Hyderabad State

حیدر آباد
State of Hyderabad
Princely state of the British Raj
←
1724–1948 →
Flag Coat of arms
Capital Hyderabad
Language(s) Hyderabadi Urdu, Telugu, Persian
Religion Islam
Government Principality
Nizam
 - 1720-48 Qamaruddin Khan (first)
 - 1911-48 Osman Ali Khan (last)
Prime Minister
 - 1724 - 1730 Iwaz Khan (first)
 - 1947 - 1948 Mir Laiq Ali (last)
History
 - Established 1724
 - Annexed by India September 18, 1948
Currency Hyderabadi rupee

Hyderābād state pronunciation (Telugu: హైదరాబాదు, Urdu: حیدر آباد) was the largest princely state in the erstwhile British Indian Empire. It was located in the south-central region of the Indian subcontinent, and was ruled, from 1724 until 1948, by a hereditary Nizam. The Berar region of the state was merged with the Central Provinces of British India in 1903, to form the Central Provinces and Berar.

In 1947, at the time of the partition of India and the formation of the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan, the then Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, decided not to join either new nation. However, the following year, the Government of India incorporated Hyderabad into the Indian Union, using military force, in what was known as Operation Polo, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Mughal Empire began to weaken during the reign of Aurangzeb's grandson, Muhammad Shah. A Mughal official, Asif Jah, treacherously defeated a rival Mughal governor to seize control of the empire's southern provinces, declaring himself Nizam-al-Mulk of Hyderabad in 1724. The Mughal emperor, under renewed attack from the Marathas, was unable to prevent it.

The Nizams patronized Islamic art, culture and literature which became central to Hyderabadi Muslim identity and developed railway network in Hyderabad. Islamic Sharia law was the guiding principle of the Nizams' official machinery.

Contents

During the British Raj

The seniormost (21-gun) salute state during the period of British India, Hyderabad was an 82,000 square mile (212,000 km²) region in the Deccan ruled by the Asif Jahi dynasty, who had the title of Nizam and was bestowed the title of His Exalted Highness by the British. The Nizam set up numerous institutions in the name of the dynasty. He set up schools, colleges, madrasas and a university that imparted education in Urdu. Inspired by the elite and prestigious Indian Civil Service he founded the Hyderabad Civil Service. The pace with which he amassed wealth made him to be one of the world's richest men in the 1930s, (Time cover story Feb. 22, 1937). Carrying a gift, called Nazrana, in accordance with one's net worth while meeting Nizam was a de facto necessity.

Industries in pre-Independence Hyderabad

Various industries emerged in pre-independence Hyderabad, the major industries that were established in various parts of Hyderabad state are[1] .

Industries in pre-Independence Hyderabad
Company Year
Singareni Collieries 1921
Nizam Sugar Factory 1937
Allwyn Metal Works 1942
Praga Tools 1943
Sirsilk 1946
Hyderabad Asbestos 1947

After the British Raj (1947-48)

When India gained independence in the year 1947, the British left the choice of independence or unification up to the local rulers of the princely states. Razakars (some Muslim nobles under the Nizam), wished to remain independent or consider joining Pakistan. In the case of Hyderabad however, this could not be applied as it was right in the middle of the new state of India. Being a Muslim-governed state, the Nizam wanted to join Pakistan but he was overruled by the viceroy Lord Mountbatten. As a result, the Indian Government carried out the so called “Hyderabad Police Action” against the Nizam. Code-named “Operation Polo” by the Indian military, this action by the Indian armed forces ended the rule of the Nizams of Hyderabad by the forceful incorporation of the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union.

Hyderabad today

In 1956 during the Reorganisation of the Indian States based along linguistic lines, the state of Hyderabad was split up between Andhra Pradesh, Bombay state (later divided into states of Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960 with the original portions of Hyderabad becoming part of the state of Maharashtra) and Karnataka. The last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, died in 1967.

Administratively, Hyderabad State was made up of sixteen districts, grouped into four divisions. Aurangabad division included Aurangabad, Beed, Nanded, and Parbhani districts; Gulbarga (Gulbarga) division included Bidar District, Gulbarga, Osmanabad District, and Raichur District; Gulshanabad District or Medak division included Atraf-i-Baldah, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda (Nalgundah), and Nizamabad districts, and Warangal division included Adilabad, Karimnagar, and Warangal districts

Hyderabad state in 1909

Urdu (in particular, the unique Dakhani dialect), Telugu, Hindi ,English, Oriya,Tamil,Marathi and Kannada are among the largely spoken languages in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh today.

The political party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, founded by Bahadur Yar Jung, enjoys prominent support amongst Muslims. Also, there is a strong hold of Other Parties like Congress, TDP (telugu desam party) with both Hindu and Muslim support, and some other new party formed with intention of separation of the telangana state (the part of nizam state that was merged with andhra pradesh) Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) a party formed by telugu film star chiranjeeevi, Lok Satta, BJP with only 2 seats among 294 seats during 2009 Elections for Andhra Pradesh.

The strong Hyderabadi Muslim cultural influence left over from the former princely state is very strong in Hyderabad and in the diaspora communities of Hyderabadi Muslims.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/br/2009/08/25/stories/2009082550041600.htm

External links