Events preceding hostilities Indian annexation of Hyderabad

1 events preceding hostilities

1.1 political , diplomatic negotiations
1.2 telangana rebellion
1.3 communal violence before operation
1.4 hyderabadi military preparations
1.5 skirmish @ kodar
1.6 indian military preparations

events preceding hostilities

political , diplomatic negotiations

the nizam of hyderabad approached british government request take on status of independent constitutional monarchy under british commonwealth of nations. request rejected last governor-general of india, lord mountbatten of burma.

according writer a. g. noorani, indian prime minister nehru s concern defeat hyderabad s secessionist venture, favoured talks , considered military option last resort. sardar patel of indian national congress, however, took hard line, , had no patience talks. noorani states, patel hated nizam personally, , ideologically opposed hyderabad s composite culture.

accordingly, indian government offered hyderabad standstill agreement made assurance status quo maintained , no military action taken 1 year. according agreement india handle hyderabad’s foreign affairs, indian army troops stationed in secunderabad removed.

hyderabad violated clauses of agreement: in external affairs, carrying out intrigues pakistan, secretly loaned 15 million pounds; in defence, building large semi-private army; in communications, interfering traffic @ borders , through traffic of indian railways. india accused of violating agreement imposing economic blockade. turned out state of bombay interfering supplies hyderabad without knowledge of delhi. government promised take matter provincial governments, scholar lucien benichou states never done. there delays in arms shipments hyderabad india.

according taylor c. sherman, india claimed government of hyderabad edging towards independence divesting of indian securities, banning indian currency, halting export of ground nuts, organising illegal gun-running pakistan, , inviting new recruits army , irregular forces, razakars. hyderabadi envoys accused india of setting armed barricades on land routes , of attempting economically isolate nation.

in summer of 1948, indian officials, patel, signaled intention invade; britain encouraged india resolve issue without use of force, refused nizam s requests help.

the nizam made unsuccessful attempts seek intervention of united nations.

telangana rebellion

in late 1945, there started peasant uprising in telangana area, led communists. communists drew support various quarters. among poor peasants, there grievances against jagirdari system, covered 43% of land holding. drew support wealthier peasants fought under communist banner, 1948, coalition had disintegrated. according indian intelligence bureau deputy director, social , economic programs of communists positive , in cases great...the communists redistributed land , livestock, reduced rates, ended forced labour , increased wages 1 hundred percent. inoculated population , built public latrines; encouraged women’s organisations, discouraged sectarian sentiment , sought abolish untouchability.

initially, in 1945, communists targeted zamindars , deshmukhs, launched full-fledged revolt against nizam. starting mid-1946, conflict between razakars , communists became increasingly violent, both sides resorting increasingly brutal methods. razakars cordoned off villages, captured suspected communists en masse , engaged in ‘absolutely indiscriminate , organised (according 1 congressman) looting , massacres. according indian government pamphlet, communists had killed 2,000 people 1948.

communal violence before operation

in 1936–37 indian elections, muslim league under muhammad ali jinnah had sought harness muslim aspirations, , had won adherence of mim leader nawab bahadur yar jung, campaigned islamic state centred on nizam sultan dismissing claims democracy. arya samaj, hindu revivalist movement, had been demanding greater access power hindu majority since late 1930s, , curbed nizam in 1938. hyderabad state congress joined forces arya samaj hindu mahasabha in state.

noorani regards mim under nawab bahadur yar jung explicitly committed safeguarding rights of religious , linguistic minorities. however, changed ascent of qasim razvi after nawab s death in 1944.

even india , hyderabad negotiated, of sub-continent had been thrown chaos result of communal hindu-muslim riots pending imminent partition of india. fearing hindu civil uprising in own kingdom, nizam allowed razvi set voluntary militia of muslims called razakars . razakars – numbered 200,000 @ height of conflict – swore uphold islamic domination in hyderabad , deccan plateau in face of growing public opinion amongst majority hindu population favouring accession of hyderabad indian union.

according account mohammed hyder, civil servant in osmanabad district, variety of armed militant groups, including razakars , deendars , ethnic militias of pathans , arabs claimed defending islamic faith , made claims on land. beginning of 1948 razakars had extended activities hyderabad city towns , rural areas, murdering hindus, abducting women, pillaging houses , fields, , looting non-muslim property in widespread reign of terror. women became victims of rape , kidnapping razakars. thousands went jail , braved cruelties perpetuated oppressive administration. due activities of razakars, thousands of hindus had flee state , take shelter in various camps”. precise numbers not known, 40,000 refugees have been received central provinces. led terrorizing of hindu community, of whom went across border independent india , organized raids nizam s territory, further escalated violence. many of these raiders controlled congress leadership in india , had links extremist religious elements in hindutva fold. in all, more 150 villages (of 70 in indian territory outside hyderabad state) pushed violence.

hyder mediated efforts minimize influence of razakars. razvi, while receptive, vetoed option of disarming them, saying hyderabad state army ineffective, razakars means of self-defence available. end of august 1948, full blown invasion india imminent.

nehru reluctant invade, fearing military response pakistan. india unaware pakistan had no plans use arms in hyderabad, unlike kashmir had admitted troops present. time magazine pointed out if india invaded hyderabad, razakars massacre hindus, lead retaliatory massacres of muslims across india.

hyderabadi military preparations

the nizam in weak position army numbered 24,000 men, of whom 6,000 trained , equipped. these included arabs, rohillas, north indian muslims , pathans. state army consisted of 3 armoured regiments, horse cavalry regiment, 11 infantry battalions , artillery. these supplemented irregular units horse cavalry, 4 infantry battalions (termed saraf-e-khas, paigah, arab , refugee) , garrison battalion. army commanded major general el edroos, arab. 55 per cent of hyderabadi army composed of muslims, 1,268 muslims in total of 1,765 officers of 1941.

in addition these, there 200,000 irregular militia called razakars under command of civilian leader kasim razvi. quarter of these armed modern small firearms, while rest predominantly armed muzzle-loaders , swords.

it reported nizam received arms supplies pakistan , portuguese administration based in goa. in addition, additional arms supplies received via airdrops australian arms trader sidney cotton.

skirmish @ kodar

on 6 september indian police post near chillakallu village came under heavy fire razakar units. indian army command sent squadron of poona horse led abhey singh , company of 2/5 gurkha rifles investigate fired upon razakars. tanks of poona horse chased razakars kodar, in hyderabad territory. here opposed armoured cars of 1 hyderabad lancers. in brief action poona horse destroyed 1 armoured car , forced surrender of state garrison @ kodar.

indian military preparations

on receiving directions government seize , annex hyderabad, indian army came goddard plan (laid out lt. gen. e. n. goddard, commander-in-chief of southern command). plan envisaged 2 main thrusts – vijayawada in east , solapur in west – while smaller units pinned down hyderabadi army along border. overall command placed in hands of lt. gen. rajendrasinghji, dso.

the attack solapur led major general j.n. chaudhari , composed of 4 task forces:

the attack vijayawada led major general a.a. rudra , comprised 2/5 gurkha rifles, 1 squadron of 17th (poona) horse, , troop 19th field battery along engineering , ancillary units. in addition, 4 infantry battalions neutralize , protect lines of communication. 2 squadrons of hawker tempest aircraft prepared air support pune base.

the date attack fixed 13 september, though general sir roy bucher, indian chief of staff, had objected on grounds hyderabad additional front indian army after kashmir.