On the 10th of July 1947, the 'Declaration of the Indian Independence' bill was introduced by Harold Macmillan. To the Nizam's dismay, no mention or decision was taken regarding the state of Hyderabad.
All princely states were given the option to either join India, Pakistan or remain independent. All states that would join the Indian Union would have to surrender their sovereignty and their right to collect taxes. All princely states large and small agreed to join the Union of India, except Hyderabad. In June 1947, the Nizam issued a Firman or a proclamation declaring independence from the Indian Union.
Gold-plated chair of Nizam VII at Purani Haveli, Hyderabad
On the 15th of August 1947, India attained independence from the British, but Hyderabad stood defiant as an independent state. On 29th November 1947, the Nizam signed a 'standstill agreement' with the Indian Union for a period of one year.
In the months following the signing of the Standstill Agreement, suspicion and misgivings between the Nizam and the Indian government grew. Relations between the two were far from amicable.
The Razakar Movement, supported by the Majlis Ittehad-ul-Musalmeen, supporting Islamic supremacy in southern India gained ground in Hyderabad. Led by the zealous Kasim Razvi, the Razakars compelled the Nizam to maintain his independence and not relent to pressure from the Indian government. Claiming his right to remain independent in accordance with the Indian Independence Act, the Nizam declared Hyderabad a free, self-governing independent state but the Government of India refused to accept his point of view.
Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the deputy Prime Minister of India insisted that the state had to merge with the Indian union and to further tighten the noose, an economic blockade was imposed on Hyderabad. On the 10th of September 1948, the Nizam sent Nawab Moin Nawaz Jung to the Security Council to represent Hyderabad's case before the United Nations. This was the last straw. All channels of communication were severed and the Government of India contemplated military action against the defiant state.
On the 13th of September 1948, the Indian Army initiated its Police Action Against Hyderabad. The exercise was termed Operation Polo and for five days the Razakars and the Hyderabad army made a half hearted attempt to resist the Indian army. But their antiquated ammunition and ill equipped soldiers were no match to an entire armoured division of the mighty Indian army. A number of Razakars lost their lives in the battle and their feeble resistance was soon overcome.
Staircase of Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Five days later, on the 18th of September, 1948, the Indian army entered Secunderabad Cantonment. Military rule was imposed.
A reluctant Hyderabad finally merged with the Union of India.
For a smooth transition and to placate the sentiments of the hurt Hyderabadis, the Government of India considered it prudent to appoint Osman Ali Khan as the Rajpramukh of Hyderabad state, a position that he held from 26th January 1950 to 31st October 1956.
Democracy had the whole world in its grip and how long could Hyderabad stay unaffected? The boundary of this region in the Deccan was redrawn on linguistic considerations. The Marathi speaking areas merged with Maharashtra, the Kannada speaking region with Karnataka and on 1st November 1956, the Telugu speaking areas along the region formerly known as Andhra formed the new state of Andhra Pradesh with Hyderabad as its capital.
Takht-e-Nishan (Royal Seat) in Durbar Hall of Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad
Mir Osman Ali Khan withdrew completely from public life and choose to lead a quiet, secluded life with his family. He had wisely formed a number of trusts that took care of his family's need and funded his various charitable institutions.
In 1967 Osman Ali Khan passed away and his eldest grandson, Mukarram Jah, became the new Nizam - a designation that had no meaning, no duties and no responsibilities any more.
In 1972, the Indian Prime Minister, Ms Indira Gahndhi abolished the 'privy purse' and monarchs and royal families lost all their privileges at one go. Prince Mukarram Jah migrated to Australia and while most of his estate is being managed by the trusts formed by his grandfather, some of it has been acquired by the government.
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