The Democrat Saga of A Jail Journal of Hyderabad Freedom Struggle (1947-1948) The Untold Story (An Old and Rare Book)

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VANDE MATARAM!

Divide et empera-divide and rule is the basic policy of all imperialist powers. Our erstwhile British imperial rulers were no exception. In order to consolidate and perpetuate their over lordship they made selective use of carrots and sticks to foment mutual jealousy and hatred among different groups of people. More diabolic than this was the policy of its "Faithful Ally", the Nizams of Hyderabad, who were totally dependent on their imperial masters for protection from their own subjects!

THE behaviour of all the seven Nizams of the Asaf Jahi dynasty (which ruled Hyderabad for over 150 years) was one of shameless servility they worked overtime weaving web upon web of intrigues, inhuman oppression, torture and extortion. This had a dual purpose (a) to prove their competence and (b) in the process amass ill-gotten wealth and derive sadistic pleasure.

THIS typified the all-pervading, obnoxioυς. Repulsive scenario of the Hyderabad State of the pre-Independent India His Exalted Highness and Britain's Faithful Ally, Nawaz Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam-VII, was the seventh and the last ruler of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

THE plight of the most unfortunate people of Hyderabad under the regime of the Nizams has been described by Sir John Malcolm, an eye-witness, as under.

THE different quotas to be paid by cach inhabitant had been fixed, and every species of torture was then being inflicted to enforce them. Men and women, poor and rich were put to great suffering some had heavy muskets fastened to their car, some large stones upon these breasts whilst others had their fingers pinched with hot pincers. Their cries of agony and declaration of inability to pay appeared only to whet the appetite of their tormentors.

The people, press and prisons of India succeeded in achieving freedom in 1947, in their long fought battle against the British, whereas the erstwhile Hyderabad did not, its struggle for freedom continued even after India's Independence The progression of India's unique Renaissance depended on the integration of 600 and odd princely States. They posed a grave threat to the integrity of the nation. Their area taken as a whole, was 7,00,000 sq. miles-te. Two-third of the whole India!

Soon, Sardar Patel, the indomitable Deputy Prime Minister and also in charge of States Ministry.

Then began the process of integrating these Princely States without bloodshed and violence within a record time of eighteen months. However there remained three exceptions-Junagadh, Jammu and Kashmir and Hyderabad.

It is interesting to recall here the history of Hyderabad and its link with the British rule in India right from A.D. 1880 when the British Resident's intervention in the State's affairs was practically continuous and the Paramount Power intervened more frequently and decisively in Hyderabad than in any other major States.

Hyderabad State had its own civil services, police, army, postal system, railways and its own currency (Hali Sicca) too. It could survive only because it was linked with the Indian currency at a fixed rate of exchange. On the strength of this, with the honorific title of Faithful Ally' accorded to the Nizam by the Paramount Power, the Nizam made an astounding assertion, on the eve of transfer of power from the British Crown to the Indian representatives, that Hyderabad, in fact, is an organised country. One of the brochures issued by the Niram's Government said.

The Nizam feels bound to maintain the individual entity of Hyderabad with its special problems, history and traditions. Among the 600 odd Indian States, Hyderabad is the largest and its Rulers, the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar hold a unique and pre-eminent position. The Nizam's Dominions are larger than the United Kingdom and about half the size of France. His subjects number seventeen million, more than twice the population of any other Indian State and more than Canada, Australia or any other Dominion outside the Indian sub-continent.... Its finances are organised on modern lines with a budget, and what is in these days abnormal, the budget is surplus".

With the end of British rule, the Government of India invited the Nizam to accede to the Indian Union. The Nizam's Government asked for a period of two months to consider the request.

On November 29, 1947, the Government of India entered into a Standstill Agreement with the Nizam without the accession of the State to the Dominion of India. This was an exceptional arrangement made by the Government of India with a hope that the agreement would bring Hyderabad closer to the mainstream. But that was not to be.

On the contrary, preparations for an armed conflict against India were being made briskly. Gun- running with the help of the internationally famous smuggler Sydney Cotton was already at work. A hostile network was organised by the Nizam to malign Indian leaders both in India and abroad. The most alarming feature was the encouraging of the rapid growth of Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen and its semi-militarised organisation of Razakars by the Nizam. The Ittehad and Razakars embarked on a virulent anti-India campaign and activities. Savage atrocities culminating in a large number of incidents, brought about a virtual collapse of law and order.