How do you look at the historic event? Some say it is the liberation of the people from the oppressive rule of the Nizam and consequent integration into the Indian Union. Others insist it is annexation and forcible occupation of the erstwhile princely State. Three-quarters of a century later, the debate continues. Parties take the stand that is politically expedient to their agenda.
The fact, however, remains that the princely province became part of India. While historians and intellectuals’ squabble, the people in general view it as liberation from the unpopular rule of the Nizam and the atrocities of the Razakars, his private army. Such was their sway over the Government that what their leader Khasim Razvi said was law and the ruler was helpless.
Pendyal Vaman Rao, a respected journalist representing The Hindu, wrote about how the press functioned during those turbulent times. Life was tough for journalists, particularly those reporting for the out-station newspapers. The price for displeasing the Government or the Majlis was daunting. Newspapers reached the readers only after special branch police cleared the contents.
Interestingly Government would not deal with an errant journalist, but outsource the job to the anti-social elements. The Kotwal Saab would not like to dirty his hands. So, he would feign innocence ‘Arey. Aisa hua kya?’ when told of an attack on a journalist. The Urdu press, by and large, would not stand any critical mention of the Nizam or the Majlis at the press conferences. ‘Arey kya bol rahen?’ they would shout intimidatingly at the poor questioner.
Mir Akbar Ali Khan, a staunch nationalist who later became a Governor, was beaten up by Kasim Razvi and his men for praising Gandhi and criticising the Majlis at a memorial meeting.
Interestingly, Vaman Rao had a fairly good working relationship with Kasim Razvi and on the other side of the fence, with KM Munshi, India’s Agent in Hyderabad. Kasim Razvi was a different man at press interactions, according to him.
Vaman Rao who was witness to the historic events, shared with the writer many interesting titbits. Jinnah came to Hyderabad to offer advice to the Nizam. The latter was annoyed to see his visitor sitting cross-legged in front of him and smoking. He bluntly told Jinnah to mind his business.
When the inevitable happened and the Nizam’s Army surrendered to the Indian Army, Prime Minister Liaq Ali fled to Pakistan. But Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam, refused to leave Hyderabad although an aircraft was kept ready to fly him out.
Hours before Operation Polo was to start, Jawaharlal Nehru tried to call Sardar Patel to defer the action citing the death of Jinnah. He was informed that Patel was ‘asleep’ and could not be disturbed. The Mission was launched as planned.
A dreadful memory. That was the time when the most feared Razakars were on the rampage everywhere in Hyderabad and in the districts. My mother would recall a harrowing experience during those days when I was barely 5 years old.
It was our practice to switch off the lights, shut the windows, and close the doors whenever an attack was suspected. We lived opposite the Chaman at Barkatpura. An alert was sounded that the armed Razakars were on the way. Deadly silence prevailed.
Curiosity might have gotten the better of judgment when my mother tried to peer through the gap in the windows to see what was happening where the dreaded Razakars had assembled. She nearly fell off the window sill and missed a heartbeat or two when I cried aloud ‘amma. Emaindi.Vaallu vachchaaraa’ (did they come?) Fortunately, nobody heard and the danger thus passed.
Our place was barely a kilometer from Chappal Bazaar Chowrasta where Shoebullah Khan, brave editor of Imroze, was brutally killed by the Razakars.
My father was the general manager of Deccan Shoe Company owned by Hamid Sultan. Family friends such as Hamid, Abdul Mannan Khan, Mohd. Ashraf and others asked us not to worry about safety. ‘Rao saab. We are all here. Nothing will happen to the family.’ We were safe.
A few of our relatives temporarily shifted to the safety of Andhra towns like Vijayawada, Guntur, and Chirala.
Much has been written and repeated about the subject to need reiteration. A recent exercise to study the issue from all angles has fuelled renewed interest.
