyderabad will be isolated from
the rest of India in terms of communications and transportation”.
98
Ittehadul Muslimeen’s challenge to Sardar Patel:-

Mr Qasim Razvi president of the Majlis in his speech said: “
Sardar Patel should understand that Hyderabad too can undertake
activities in retaliation and can cause extensive damage to the Indian
Union. Hyderabad is a great power and can stand up with courage
against any nation of the world. Junagarh surprised the powers that
be of the Indian Union by joining Pakistan although it did not have
any geographical affinity with Pakistan and the Indian Union could
not do anything against it because it had no power. Referring to
Rampur and other states the president of the Majlis said that these
states were forcibly made to join the Indian Union, as a result these
states are under the occupation of the Indian Union Armed Forces.
If Hyderabad joins the Indian Union, it will also face the same fate.
The members of the Hyderabad delegation did not have the interests
of Hyderabad close to their hearts and the Nizam was initially misled
by wrong advice but Huzoor Nizam has absolutely refused to join
the Indian Union. His resolve and determination cannot be shaken
by any means. Under any circumstances the Muslims of Hyderabad
who have resolved to sacrifice their everything for the independence
of Hyderabad will never be ready to join the Indian Union. Similarly
any amount of pressure brought to bear by the Indian Union upon
the Nizam would not make him inclined to join the Indian Union.
The Government efforts to talk to the Congress leaders: -
The Government of the Nizam that appeared not to be overly
impressed with the general demand of Joining the Indian Union but
the success of this movement had rattled it. So in order to put this
issue on the back burner and to fulfill its own interests attempts were
made to talk to local congress leaders, so through Mr Panna Lal Pitti
it was tried to contact Swamy Ramanand Teertha. The Action
99
Committee of the State Congress which was then the empowered

group deliberated on the issue and the following statement of Mr.
Digambar Rao Bindu appeared in the Newspapers:
“At a time when the wheels of the vehicle of violence are on a
full roll it is understood that the Government is planning to begin
talks and it is learnt that it is attempting through some unofficial
sources, to get in touch with Swamy Ramanand Teertha who is at
present incarcerated. The Government has once again failed to adopt
a correct plan of action. The view point of the State Congress is
absolutely clear. The Government should contact Swamy Ramanand
Teertha directly and clarify its stand and intention on the demands
of the State Congress that Hyderabad should join the Indian Union
and immediately establish a responsible Government. I would ask
the persons who are interested in such clandestine talks to desist
from it. The violent Government machinery is in full operation and
any attempts to create such contacts will prove to be a delaying tactic
and would be tantamount to misleading the public. The Government
should prove its bona-fides by bringing to an end the violence and
suppression, the undemocratic front and communal rioting to build
up public confidence and accept the public aspirations”.
This attempt of the Government however could not succeed
because there was no sound basis for the talks. Besides, the State
Congress had guessed the true intentions of the Government that it
wanted to get the Congress leaders entangled in talks and divert the
public attention from the real and fundamental issues. When the
Government was frustrated in this plan its behavior became stricter
and with the full partnership and cooperation of the Majlis it began
obsessive preparations to proceed towards a stage which was very
treacherous.
100
Ban on the Indian Union Flag: -

The grand Indian Union Day celebrations organized on a wider
scale by the Hyderabad State Congress on August 7, throughout the
Hyderabad dominions had witnessed a clash between the Government
and the public, a second and more intense clash took place on the
issue of the Indian Flag. The events and circumstances had
emboldened the State Congress and the public. The argument of the
Nizam’s Government was that the Flag of the Indian Union which
was a foreign flag must not be hoisted in any manner in Hyderabad.
The Congress claim was that since Hyderabad is an intrinsic part of
the Indian Union and the Tricolor manifests the glorious past and
hopeful future of the people they are willing to die for its hoisting
and for protecting its respect and sanctity. The Government of the
Nizam considered the Indian Flag a hindrance in the way of the
Independent Hyderabad and on August 3, the flag was banned
through an order that read as under:
“The prime Minister of the Government of Hyderabad does
hereby order that no foreign flag be hoisted at any public meeting or
function, nor should it be saluted. Any violation of this order is
punishable with imprisonment for a term up to 3years or fine or
both”.
The Foreign flag mentioned in this prohibitory order was the
Indian Tricolor and this was the thing that was controversial between
the Government and the Congress but the convener of the Action
Committee of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Mr. Yameen Zuberi
clarified through a warning that the Government and the Muslims
of Hyderabad cannot tolerate the Indian Flag. He said:
"We have already warned the Government that if the Indian
101
Union attempted to hoist its flags on its office buildings, post and
telegraph offices and the G.I.P.Line railway stations located within
the boundaries of Hyderabad state, the Muslims will not tolerate it
in any way. The responsibility for the consequences of any such
attempts in the night of August 15 will not be upon the Muslims but
will wholly be upon the Government".
This challenge of the Government of the Nizam and the Majlis-
e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was replied on behalf of the State Congress
and Swamy Ramanand Teertha made a fervent appeal to the public
to hoist the Indian flag on August 15 through the length and breadth
of the state by stating:
"It has been our demand that Hyderabad should join the Indian
Union, for which the State Congress is already running a campaign.
In connection with the Indian Independence Day one of our
programs was to pay our respects and salutations to the Indian Flag
collectively as well as individually. The present order appears to
prohibit it. We do not consider the Indian flag a flag of any foreign
country. It is our will and wish that Hyderabad becomes an integral
part of India and for this reason we pay our homage to the Indian
flag. In spite of these prohibitory orders we will hoist the Indian flag
both individually and in different meetings. We do not care about
the three year punishment. The prohibitory order is a challenge to
the people of Hyderabad and I hope that they will accept this
challenge".
Insulting the flag: -
The Government ban on the Indian flag and the appeal of the
State Congress for hoisting it had a salutary effect. The Indian flag
was hoisted in a number of places in cities, districts and Taluqs and
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the police not only removed it forcibly from the places of its hoisting
but it was thrown down and torn into pieces. Hundreds of people
were arrested for violation of the prohibitory orders and many people
were Lathi Charged. On Aug 14 and 15 when the Bombay-Madras
express reached Gulbarga station at 2.00 pm. All its compartments
were pasted with the Indian flags which were immediately removed
by the police. Similarly in some other trains that were entering
Hyderabad areas the Tricolors were flying from all compartments
which were being removed forcibly by the railway police and the city
police.
When Mr. R.K. Sidhu raised the question of this insult of the
Indian flag in the Constituent Assembly, Pundit Nehru had to say
clearly that wherever the Indian flag has been desecrated strong
measures would be taken against those responsible. The Government
of the Nizam denied that the Indian flag was insulted anywhere in
the state and the State Congress Action Committee decided in
Bezwada that on November 25, a Day of the Indian flag will be
celebrated.
The Government of the Nizam once again mobilized its full
machinery of oppression and violence to make the Flag Day a failure.
But there was a great deal of fervor and enthusiasm in the public, so
the Flag Day was celebrated throughout the State with great zeal.
From imposing section 145 to prohibition of coming out armed,
gathering of more than five persons was tried by the Government
besides ordering Lathi Charges at different places. More than 500
people were arrested on August 28.
103
Firing in Parkal:-
On the 3rd. of September 1500 people from Parkal and nearby
villages gathered to celebrate the Flag Day and when the procession
was moving towards the venue armed police began firing because of
which 15 persons died and 100 were injured. After the firing when
the terrorized people were running helter-skelter, the army surrounded
Parkal. 150 Hindu cadres were taken into custody. Although there
were Majlis supporters too in the attackers, but none of them were
arrested.
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CHAPTER TWELVE
Rule of Repression and Violence in Hyderabad
W
hen the sun of freedom shone on August 15th. 1947
in India, it was expected that the fortune of the
people of Hyderabad too will shine and they too
will enjoy the fruits of freedom like the people of the other Indian
states and provinces. But they were disappointed when they felt that
under the Nizam’s rule, there were attempts to deny them their due
share of independence and in the name of Independent Hyderabad
dictatorship and oppression were being sought to be entrenched.
People had to fight a hard battle to win freedom for Hyderabad and
to make the state join the Indian Union and it was only in September
1948 that they achieved their goal.
Trial of all weapons of oppression:-
The Government of the Nizam was fully aware that its failure in
its endeavors to remain independent would lead to adverse
consequences, in view of this fact, all weapons of oppression and
violence were used freely and no effort was skipped to showcase its
might and power. Hyderabad, that for centuries was called a cradle
of peace and safety and was well known for its communal harmony
and unity became the centre of communal antagonism and violence.
Detentions of the nationalist workers, Lathi attacks and firings
became a daily affair and all those strategies to crush the public struggle
were put to use which were available to the Nizam’s Government.
105
The Police and Army raj:

When the movement of the State Congress seemed to be gaining
strength in the districts and taluks then many platoons of the army
and police were sent there. Many army units which generally consist
of five to six hundred regular soldiers were sent to Warangal,
Mominabad, Aurangabad, Kareemnagar, Nalgunda, Osmanabad,
Nanded, Jangaon, Parbhani, Jalna and Ajanta etc. To help the regular
army of the state there were the armed police, Arab army, the national
guards of the Ittehadul Muslimeen and Armed Muslim Public.
Looking at all these army activities any non-partisan person was forced
to say that the State of Hyderabad was under the army rule.
Recruitment of Phatans and Malabaris in the army:
Special attention was paid to increase the strength of the regular
armed forces of Hyderabad and Phatans, Mayos and Malabaris from
outside the state were recruited who belonged to the warrior tribes.
Similarly there were recruitments in the police too and many Muslim
refugees became the law and order officials. Although the army and
the police had no direct contact with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen but it was subservient to the general attitude of the Majlis
and used to express its communal bias in crushing the nationalistic
movement of the people. Many lathi attacks were made against the
public at Hyderabad, Secundrabad, Aurangabad, Khamam Met,
Huzoorabad, Parkal, Narayanpet and other centers. More than 51
people died in police and army firing from the date when the State
Congress began its regular campaign until August 1947.
Police had become so powerful that there was no control of the
Government on its actions and it got used to remain undeterred in
torturing the nationalist workers and Satya Grahis in different ways,
insulting them and looting their belongings at the first available
106
opportunity. Thus the protectors of the people’s lives and properties

and their honor themselves were playing the role of dacoits.
Atrocities upon Atrocities:
The police already had considerable powers but the Government
of the Nizam threw a gazette notification implemented an ordinance
through which special powers were granted to all magistrates and
police officers. According to the ordinance firing order can be given
after a mere warning on all those who violate the Government’s
prohibitory orders. Similarly the punishment for conspiracy against
the Government and seditious activities was fixed as death and seizure
of properties. It was announced that the hearing for such crimes
would be carried out by a special tribunal whose president would
not be less than the rank of an additional and session judge. Through
this ordinance of the Government the police had many more
opportunities to play with the life, property and honor of the people.
Maltreatment of Political prisoners:
The political prisoners were treated in the same way as the
ordinary criminal prisoners in the jails of Hyderabad at many places
in the districts the political prisoners were not paid more than six or
eight Anas daily which were hardly sufficient for a single meal because
of this namesake daily allowance some political prisoners used to
hungry and were on the verge of death and finally hundreds of political
detainees had to go on a hunger strike. The president of the Andhra
provincial congress committee Sardar Keshav Rao began the hunger
strike in Warangal jail which spread to the jails of Jangaon, Nanded,
Raichur and Aurangabad. The 700 political prisoners of the Warangal
jail adopted this weapon in desperation. The political prisoners sent
an ultimatum to the Government of the Nizam that if their demands
for the food and other necessities like books, paper, pen etc. were not
107
fulfilled they would go on a hunger strike from 1st September. The

officials ignored this ultimatum and finally the strike began. Swami
Ramananth Teertha and Dr. Melkote too joined the Hunger strikers
in a show of practical sympathy and finally the chief justice and the
director general of prisons met the prisoners and assured them to
fulfill their demands and on this basis the strike was called off from
8th September.
Communal terrorism:
The foundation of the political philosophy and point of view
of the Majlis-e-Itthedul Muslimeen was on religiosity and this
organization as a political outfit gained unprecedented power and
reach and the way it absorbed communalism within itself was unique.
Every average muslim began to feel that his interest are deeply attached
to the state and until all muslims do not struggle for safeguarding
the independence of Hyderabad and to make it a safe and fortified
place there interest and their individuality will always be in danger.
The concept of independent and greater Hyderabad made them fall
in love with the Majlis and the Majlis and the Government of the
Nizam became one with them in this campaign.
The Majlis together with its volunteer organization soon
transformed itself into a fascist organization and began helping the
Government with full force in crushing the people’s movement and
within a short time the power of Majlis itself was increased so much
that the Nizam and his Government began following its instructions
and orders without demur.
After considering the communal terrorism and the activities of
the Majlis, the Hyderabad State Congress passed the following
resolution in its meeting:
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“The Hyderabad State Congress has been observing for quite

some time that in order to stop the increasing political awareness of
the people, the communal elements and the vested interests are
readying themselves to push forward a paramilitary force. Training,
procurement of arms and ammunition and other explosives for the
paramilitary troops have become an almost a daily affair. The loot
and arson is continued on regular basis. Killing of public and
assassination of political workers is being attempted. These elements
are terrorizing the people so that the common man becomes worried
and terrified in order to keep the people enslaved on a permanent
basis.”
When the Majlis came to know about the New Delhi
negotiations that the Government of India would never accept an
independent Hyderabad under any circumstances and there would
be no agreement on this basis then the Majlis began arming the
Muslims openly with full force and the Majlis started distributing
swords, guns, spears, lances and other weapons in the Muslim localities
and they were told in the present time their biggest assets were the
weapons.
Recruitment of Five Lakh Razakars:
Armed processions were being taken out on behalf of the Majlis
in cities, districts and taluks and march pasts of the Razakars began
in different places. The Muslim press became more belligerent; fire
and brimstone were being spewed through speeches and statements.
Events of looting of people, burning of houses and shops, murder
and mayhem became prominent in the rural areas and communal
riots were intensified.
Secunderabad had been a strong centre of the State Congress
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and it was so because of its being a center of working class activities

and many workers with awareness were members and workers of the
Congress. These working classes were being guided by Mr. Mahadev
Singh (presently the president of the Socialist Party) and Mr. Giri.
The Majlis tried to break up this front by various means but it could
not succeed. On August 16, 1947, when a Satya Graha was being
done at Kingsway (Secunderabad) the police did a Lathi Charge and
many Muslims began helping the police. As a result both communities
came to blows and when this news spread the Muslims jumped at
the Hindus and the Hindus attacked them with crude bombs. Many
people were seriously injured from either side and had it not rained
right in the middle of rioting, this riot would have taken a fatal turn.
On August 19, when there was another riot in Secunderabad the
Hindus began migrating from here not only to the nearby villages
but also to Bombay, Puna, Bezwada, Manmar etc. in search of an
asylum.
Unprecedented Student struggle: -
The verve, courage and passion with which the working classes
took part in the national movement were exemplary in themselves.
The students also had always responded positively and with
enthusiasm to various appeals made by the State Congress although
they had a lot of obstacles and difficulties in their way, the department
of education was breathing down their necks and they were being
threatened with dire consequences if they participated in the national
political movements. When such warnings of the Government did
not have any effect on the students their parents and guardians were
warned that they will be held responsible for all such activities of
their wards. The students nevertheless went ahead with different
programs of the State Congress. They celebrated different days. There
110
was a student rally with 8000 students in connection with the Flag
Day. On August 8, all students participated in the different rallies all
over Hyderabad and condemned the Government violence against
the public. The police in Hyderabad City fired teargas shells and
Lathi Charged their processions. Processions and rallies were taken
out in Aurangabad, Jalna, Nalagonda, Surya Pet, Bhongir,
Mahaboobnagar and elsewhere. Students from Secunderabad went
on a strike on August 9 in sympathy with the students who were ill
treated by the police during the August 8 processions.
The All India Students Congress appealed to all students to
celebrate September 15 as Hyderabad Day and the All India Students
Federation too fully supported this proposal. The Hyderabad students
went on a strike on September 15 and took out processions from
schools and colleges and the police left no quarter in beating them
up and misbehaving with them.
Similarly the labour sections were taking practical interest in
the nationalist movement. While laborers in villages and towns
supported the State Congress the factory and mill workers too proved
their sympathies with the nationalist movement. Hence on the
occasion of the Indian Union Day the workers of the Lalaguda
workshop, the labourers of Hyderabad and Nanded textile mills,
Railways and Bus Service employees went on a strike.
Apart from the sympathies of these sections of Hyderabad, the
sympathies of all of India were with the nationalist movement of
Hyderabad. Every sensible citizen was of the view that since
Hyderabad has been a part of India geographically and politically it
should achieve its due prime status within the Union of India, because
its separate and independent presence would be dangerous for India
and the Indians cannot tolerate that Hyderabad should maintain its
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dictatorial and independent status against the wishes of the people

of Hyderabad.
The Bombay Provincial Congress Committee, the Andhra
Provincial Congress Committee, the Karnataka Provincial Congress
Committee etc. provided moral support to the campaign of the
Hyderabad State Congress. The Nationalist Press of India too
participated to the extent possible in pushing forward the state’s
nationalist movement. Had there been no moral support of the people
of India and had there been no timely Police Action by the Indian
Union then perhaps the nationalistic struggle of the state would have
taken a very long time to succeed and it would have taken ages for
the people of Hyderabad to reach their goal.
The Majlis as a paramilitary organization: -
It was not much difficult for the Majlis to take the form of a
paramilitary organization because the Government of the Nizam was
backing it. The recruitment of Razakars was taken up on a wide scale
and arrangements were made to increase their numbers to five lakh.
The Action Committee of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was
responsible for all these schemes.
A plan was made in consultation with the retired army officers
as to how this army of Razakars can be organized and how their
training could be completed. Platoons and Companies of the
Razakars were made and the cities and districts of Hyderabad were
given under the charge of the Razakar captains and commanders.
Stenguns, other guns, swords and all other weapons were made
available to them. Razakar Parades were undertaken from time to
time. In the capital Hyderabad, the Razakar army platoons made
March Pasts day and night on major roads and streets in order to
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intimidate and terrorize the Hindu population so that the objectives

of the Majlis could be achieved. Major communal riots occurred in
the districts which finally led to the major communal flare up at Bibi
Nagar. Besides organizing the Razakars and their military training
the Majlis also tried to arm all the Muslims of Hyderabad to a large
extent. It was declared that every Muslim must wear the Khaki
uniform so that he can enter the battlefield whenever required and
the enemies should feel that every Muslim of Hyderabad was a
Razakar. For this purpose Lakhs of Khaki uniforms were made and
most of the Muslims started wearing them.
The arrival of the Refugees:
The initial arrival of the Muslim refugees or the Muhajirs was
due to their fear and insecurity in the Indian Union but the Ittehadul
Muslimeen thought it would be a great idea if 20 – 25 Lakhs Muslim
Muhajirs from Nagpur, Ajmer, Mewar, Punjab, Madras and Malabar
came and settled in Hyderabad then the population of Muslims in
Hyderabad would double and thus they would be in a position to
protect and maintain the independence of Hyderabad. For the
fructification of this plan the Majlis sent its agents to all those places
in India were the Hindu-Muslim riots had taken place and Muslims
were moving out from those places. They were invited to Hyderabad
and many promises were made so there was a continuous pouring in
of Muslim Muhajireens in Hyderabad. Trains full of Muhajireens
began arriving at Kacheguda and Nampally railway stations everyday
where the officials from Majlis and the Government were posted to
welcome and receive them. These refugees who carried with them
the terrifying stories of atrocities against them were filled with hatred
and a desire for revenge. There were shortages of housing and food
due to their arrival in the city and issue became very critical but since
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the Government of the Nizam was a partner in this plan of the Majlis,
Lakhs of rupees were spent on them and a number of refugee camps
were opened for them in different places. The distress of the refugees
along with the activities of the Majlis increased the communal
emotions to a dangerous level day by day and when the Hindus of
Hyderabad considered the situation in Hyderabad critical for them
they began evacuating the state, then it occurred to some Muslim
intellectuals to set up a Pakistan in southern India and one of them
Dr. Syed Abdul Lateef emphasized the need for evacuation of the
Hindus of Hyderabad to Madras, C. P. etc. and the immigration of
Muslims of Madras, Malabar and C.P. etc. to Hyderabad in one of
his statements. This mischievous proposal was condemned strongly
by the state congress circles. The Government of the Nizam overtly
attempted to stop the migration of the hindus from Hyderabad but
covertly it was satisfied that if the migration of hindus is faster it
would be in its own interest. Despite such critical situation the people
were firm in their place and the truth is that for them there was no
question of leaving Hyderabad at all.
Warning to the Razakar organization:
The Razakar wing of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was
dominated by the lumpen elements and on some occasions even the
leaders of the Majlis were forced to issue a warning to them that if
the events continued in the same way then the Majlis will have to
bear the burden of such activities of the Razakars. In the districts
Razakars were filling their pockets through loot, oppression and
violence which went on widening. This went on for a long time. The
fact of reaction to the action was forgotten which would prove to be
extremely dangerous.
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The epithet of traitors for the nationalist Muslims:

In view of the interest of the state and its people those nationalist
Muslims who were pressing for an agreement between Hyderabad
and the Indian Union and joining the Indian Union by Hyderabad
were being called as traitors and slaves of Hindus and in the Majlis
circle there was an open expression of hatred for them.
There was no possibility of the talks between Hyderabad and
the Indian Union succeeding because the Majlis force was behind
the Hyderabad delegation and it was insisting upon having its way.
The statutory independence formula for Hyderabad that was
proposed initially by Sir Walter Monkton proved to be a failure and
finally he was fed up as the constitutional advisor to the Nizam and
had to resign and return to England.
The breaking off of the negotiations with Government of
India:
The Hyderabad delegation continued in futile negotiations for
a long time. When the Government of India felt that the situation
was becoming unbearable as the Government of the Nizam was trying
to play for time in order to prepare itself for war, then it clarified in
no uncertain terms that there was no way that the Government of
India would go any further than what it has already offered and thus
the talks were broken off.
Economic Sanctions against the state:-
The situation began taking a serious turn soon after the talks
were broken off. Weapons were being imported into the state by
different means. Foreign politicians were being contacted. Lakhs of
Rupees were being spent on propaganda. At this instance the
Government of India felt the need for some economic sanctions to
115
be imposed upon the Hyderabad state, that was part of India but
that had now turned against it and was bent upon harming it. So
when the economic sanctions took effect and the Hyderabad state
felt the pinch, the Government of the Nizam and the Majlis-e-
Ittehadul Muslimeen realized that Hyderabad state cannot survive
without the help and cooperation of the Indian Union.
The Mir Laiq Ali Ministry _ that was actually a Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen Ministry _ now had very serious problems at its hands.
In the 1947 Budget a huge amount of money was provided towards
defense requirements and when the 1948 Budget session began, the
then finance minister Nawab Moin Nawaz Jung Bahadur had to clarify
in his budget speech that a larger and larger portion of the revenue is
required to be reserved for the protection and defense of Free
Hyderabad. The actual truth was that billions of rupees of public
money was already spent on the Free Hyderabad campaign without
paying any heed to its repercussions.
The economic sanctions imposed upon Hyderabad state by the
Indian Union were unbearable for the state but the Government of
the Nizam and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen tried to boast to
the public that they would not allow Hyderabad to bow down to the
Indian Union. Petroleum products were stockpiled in the state,
restrictions and controls were introduced upon the use of all items
whose imports from India and elsewhere were stopped due to the
blockade, for this reason the consumers were put to a lot of hardship.
It seemed as if an armed conflict with the Indian Union was now
inevitable and imminent.
Strange Propaganda: -
The propaganda technique adopted against the Indian Union
116
by the Government of the Nizam and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul

Muslimeen surprised everybody. Very provocative and harsh words
were used against the national leaders of India and it was made out
that a large majority of the State is ready to defend the independence
of Hyderabad. A full blown propaganda was launched that countries
like Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and other Islamic
countries were ready to help support and defend independent
Hyderabad if the need be. And if at all the Indian Union dared to
attack Hyderabad these countries will not remain silent and would
not shy away from providing all possible help to Hyderabad. At times
it was said that the independent tribes of the frontier would give
their blood and sweat for Hyderabad and at other times it was being
said that the Arab league had decided what is to be done in matter of
Hyderabad. So, different types of rumors and stories were under
circulation. One such rumor was that even America was deeply
interested in the Hyderabad issue because it was trying to set up its
strong bastions against the spreading flood of communism in Asia
and Southeast Asia. And being disappointed with the reaction of
India, it would like to set up its Air bases in Hyderabad and for this
reason it is supporting Hyderabad from behind the scenes and it
would not count its paces in openly supporting it when the time
comes.
This story also did the rounds that there is a secret military pact
already executed between Hyderabad and Pakistan that if and when
India attacks Hyderabad, Pakistan would come to its rescue. This
issue was linked to the loan that was taken from Hyderabad by the
Minister of Finance Pakistan Mr. Ghulam Mohammad. The
argument was that had there been no such pact why would such a
huge amount of money be handed over to Pakistan and why would
the Hyderabad Agent General be sent to Karachi and sometimes the
117
statement of Mr. Churchill was cited to show that everything is settled

secretly with Great Britain.
The Muslim Fears:
It appeared as though that the whole world was sympathetic
towards Hyderabad and was willing to help it and the poor
Government of India was isolated in the world. It was only a few
weeks now for the imminent clash between Hyderabad and the Indian
Union and naturally there was a question in the minds of Muslim
population as to, how could the state of Hyderabad face up to a state
which was thousand times stronger than Hyderabad? And what would
be the chances for the Hyderabad army successfully defending and
preserving the State’s Independence and sovereignty? On these
questions the people were misguided by the Majlis and the Muslim
press, saying that the Indian Union was very week now and the States
that have acceded to India have become restless and were wary of the
Government of India. The Sikhs too were just biding their time for
an opportunity to secede from the Union. Hyderabad on the other
hand was comparatively in a much better position in all respects.
Apart from the government forces, there were 5 lakh Paramilitary
forces of the Razakars and that the two great Air Force fleets that
were built up with an expense of Crores of Rupees were kept ready
and under wraps with full secrecy in Pakistan and Goa, would start
bombarding Bombay and Puna and reach Hyderabad as and when
Hyderabad was attacked. The Hyderabad army would then take over
the port of Masulipatnam and Hyderabad state would have an open
sea access that would help it with weapons, arms and ammunitions
and other supplies.
Such stories were being repeated so often and with such force in
the Majlis and semi-government circles that they were being taken
118
to be facts by the people. Anybody who doubted the veracity of these

stories and the possibility of the success of Hyderabad were being
condemned as the fifth columnists. The poor Muslim population
was kept in the dark until the very last moment, and when the Indian
Air Force planes were flying over their heads without any resistance,
it became known that all these stories were nothing but a subterfuge
and a mirage.
When the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen felt that in spite of all
the maneuvers of the Razakars and all the possible military postures
and preparations of the Hyderabad Government and despite powerful
propaganda _ which was in effect a psychological warfare _ neither
the government of India was intimidated nor the nationalistic people
of Hyderabad were affected, then the president of Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen Mr. Qasim Razvi went to Delhi in order to talk to Sardar
Patel and find a via media. But the situation was so bad and the air
was so much vitiated against the Indian Union that Sardar Patel
refused to entertain him.
At this juncture it was not possible even to get the facilities that
were offered by the Indian Union in the initial stages of the failed
Delhi talks. Mr. Qasim Razvi had to return from New Delhi crestfallen
and Ittehadul Muslimeen and the government of Nizam in their
despondency began marching towards their destruction which
appeared to be destined for them.
The dual role of the Nizam in the campaign for indepen-
dent Hyderabad: -
Later, the Nizam began projecting himself as innocent and
powerless in the campaign for the independence of Hyderabad. But
it is a historical fact that the Nizam played a dual role in this campaign.
119
He made the Majlis and the Muslims a tool for the protection of his
Monarchial power initially and when he felt that Hyderabad cannot
succeed in the military conflict against the forces of the Indian Union,
he began showing himself as helpless, powerless and a captive of the
Majlis. He secretly made contacts with the Indian Union in the
hope that while the Indian Union forces would rid the State of the
Razakars, his own rule and hegemony would be safeguarded at the
same time automatically.
Military clash at Nananj: -
Hyderabad state had made the fronts and fortifications ready at
all its borders. Army was deployed and the air of an impending
emergency was palpable everywhere. At the border villages of Nananj
(Osmanabad district, now in Maharashtra), there was a skirmish
between the State Troops deployed there and the advancing Indian
Army Troops. This event took place in August 1948. The State Troop
consisted mostly of Pathans, many of whom were killed in battle and
the Majlis tried its best to make the incident reverberate throughout
the state dramatically. Many plays were staged, Poems were written
and recited based on this event and the stories of the valor and heroism
of the Azad Hyderabad troops were spread house to house.
The Deccan Radio was instructed to carry out propaganda
against the Indian Union as much as possible in its broadcasts and
never let any stone kept unturned in upholding and developing the
Martial spirit created among the Muslims by Majlis. So there were
programs of this kind broadcast daily from the radio. Provocative
and incendiary statements and articles began appearing in the
Newspapers and the National leaders of India were being challenged
that Hyderabad would treat them in the same way a sworn enemy is
treated.
120
The last warning of Sardar Patel: -

Looking at such a critical situation Sardar Patel kept cautioning
the Government of the Nizam. And finally in one of his broadcast
speeches he had to declare:
“I used to think that the Nizam would have had the sense to find
out that the true position of Hyderabad State as an integral part of India
in view of its geographical, political and cultural affinity was within the
Indian Union. A region of the country that is like a heart to its body
cannot be kept out of the whole body. Those who are trying to keep
Hyderabad Independent and separated from India are strictly mistaken
and this slip-up by them would create havoc. The Indian Union was
willing to give certain privileges to Hyderabad, but it was misconstrued
as its weakness and it was thought that through intransigence and
obduracy, an independent Hyderabad would be agreed to. The Indian
Union could never even imagine about the separation and independence
of Hyderabad. The situation is worse and out of control and it is now
thought necessary that Hyderabad should be put through a surgical
procedure because when the surgeon has no other alternative left, he will
have to perform surgery. And when all remedies and medicines prove
detrimental or useless the patient needs surgery”.
The Hyderabad State was under the spell of Fascist malevolence
and when the proposal for an operation by the Indian Union was
put forward, some pragmatic Muslims felt that while the days of the
Nizam and his despotic rule were numbered, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen will also be finished along with all of its political and
communal beliefs.
Although the Hyderabad State Congress was unable to keep up
the momentum of its agitation to the level it was able to show from
121
July 1947 to October 1948 because most of its leaders and workers
were in jails. But even in such a tempestuous period successful efforts
were made to maintain the moral strength of people and to alleviate
their fear and trepidation.
Mr. Munshi’s services:-
The Agent General of India in Hyderabad, Mr. Kanahyya Lal
Munshi performed very valuable services. On the one hand he kept
the Government of India well informed with up-to-date information
about the critical situation of the state and the conspiracies of the
Government of the Nizam and the Majlis and on the other hand he
maintained close and cordial relations with the State Congress
elements and provided them with all possible moral help. Prior to
the Police Action when Mr. K. M. Munshi tried to meet the Nizam,
he was prevented from it despite the best of his efforts. And at the
instance of the Majlis, so many restrictions were imposed on Mr. K.
M. Munshi before he left the state that he was unable to move about
freely in Hyderabad.
Similarly the last Agent General of Hyderabad in Delhi, Nawab
Zain Yar Jung (former minister of roads and buildings) too did his
best to serve the interests of Hyderabad in spite of the strict restrictions
placed upon him due to his patriotism and he became the cause of
establishing contacts between the powers that be of the Government
of India and the Nizam. That was the reason why he was not forgotten
after Hyderabad was freed from the Razakar period and military
government was established. He was offered the post of a Minister
for Roads and Buildings.
The effect of the death of Qaid-e-Azam:
Till the last moment of the military preparations when there
122
was silence from Pakistan then many Muslims began to doubt that
this new country of the sub-continent might desist from jumping
into others’ fire and this was true. When the Qaid-e-Azam Jinnah
died on 13th September 1948 in Pakistan, there was a general sense
of despondency among the Muslims of the State and it was
understood that the propaganda about Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan,
Egypt and other Islamic countries coming to Hyderabad’s rescue was
merely a lie and a trick of the Majlis.
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Rise of Communist Power in Telangana
T
he Communist during the Second World War:
The Communist party in India has not been able to achieve
the power and sway for which it has been struggling for a
long time. At the time of the Second World War the alliance between
Russia and Germany was over and the circumstances made Russia a
powerful ally of the Western Alliance, the Communist in India gave
up their secret activities and began singing the songs of independent
struggle while talking about supporting the British in the War. And
when the War ended in the form of victory of the Allies then their
struggle was directed towards their real goal but when restrictions
were imposed they had to go underground.
Initial struggle in Telangana:-
The Communist party found south India suitable for its
revolutionary activities and Telangana area in Hyderabad was more
suitable for them because of the poverty of the farmers and agricultural
mismanagement was it its zenith in the area. The Communist began
working in Telangana quite innocently. Farmers and farm labourers
in Nalgonda and Suryapet etc. were contacted and sympathies were
shown towards their poor conditions and the government high
handedness was condemned. They were told about the inequity in
land distribution and that despite the farmers being the backbone of
the state economy they were being crushed under an archaic medieval
124
feudal system. And that unless they stood up fearlessly to protect

their own interests and readied themselves to fight the tyranny, their
condition will continue to be pathetic. Gradually they were persuaded
to boycott the Government’s Levi System as it was severe injustice
that the food grains produced by the farmers after great hardship
should be handed over to the Government instead of the farmers
benefiting from the open market profits. Such persuasions became
successful among the farmers and they became reluctant for the
payment of Levi and sometimes they resisted it.
Prohibition by the Nizam’s Government on the Party:-
Since there were no restrictions imposed on the Communist
organization by the Government until then, they had no difficulty
in publishing their doctrinal and political literature and in
strengthening their organization or in spreading their outreach
quietly. In the districts, towns and villages as well as in other cities
and the capital the Communist cadres were working as per their
special technique with impunity. Their influence among the Labor
classes, Students and Youth was on the rise. The Communist Ideology
as a political and social theory has a certain charm and attraction but
its practical aspects are so horrible, that no society that has a moral
framework, cannot tolerate it in this form. When the Communists
began spreading fear and terror in Hyderabad State as per their
preplanned strategy and their activities became dangerous the
Government of the Nizam banned the Communist Party on
December 3, 1946.
Temporary alliance with the Congress:-
It is a prominent aspect of the Communist strategies that the
group or party they ally with for the time being, is ditched by them
soon after they achieve some of their goals and they ally with some
125
other group or party. Same thing happened in Hyderabad too. When

the Hyderabad State Congress saw the Nizam and his Government
in full swing in their campaign to keep Hyderabad separate and
independent from India, it launched a powerful agitation and Satya
Graha against it. At this juncture, the Communists under their own
objectives thought it necessary to align themselves with the Satya
Grahis. And this statement [1] was released by them:
“The flag of the Indian Union is the flag of the people of
Hyderabad too. The Communist Party of Hyderabad and the State
Andhra Maha Sabha (Communist) too are participating in their
struggle to join the Indian Union”.
The “Azad Hyderabad” slogan: -
The Government of the Nizam was taken aback by this alliance
of the Communists with the State Congress and in order to break
the friendship it lifted the ban on the Communists. The same
Communists who were considering the struggle for merger of
Hyderabad State with the Indian Union as rightful and were
practically participating in it, changed suddenly and began shouting
the “Azad Hyderabad” slogan. By establishing friendship with the
Nizam’s Government and the Razakars they got the opportunities to
carry on with their activities after the Police Action and for a long
time after it and they succeeded in secretly strengthening their
organization and spreading their movement far and wide.
Appeal to the Muslims: -
Soon after the Police Action the Warangal Communist Party
issued this appeal addressing the Muslim public.
“The majority of Muslims consist of poor peasants and laborers.
You (Muslims) have become Razakars due to falling in the trap of
126
dirty propaganda of the Majlis. However a few Muslims did join

hands with the common people in fighting the Nizam and the
Razakars. It is possible that the Communist Party may forgive them
after this. The average Muslims who joined the Razakars at the
instance of Muslim leaders will not be killed but they will have to
handover themselves and their weapons to the Guerrilla troops of
the Communists. This is the only way that the Communist Party
can help and protect them”.
Invitation to Razakars: -
When the Razakars were routed due to the Police Action, they
began handing over their weapons to the Communist Party. On this
occasion the Communists invited the Razakars to Join the Party to
save themselves. Some Razakars joined the Communists and a
majority either ran away or obscured themselves.
A preview of the Party’s program:-
The aims and objects of the Communists in Telangana and their
plan of action to achieve them were revealed by the discovery of a
leaflet by the police during a raid of their hideout in late 1950 and it
read:
“The middle classes and the people in different trades along
with the farm labourers and intelligentsia should unite and launch a
struggle to root out and destroy the system of capitalism and
landlordism. This struggle is only possible through a united
revolution”.
“This united revolution can be brought about by Guerrilla
Warfare”.
127
“Everybody should get ready by getting as many weapons as he

can get”.
“Every 4 or 5 persons should form themselves into a squad
without anyone knowing about it”.
“Sabotage and destructive methods should be so adopted that
they remain unknown to others”.
“Dig trenches on motor able roads”.
“Put obstacles on other roads too”
“Indirectly puncture the vehicle tyres through pins and nails
spread on the road.
Kill the C.I.D. personnel stealthily”.
“When the police attack our villages, go quietly near them and
attack them with hand grenades”.
“You can kill the enemy with inflammable or incendiary things
and by poisoning their food”.
“All youth must form secret volunteer corps”.
“Everybody must get military training and learn techniques of
destruction and devastation”.
“Only trained people can make their own army”.
“Join such armies in hundreds and thousands because that’s the
only way for launching major attacks”.
“When you have joined the destructive corps then you will be
taught many things. And that’s how a large army can be raised”.
128
“This is the plan that is being implemented by our brothers in

different parts of the world like China, Burma, Malaya, Siam,
Indonesia, Vietnam, Greece, Korea and the people of other countries
are using these techniques to destroy Lakhs of Government troops”.
“The Indian people too are using these techniques in their
struggle against the Nehru Government; the Calcutta students have
thrown bombs and secret preparations are underway in other places”
“The above techniques are not new to the people of Telangana
but they have used them against the Nizam during the past 18
months”.
“We have used these same techniques against the Indian Union
Army when they entered the Telangana Area for the first time and
the enemy was destroyed”.
“The Communist Party has decided on how to fight this war. It
is fighting it even now and all of you should join this final conflict”.
“We will surely win the final war, the enemy is engulfed in fire,
and we have to play our part”.
Thus many such documents came into the hands of the police,
which included the Communist Party programs, techniques of
Guerrilla warfare, and ways of procuring arms and ammunition and
instructions to its cadres to incite the people for a rebellion against
the Government and to adopt various destructive methods.
The violent activities and destructive methods of the
Communists became widespread in Telangana. It is estimated that
from August 15th. 1947 to September 13th. 1948, they brutally killed
about 2000 people, 22 police stations were attacked, village land /
129
revenue records were grabbed and destroyed, village officers were

treated very badly, Rural Chawries (public utility buildings) and
Croregiri (customs / excise) check posts were burnt down, standing
paddy crops were destroyed and jewelry worth about Rs. 10.00 Lakhs
and cash was looted.
When a new Government was formed soon after the Police
Action, the Communists increased their activities and from September
13th. 1948 to the end of February 1949, the Communists had
committed 448 murders and looted more than Rs. 10.00 Lakhs. In
the districts of Nalagonda and Warangal the Communists disrupted
and destroyed all means of communications on a large scale. There
were attacks on Government and private trucks, Government’s grain
warehouses were looted and they began torching the post offices,
removing / uprooting railway tracks and plundering the Tahsil offices.
Re-imposition of ban on the Communists:
After the police action when the military government took over
in Hyderabad it was felt that freedom the Communist had in the
State has given them an opportunity to make their organization very
strong and because of their terror and violence the situation was
becoming very critical hence on this basis an immediate ban was
imposed on the Communist party and plans were made to setup a
front against them.
The rural people of Telangana were fed up with the Communist
violence and were willing to help the army and police to the extent
possible against the Communists but they were so much terrorized
by the vengeful nature of the Communists that they were vary of
giving any information about them to the police. The different
political parties of the state had to clarify their viewpoint against
130
these anti social and dangerous activities of the Communist but they
could not take any specific action or move forward in their campaign
against the Communist in any appreciable manner.
However different pamphlets, articles and fliers were published
from time to time and speeches against the Communist were made
in different public forums. Civic centers were opened in the affected
areas for moral support of the people and to normalize the situation.
Armed forces were used to finish the Communist movement in
Telangana and this campaign of the police and army was taken forward
in the widest possible area with full force.
Had the former government of Hyderabad tried to solve the
agricultural land reforms and distribution issue, and had the problems
of the farmers and farm labourers been solved satisfactorily, then
perhaps the Communist movement would not have been able to
attain such power and force in Telangana. But in the presence of the
old feudal system all this was not possible which resulted in the given
circumstances.
The government of Hyderabad had to spend Crores of rupees
for eradication of this dangerous revolutionary movement of the
Communists. A network of army and police was established
throughout Telangana. In the affected and dangerous areas army
troops were on patrol. Different Dalams (gangs) were broken and
those Communist leaders and chieftains were arrested who were
responsible for murder and mayhem. At different places a number of
clashes took place between the army troops and the Communist.
Many leading Communist were arrested and when the army
campaigns were succeeding, the Communist began complaining that
the repression of the army has increased to the extreme.
131
Detention of the Important Communist leaders:

Many Communist were killed during the clashes between the
army and the Communists from time to time and the numbers of
the arrested kept rising. In the Jungle areas secret hideouts of the
Communists were raided. Among those important Communist
leaders who were apprehended were Makhdoom Mohiuddin,
Rajbahdur Gour and Ravi Narayan Reddy.
In 1950 and 1951 the Communist struggle was affected badly
and when the elections were near they expressed a change of their
viewpoint. Even before this the Communists had offered that the
government should reach an amicable settlement with them through
negotiations and this offer was rejected on the grounds that the
Communist party should first prove its change of heart. An important
leader and leading member of the Communist party of India had
come to Hyderabad and he wanted to contact the local Communist
leaders and to organize a public meeting, but he was not successful.
He came to Hyderabad once more and it became evident from their
attitude that the communist struggle in Telangana should be stopped.
Visit of Acharya Vinoba Bhave:-
A few months ago Acharya Vinoba Bhave too had visited the
Hyderabad districts and the villages affected by the Communist
menace. The objective of the visit was to study firsthand the effects
of Communism and to emphasize its eradication in his own way.
Acharyaji did not oppose the Communist ideology or dogma but
said that these were meant to serve the poor and downtrodden but
in practice the terror, murder and mayhem unleashed by the
Communists to bring about a revolution cannot be tolerated and it
must be eradicated. Acharya Vinoba Bhave sought donation of land
from the rich landlords in Nalagonda and elsewhere for distribution
132
to the deserving landless and poor peasants. According to him the

only method to solve the problems of land reform and the unrest of
the peasants was to have the rich landlords declare donation of their
lands and have the same distributed justly among the landless poor.
This campaign of Acharyaji was known as the “Bhoodan Movement”.
All the land that was donated by the landlords upon his appeal was
distributed by Acharyaji.
The Communist Party was deliberating on the Telangana issue
for sometime which led to a special result and on October 23 1951,
on behalf of the Communist Party of India and the Andhra Provincial
Communist Committee the following statement was published.
Declaration of ending the Communist struggle in
Telangana unconditionally: -
“In view of desire to bring about peaceful conditions in
Telangana, the Central Committee and the Andhra Committee have
decided to advise the Telangana peasants and the fighting cadres to
end their armed struggle and other activities and motivate the people
to take part in the ensuing General Elections in order to defeat the
Congress at the polling stations”.
“In order to inform the Telangana people and the fighting cadres
of the movement about the present decision it is extremely important
to release the communist detainees from the different jails and the
warrants against the other members of the party to be cancelled. A
step of this kind on the part of the government is necessary also
because the activities of some anti social elements who are trying to
exploit the present situation of Telangana are to be stopped. The
Telangana issue is actually a land reform issue. If the congress
government is interested to promote peaceful conditions in Telangana
133
then it should welcome our present decision and should stop

evacuating the landless peasants from the lands which have been taken
over by them”.
“Now that the communist party has ended the peasant struggle
in Telangana, the government of Hyderabad should also revive the
full civil liberties and prove its bona fides by releasing the political
prisoners because these steps are necessary to reassure the public about
the free and fair elections”.
“The Congress Party has lost face in Hyderabad and it has been
isolated because it has cheated the public and instead of ending the
old feudal system in Hyderabad, during the last three years it has
only tried to destroy the Telangana peasants, their lands and their
democratic movement. Apart from this, it was protecting the Nizam
and his Jagirdari pomp and glamour in preference to the emergent
public”.
“The Communist Party is bent upon giving a final defeat to the
Congress at the hustings. The Congress Government of Hyderabad
has refused to accept the just and bare minimum demands of the
peasants of Hyderabad and it is trying to make the military rule a
permanent feature in Telangana, besides the Government has rejected
the Communist Party offer for a negotiated settlement of Telangana
issue”.
“After unconditionally declaring the ending of the Telangana
Movement, the Party is making efforts to have the ban on the
Communist organizations lifted to enable the communists’ freed
from jails taking part in the elections”.
[1]
The Communist crimes in Hyderabad.
134
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Police Action
T
here wouldn’t have been any need for the Police Action
in Hyderabad state by the Government of India if the
Government of the Nizam had not taken the movement
for “Azad Hyderabad” to such a dangerous level.
First of all, strong military preparations were underway in
Hyderabad. Weapons were being imported from abroad clandestinely
and secondly, there were not only strong and deeper relations and
cooperation being developed between the state’s regular armed forces
and the paramilitary Razakar armies of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen but attempts were being made to crush the peoples’
nationalistic struggle and to challenge India.
The end of “Azad Hyderabad”:-
The existence of an independent Hyderabad was a dangerous
portend for the independence of India itself and in this regard all
the nationalists were unanimous in their view that leaving the
Hyderabad state unchecked to carry on with such dangerous activities
that were detrimental to the security and unity of India would be a
great mistake.
The critical issues that were created before the Government of
India immediately after the Independence and the crisis it was passing
through, provided the Nizam and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
an opportunity to dream about the independence of Hyderabad and
135
to proceed further to realize their dream. That was how the Nizam's
Government got a chance from August 15, 1947 to December 17,
1948 to play their dangerous game.
A golden opportunity of compromise lost: -
The prospect of a most excellent compromise with the
Government of India that was available to Hyderabad legally and
constitutionally was deplorably wasted away; otherwise it had full
potential of securing many privileges for the Government of the
Nizam and Hyderabad. The Majlis too would have benefited as a
political party and most importantly the people would not have
encountered the devastation and havoc that manifested itself before
the Police Action and the riots, killings, annihilation and mayhem
after the Police Action.
The Nizam's request to the Government of India:-
The Government of the Nizam and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen were under a delusion that the Government of India
would not be able to stand up to their power and might be intimidated
by their propaganda and it would enter into an agreement with them
on the basis of an Independent Hyderabad. Even the Nizam had to
remain under this illusion for a long time. But when the last picture
of reality confronted him, he reported his own innocence and
defenselessness in the whole fracas to the Government of India and
beseeched it to rescue him and the state from the Razakars.
From early September onwards an emergency situation was
palpable in Hyderabad. The Army was pulled in by 5 miles from the
state borders, embankments were constructed in border areas, trenches
were dug, Railway bridges were covered and landmines were laid in
important places in the frontiers and nearby Indian territories.
136
The entry of Indian Army in Hyderabad:-

On September 13 the Armed forces of the Government of India
had to commence their action from all three sides of the state. In the
night of September 15 and 16, when the fighter planes of the Indian
Air Force were flying their reconnaissance sorties over Hyderabad,
Sirens were activated and a general panic spread in the city. On
September 13 when the Police Action began, no resistance at all was
put up from Hyderabad and there were no clashes between the two
armies. Because the acting commander-in-chief, General Syed Ahmed
al Eidroos - who was party to the plan of the Nizam and the
Government of India to get the Nizam and the state rid of the Razakar
menace - continued to order the commanders of the state Army in
different zones to fall back and cease and desist from any fight. The
state Army surrendered at many places to the advancing Indian Army.
However thousands of the Razakars of the Majlis who were hardly
armed showed their misplaced zeal and courage and attempted
unsuccessfully to fight almost barehanded with the armored brigades
and tank divisions at many places and were killed most un-
ceremonially.
Nizam's wisdom: -
This was the first wise step of Nizam and the Government of
Nizam on the occasion of the Police Action. Because had the state
army decided to fight, then nothing would have happened except
that the battle could have raged at the most for a week and not only
the entire state army would have been annihilated but the innocent
civilian public too would have had to bear the brunt of war and the
war between both the armies would have terribly increased the
number of the dead and injured to a deplorable level.
137
So, within three days the Indian Army occupied all of the state
areas and the intransigence of the Government of Nizam and the
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen came to an end in this manner.
The Police Action on Hyderabad:
When the armed forces of government of India entered
Hyderabad then His Highness Prince Azam Jah the crown prince
who was also the Commander in chief of the state had to hand over
his sword bowing before the commander of the Indian Army in
acknowledgement of the defeat of Hyderabad.
Disarming the troops:
There was wide spread satisfaction in general that Hyderabad
had to finally come on the way that was the right way for it. The
State army units everywhere were fully disarmed and disbanded. The
Indian tricolor was unfurled with full glory everywhere. All the
responsible leaders of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Ministers
along with Syed Qasim Razvi the leader of the Razakars were arrested
and the Razakars were being rounded up in all cities and districts.
The Nizam appointed an ad hoc committee consisting of Pandit
Ramachary, Panna Lal Pitti and Mr. Abul Hasan Syed Ali as the
caretaker government during the interim period.
Establishment of Military Government:
After this a Military government was established and General
J.N. Choudhary was appointed by the government of India as the
Military governor of Hyderabad so that he runs the state
administration as the head of Military government. The speech Major
General Choudhary broadcast on the radio after his appointment is
as under:
138
Extract from a Radio Talk
BY
Major General J.N. Choudhary

Military Governor of Hyderabad
"During my tours I had the Great privilege of

meeting people of all types and classes. All those I met
re-assured me regarding the situation and promised their
further Co-operation in bringing things completely back
to normal. I once again ask all of you, irrespective of
your community, to give me your continued co-
operation. It is only by us, all working together that we
will be able to make progress. Do not listen to rumours,
do not spread rumours, regard me and my administration
as what we are, the friends of Hyderabad."
17th September 1948
139
Epilogue
Anyhow the people of Hyderabad who began their struggle from
1918 to free the state of dictatorship and to establish a fully responsible
government and the sacrifices they made resulted in their achieving the
goal finally in 1948. The brave men of the country who were martyred
in achieving this goal must have had their souls Rest in Peace on this day.
The Nizam of Hyderabad, once the richest man of the world, is
Fifth on Forbes ‘All Time Wealthiest’ list of 2008 with Net Worth of:
210.8 Billion USD. Bill Gates the Microsoft Founder by comparison is
the Twentieth, with a Net Worth of: 101.0 Billion USD, continued to
live as a private citizen in his King Kothi until his death in 1968. Most
of his personal and private property, including the various palaces, gardens,
and open lands were protected as Blue Book Properties under the
agreement that was signed between the Government of India and the
Government of Hyderabad at the time of the accession of Hyderabad
after the Police Action. Much of his personal wealth, gold, jewelry etc.
remained protected in the various trusts that were so wisely set up by him
for the benefit of his children and grand children. The Nizam also set up
a public charitable trust to help the poor and the needy. The Nizam also
set up a separate trust for a large group of his Khana Zads, the group of
select young boys picked up personally by him from among the general
public (more than 3000) who were to be housed, fed, looked after,
educated and trained at his personal expense on the lines of the “Jenicheris”
of the Turk Sultans.
140
“The Hyderabad” was founded in the year 1591 A.D. by Sultan

Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth sultan of Qutb Shahi
dynasty, offers a fascinating panorama of the past, with richly mixed
cultural and historical tradition spanning over 400 years.
After the fall of the Golconda Qutub Shahi Dynasty and decline
of the Mogul Empire,Mir Quamaruddin, the Governor of the
Deccan, who bore the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk Feroze Jung Asif Jah,
declared his independence from Mughal rule in 1724. He thus
became the first Nizam and the founder of the Asif Jahi dynasty.
Asif Jah I continued to maintain Aurangabad, which had been
founded by the Mughal rulers as the capital of his new state. In
1769, Nizam Ali Khan Asif Jah II shifted the capital from Aurangabad
to Hyderabad and it soon began to flourish as a cosmopolitan city.
The erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad was located in the south-
central region of the Indian subcontinent, and was ruled, from 1724
until 1948, by a hereditary Nizam. The capital city was Hyderabad.
The seven Nizams of the Asif Jahi dynasty ruled the Deccan for
nearly 224 years, right up to 1948. During the Asif Jahi period,
Persian, Urdu, Telugu and Marathi developed simultaneously. The
highest official positions were given to deserving persons irrespective
of their religion. Persian was the official language up to 1893 and
then Urdu up to 1948. During the British Era in India Hyderabad
was the largest princely state. And it retained control of its internal
affairs.
141
In 1798, as part of a subsidiary alliance for military and political

cooperation that was signed between the Nizam and the Government
of India, the British stationed a Resident at Hyderabad. But the state
continued to be ruled by the Nizam. And the area around the palace
of the British resident was known as Residency or the present day
Kothi. Since the British troops were stationed at the Residency for
security reasons and they used to shop in the nearby bazaar, it became
known as Troop Bazaar. Thereafter an area north of what is now the
Hussain Sagar was established as a British cantonment. The area was
named Secunderabad after the then Nizam, Sikander Jah.
Soon after India gained independence in 1947, at the time of
the partition of India and the formation of the Union of India and
the Dominion of Pakistan, the then Nizam, H.E.H. Nawab Mir
Osman Ali Khan, decided not to join either of the new nations and
he wanted to remain independent as per the choices given in the
partition plan of the British. However, the following year i.e. 1948,
the Government of India incorporated Hyderabad into the Indian
Union, using military force, in what was known as "Operation Polo"
or what is generally known as Police Action led by General J.N.
Chowdhary on the orders of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home
Minister of Independent India. Hyderabad State merged with the
Union of India under an agreement with the last Nizam, H.E.H.
Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, who was given the position of the
Titular head of the state as Raj Pramukh, which position was held by
him until his death in 1968.
On November 1, 1956 the map of India was redrawn into
linguistic states, and the Kannada speaking districts of Hyderabad
were merged with Karnataka, the Marathi speaking Districts were
merged with Maharashtra and the Telugu speaking coastal Andhra
142
and Rayalaseema districts were removed from the then Madras

Presidency and merged with Telugu speaking Telangana to form a
new state of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad city and district then became
the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
143
K. Krishnaswami Mudiraj
144
K. Krishnaswami Mudiraj
145
Andhra Pitamaha Madapati Hanumantha Rao, I Mayor of Hyderabad and Dr.

Rajendra Prasad I President of India being greeted by the councellors (1951
to 56) on his arrival to Hyderabad. K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj (3rd from R to L)
K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj alongwith Andhra Pitamaha Madapati

Hanumantha Rao recieving the I President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad
146
K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj, Mayor of Hyderabad recieving Pt. Jawahar Lal

Nehru, Prime Minister of India on the occasion of Civic Reception at Hyd.
K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj (2nd from left) in a reception with Mahor of Hyd.
Madapati Hanumantha Rao, Gurumurthi, Mayor of Sec’bad the Governor
and other celebrities of the Twin cities
147
Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj, Mayor of Hyderabad second from Left, and
Sri Narayana Swami Mudiraj, Mayor of Sec’bad (fourth from left) during the
lunch organized in honour of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister of India.
L to R : Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj, Mayor of Hyderabad at Chowkhi

Lunch organized in honour of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister of India.
148
Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj, Mayor of Hyderabad with Marshal Tito,

President, Yougoslavia
Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj with his colleagues at Darul-Shafa in Hyderabad.
149
L to R (sitting) Sri Narayana Swami Midiraj, Mayor of Sec’bad, Andhra

Pitamaha Madapati Hanumantha Rao, I Mayor of Hyderabad and K. Krishna
Swami Mudiraj and Sri Navada Muthaya Mudiraj
150
L to R : Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, Chief Minister of A.P., Bhimsen Sachar,

Governor of A.P. Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj, Myor of Hyd at Civic week
celebrations in a public meeting of Hyderabad.
Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj, Myor of Hyd speeking on the occasion of

unveiling potrait
151
Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru with Redicence of Sri K. Krishna Swami

Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj Mudiraj at Chudi Bazar, Hyderabad
3rd from L : Sri P. Rama Swami, former Minister, 2nd from R : Sri Sunil
Sarma, IAS, Commisioner MCH at the inaugural function of Sri K. Krishna
Swami Mudiraj Road
152
L to R : Sri Abid Ali Khan, Editor, Siasath speeking at the Mudiraj Grduates’ Asso.,
Sri Gopalarao Ekbote, Ex. Minister and Sri C. Jagannatha Rao, Ex. Dy. CM.
Sri K. Krishna Kanth, Governor of A.P. inaugurating the Cenetenary Celebra-

tions of Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj. Sri Nazeeruddin Ahmed, Sri Babu
Shankar are also seen
153
Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru with Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj
154
L to R. Smt. Samrajya Lakshmi, Sri Kasani Gnaneswar, President A.P.

Mudiraj Mahasabha, Sri C. Jagannatha Rao, Ex. Deputy CM, Sri N. Laxmi
Narayana Mudiraj, Ex. Mayor
Sri Kasani Gnaneswar, President A.P. Mudiraj Mahasabha, presenting the

clothes to Daughter of K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj
155
Sri K. Krishna Kanth, Governor of A.P. at inugural function of Cenetenary

Celebrations of Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj. Sri Nazeeruddin Ahmed, Sri
Manohar Raj Saxena, Colleague of Sri Krishna Swami Mudiraj, Sri N.
Narsimloo Mudiraj, Chairman, Sri K.K. Mudiraj Jayanthi Celebtrations, Sri
Babu Shankar are also seen
Sri K. Krishna Kanth, Governor of A.P. addressing at inugural function of

Cenetenary Celebrations of Sri K. Krishna Swami Mudiraj.
156
Office Bearers for publishing “30 Years of Political Struggle of

Hyderabad” written and published by Sri K. Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj, former Mayor of Hyderabad and former President of
Andhra Pradesh Mudiraj Mahasabha
1. Sri Kasani Gnaneshwar Mudiraj Chairman
President, A.P. Mudiraj Mahasabha
2. Sri G. Sathyanarayana Vice-Chairman
Founder Trustee, Sri K. Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj Memorial Trust
3. Sri M. Narsimloo Secretary
Chairman, Sri K. Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj Jayanthi Celebrations
4. Sri D. Laxminarayana Treasurer
Treasurer, A.P. Mudiraj Mahasabha
5. Sri G. Mallaiah Member
Freedom Fighter &
President of India Awardee
6. Sri K. Varada Raj Member
Chairman, Sri K. Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj Memorial Trust
7. Sri K. Narayana Member
Gen. Secy., Sri K. Krishna Swamy
8. Sri P. Yadaiah Member
Treasurer Sri K. Krishna Swamy
9. Sri Govind Ramuloo Member
Vice-President, A.P. Mudiraj Mahasabha
157
10. Sri K. Krishna Rao Member

Gen. Secy. A.P. Mudiraj Mahasabha
11. Sri D. Sadanand Member
12. Sri R. Bhasker Raju Member
President, A.P. Mudiraj Mahasabha
Graduates Wing
13. Sri S. Srinivasulu Member
Graduates Wing
14. Sri Neelam Tukaram Member
15. Sri T. Vijaya Kumar Member
Graduates Wing
16. Sri Vuppari Narayana Member
Editor, Mudiraj Patrika
158
List of Donars for publishing “30 Years of Political Struggle of

Hyderabad” written and published by Sri K. Krishna Swamy
Mudiraj, former Mayor of Hyderabad and former President of
Andhra Pradesh Mudiraj Mahasabha
1. Sri Kasani Gnaneswhar Mudiraj
2. Sri G. Sathyanarayana
3. Sri M. Farook Ali Khan, Chairman, APF
4. Sri R. Bhaskara Raju
5. Sri D. Lakshminarayana
6. Sri M. Narsimloo
7. Sri S. Srinivasulu
8. Sri T. Vijaya Kumar
9. Sri P. Chennaiah
10. Sri Balanand Swamy
11. Sri M.N. Venkata Ramana
12. Sri M. Vidyasagar
13. Sri Santosh Kumar
14. M. Laxmi Narayana, DTS, RR Dist.
159

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The 30 years political struggle of

K. KRISHNA SWAMY MUDIRAJ

Translated from Urdu by

Translated from Urdu by

Fairs held yearly on the martyrs' pyres;

To those valiant sons of Hyderabad who lit the

The present day generation particularly who had witnessed

It shall be in the fitness of things to mention the able wise and

SRI KRISHNA SYAMY MUDIRAJ

POTRAIT OF JATHI PITHAMAHA KRISHNA SWAMY MUDIRAJ

Krishnaswamy Mudiraj was born

to the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad

Sangham, Munnuru Kapu Sangham. As organising any CASTE based

Begum Bazar cross roads to Jummerat Bazzar as “Krishna Swamy

GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

G.O. Rt. No. 996. MA., Dated : 4.11.1996

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.

The Nizam's help against the Mutineers: -

Efforts to keep the state Ryots away from Nationalist

consumed by his passion to be known as the world's richest man and

The Nizam's loot: -

Consequently when the frequent complaints about the misdeeds

vehemently invoked by the Viceroy. His argument was that since

The Nizam continued to accept the directions and advices of

the dominance of British officers in Hyderabad the process of

in the villages to do what they wanted including picking up any girl

Political awareness through Socio-Religious Congrega-

Telangana. During this period he started a campaign to set up public

Ban on entry of Malawiyaji:-

them away. The great gathering at Vivek Vardhini Theatre public

three days Secunderabad station became the hub of all political

The Govt. of the Nizam went against the organizers of the

meeting had a very good impact on the people of Telangana districts

at the time of giving permission to set up the Andhra Conference

Sultan Bazar was celebrated under the chairmanship o f Raja Bahadur

organization was set up upon educational foundations but its views

rejected by the Government at first but when the organizers

of the work of the Mahatma were presented to him. Gandhiji stayed

respectable leaders were brought from the station to their host's

Riot near the Sikh Gurudwara Nanded:-

buried in the Sikh property of Maal Tekri must be removed there

to jail. However the goals the Government had wished to achieve by

Hyderabad gave him a rousing reception. Punditji stayed at Golden

their resolve against the oppression of the Nizam continued to be

Establishment of a Municipal council:-

Superintendant of Education located at the district head quarters of

the event is entirely unlikely to have any possibility of any political

The Nizam's Subjects' League had one of its most important

Effects of communalism on Newspapers:-

The opposition to Majlis by Muslims:-

undisputed leader of the community) of the Hyderabadi Muslims.

“The council has made these two recommendations with regard

Dissatisfied with the Nizam’s policies Bahadur Yar Jung abdicated

a comprehensive long term settlement with the Majority Hindus

“This convention of the representatives of various sections of

council seats for Muslims was not resolved satisfactorily. They

Unconstitutional ban on the Congress:-

Government then it was decided to begin a Satya Graha as there was

boarded a local train and reached Kacheguda. And when he came

processions. So the number of detainees from these two parties alone

answerable to the legislature. And Huzoor Nizam being free to use

The circumstances under which this session of the congress was

were a direct consequence of such practices. The executive committee