Hyderabad Liberation Day 2024: Know How Hyderabad Became a Part of India? Check Details

On September 17, Hyderabad Liberation Day is celebrated to mark the annexation of the princely state of Hyderabad to India in 1948. This event ended the power of Nizam Mir Usman Ali and brought Hyderabad into the Indian Union after a military operation known as Operation Polo.

Background: The Nizam’s reluctance

At the time of India’s independence in 1947, Hyderabad was not a small state, but one of the largest and most resource-rich states in India, ruled by Nizam Mir Usman Ali at the time. Despite this, the British left India, and the Nizam did not easily commit to joining either India or Pakistan, nor did he want to become an independent country. His hesitation was due to his self-interest in not wanting to lose his authority, but also to his self-interest in not wanting to lose his money and status.

Most of Hyderabad’s population lived there under the feudal system. Although the Nizam was very wealthy, most people in his kingdom were burdened with heavy taxes and exploited by landlords. This division brought dissatisfaction and led to different movements demanding merger with India.

Tensions rise

In mid-1948, the Nizam went to war with armed groups known as the Razakars, who wanted India to integrate them, and violence escalated. The Indian government under Sardar Patel felt that the situation was becoming increasingly untenable. The Nizam was unwilling to accept India’s integration for various reasons, so India launched Operation Polo on September 9, 1948, and occupied Hyderabad.

Polo Action

The merger of Hyderabad was a military operation achieved by India through Operation Polo, which began on September 9, 1948 and ended on the 17th with the surrender of the Nizam. On November 11 of the same year, Hyderabad officially joined India. After the surrender of the Nizam, the Indian government was more tolerant of the Nizam and allowed him to continue to hold a symbolic position.

As a result, the operation involved a great deal of violence and ethnic conflict, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. Information at the time indicated that many people were killed in the operation against the Razakars, as well as among the civilians caught in the war.

Hyderabad Liberation Day is important in analyzing different aspects of regional identity and the process of integration of the South Indian states with the rest of the country. Some consider it the day when the country got rid of dictatorship, others consider it a day marked by negotiations and battles. The day is an official public holiday in India to commemorate its importance in India’s struggle for independence from colonial rule.

Hyderabad Liberation Day is a key chapter in India’s integration journey, reflecting both the complexity of the region and the wider struggle for unity. It is a reminder of the challenges faced during India’s post-independence consolidation period and commemorates the triumph of democratic values ​​over autocracy in South India.

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