Hyderabad State

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Hyderabad (state))
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the princely state in India ruled by the Nizam from 1724 to 1948, a State of the Indian Union 1948–1956. For other uses, see Hyderabad (disambiguation).
 This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2010)
State of Hyderabad
Province of the Mughal Empire 1724–1798
Princely state of the British Indian Empire 1798–1947
Independent 1947–1948
State of the Indian Union 1948–1956
←
1724–1948 →
Flag Coat of arms
Capital Aurangabad (1724-1763), Hyderabad (1763-1948)
Language(s) Urdu, Telugu, Persian, Marathi, Kannada
Religion Hinduism and Islam
Government Principality (1724–1948)
Democratic State under the Indian Union (1948–1956)
Nizam
 - 1720–48 Qamaruddin Khan (first)
 - 1911–48 Osman Ali Khan (last)
Prime Minister
 - 1724–1730 Iwaz Khan (first)
 - 1947 – 1948

After annexing with Indian Union 1948–1956

Chief ministers of Hyderabad State M. K. Vellodi 1948–1952 Burgula Ramakrishna Rao 1952–1956

 Mir Laiq Ali (last)
History
 - Established 1724
 - Telangana Rebellion 1946
 - Annexed by India September 18, 1948
 - Division November 1, 1956
Currency Hyderabadi rupee
Princely states of India
Individual residencies
Agencies
Lists

Hyderābād state About this sound pronunciation (help·info) was located in the south-central region of the Indian subcontinent, and was ruled, from 1724 until 1948, by a hereditary Nizam. The capital city was Hyderabad.

The region became part of the Mughal Empire in the 1680s. When the empire began to weaken in the 18th century, a Mughal official, Asif Jah, 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.

Nizam's Dominions, in the 18th century included parts of today's Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu with the kingdom ranging from Aurangabad and Berar in the north to Tiruchirapally in the south, encompassign the entire area of 'Circars' (later annexed by French and British forces). The areas in what is now Tamil Nadu, where administered by the Nawab of the Carnatic, who acknowledged the Nizam's suzerainity. However, with the death of the first Nizam and the arrival of foreign forces, the dominions gradually lost their coastal territories.

From 1798 Hyderabad was one of the princely states existing alongside British India. It had ceded to the British the control of its external relations but retained control of its internal affairs.

In 1903 the Berar region of the state was separated and merged into the Central Provinces of British India, 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 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

[edit] Early History

The Nizam of Hyderabad was earlier the Mughal Viceroy of the Deccan. However, with the decline of the Mughals; the Deccan attained a state of independent rule, though the first Nizam continued to owe allegience to the Mughal Emperor. The Deccan territories were thus the last survivors of the Mughal Emperor along with the Princely state of Awadh (in North India). These territories soon came to be known as the 'Nizam's Dominions', which (in the year 1760) included areas from south of Maharashtra to the southern end of Tamil Nadu, encompassing vast territories in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The southern territories (now part of Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh) were ruled by the Nawab of the Carnatic, who accepted the Suzerainity of the Nizam. The regions in and around Mysore however, were administered by Hyder Ali and did not owe any allegience to the Nizam.

With the Mughal empire in disarray,this was a time when the French and British were competing for supremacy in the Indian sub-continent. The French excercised considerable influence in the Deccan from their stronghold of Pondicherry. In-fact, the Nizam had a French regent stationed at Hyderabad in the later years of the 18th Century as an important advisor. Nizam's dominions were at their greatest teriitorial extent at the time of the first Nizam, Nizam-ul-mulk, Asaf Jah-I. After his death however, their arose a succesion strife which the British and French forces extending economic and military help to different factions. This resulted in a period of internal instability as two Nizams (Nasir Jung and Muzaffar Jung) ruled in rapid succesion, both being assasinated by rival factions. Their combined duration as the Nizam was just four years. The fourth Nizam, Mir Ali Salabat Jung came to the throne on French instigation and his rule prevailed for 12 years. This period marked the height of French influence in the Nizam's dominions. He was followed by Ali Khan Asaf Jah II who added the territories of Aurangabad, Bidar and Sholapur in various battles with the Marathas. Though Asaf Jah-II ruled for over 50 years, Nizam's dominions lost considerable power and more importantly,land to both the British and the French due to infighting and debts owed to the foreign powers. The territory of Northern Circars (present day coastal Andhra Pradesh) was ceded to the French as a gift 'for perpetuity', while the Carnatic regions were annexed by British, French and Hyder Ali's forces. The Nizam was criticised for failing to form an alliance with Hyder Ali of the Kingdom of Mysore, a move which could have countered the increasing influence of the British in the Deccan. In this time, with the defeat of Napolean Bonaparte at Waterloo, the British also placated the French as the supreme colonial power in the Indian sub-continent. The British also fought a war with Mysore which increased its clout in the Deccan and by the end of the 18th century, Nizam's domions came into a state of near-suzerainity under the British.

[edit] During the British Raj

By the onset of the nineteenth century, Nizam's dominions assumed the shape it is now remembered for; that of a princely state with territories in central Deccan, bounded on all sides by British India. During the mutiny of 1857, Salar Jung chose to side with the British, thereby earning the title of 'Faithful Ally' for Hyderabad. This action causes some regret among modern patriots, because had the dominions sided with the rebel forces, the British would have lost Hyderabad, which was as important to the South as Delhi was to the North. However, this did not happen and Hyderabad was among one of several independent kingdoms of India to side with the British. in 1857, when the rule of the British East India Company came to an end and Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India, Hyderabad became one of the most important Princely States.

The seniormost (21-gun) salute state during the period of British India, Hyderabad was an 82,000 square mite (212,000 km²) region in the Deccan ruled by the Asif Jahi dynasty, who had the title of Nizam and was bestowed the style of His Exalted Highness by the British. Development within the state of Hyderabad grew, due to the dilligent work of Salar Jung and the Nizams set up numerous institutions in the name of the dynasty. They set up schools, colleges, madrasas and a university that imparted education in Urdu. Inspired by the elite and prestigious Indian Civil Service the Nizam founded the Hyderabad Civil Service. The pace with which the last Nizam (Osman Ali Khan) 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.

[edit] Industries in Hyderabad under the Nizams

Various major industries emerged in various parts of the State of Hyderabad before its incorporation into the Union of India, especially during the first half of the twentieth century. However, the Nizams focussed industrial development on the region of Sanathnagar, housing a number of industries there with transportation facilities by both Road and Rail.[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
Karkhana Zinda Tilismat 1906
Charminar Cigarette 1925
Vazir Sultan Tobacco Company 1930
Azam Jahi Mills Warangal 1934

[edit] After Indian independence (1947–48)

When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent. Both the Nizam and many of his Razakars (nobles), being Muslims, wished Hyderabad to join Pakistan; but this was exceptionally problematical, as the state was entirely surrounded by the new Union of India. The Nizam was persuaded not to accede to Pakistan by the last British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten. Given the Nizam's determination not to join India, this left Hyderabad as an independent country.

However, although Hyderabad had a Muslim ruling class, its Hindus outnumbered its Muslims by about eight to one.[2] The Nizam was also in a weak position, as his army numbered only 24,000 men, of whom only some 6,000 were fully trained and equipped.[3] Refusing to accept the defiant independence of Hyderabad, the Indian Government prepared to carry out a so-called "Hyderabad Police Action" against the Nizam.

On 24 August 1948, Hyderabad formally asked the Secretary General of the new United Nations Organization for its Security Council, under Article 32 of the United Nations Charter, to consider the "grave dispute, which, unless settled in accordance with international law and justice, is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security." In Hyderabad, this appeal was widely considered foolish and sure to provoke India to take military action before the UN could intervene. However, on 4 September Mir Laiq Ali announced to the Hyderabad Assembly that a delegation was about to leave for Lake Success, headed by Moin Nawaz Jung.[4] The Nizam also appealed to the British Labour Government and to the King for assistance, to fulfil their obligations and promises to Hyderabad by "immediate intervention", but without success. Nevertheless, Hyderabad had the vocal support of Winston Churchill and the British Conservatives.[5]

General El Edroos (at right) offers his surrender of the Hyderabad State Forces to Major General (later General and Army Chief) Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri at Secunderabad.

At 4 a.m. on 13 September 1948, India's Hyderabad Campaign, code-named "Operation Polo" by the Indian Army, was commenced, with Indian troops invading Hyderabad from all points of the compass. At 5 p.m. on 17 September the Nizam surrendered. India then incorporated the state of Hyderabad into the Union of India and ended the rule of the Nizams.[6] The annexation of Hyderabad was generally welcomed by many Hindus in the state, but Muslims emphasized the unlawfulness of the invasion.

[edit] Districts of Hyderabad State

Hyderabad state in 1909

Administratively, Hyderabad State was made up of sixteen districts, grouped into four divisions:

[edit] After integration into the Indian Union

After the incorporation of Hyderabad State into India, M. K. Vellodi was appointed as Chief Minister of the state on 26 January 1950. He was a Senior Civil servant in the Government of India. After the first State Assembly elections in India, 1952, Dr Burgula Ramakrishna Rao became Chief Minister of Hyderabad State.

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.

[edit] Hyderabad today

The Hyderabadi Muslim cultural influence left over from the former princely state is very strong in Hyderabad and in the diaspora communities of Hyderabadi Muslims. Now Hyderabad is a multicultured city with people from every region of Country(North, South, East and West of India). Hyderabad is known for its famous historical monuments like Charminar, Makka Masjid, Golconda Fort, Falaknuma Palace, Qutub Shahi Tombs, and Birla Mandir. Hyderabad is famous for its Hyderabadi Biryani, a rice and spice based food item. Presently, Hyderabad is condsidered second IT Sector in South India with having hundreds of IT Companies in its IT Zones HighTech City, Gachibowli and IT PARK.

Urdu (in particular, the unique Dakhani dialect), Telugu, Hindi, and English are the most widely 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 following of other parties, like Congress, TDP (Telugu desam party) with both Hindu and Muslim support, and the TRS party, formed with the intention of separation of the Telangana region (the part of the Nizams' state which was merged with Andhra Pradesh) as a State, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), a party formed by the Telugu film star Chiranjeeevi, in 2011 PRP merged with INC, Lok Satta, BJP which gained only two seats out of 294 at the 2009 Elections for Andhra Pradesh.

[edit] State institutions

[edit] Palaces of Hyderabad State era

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Kaleidoscopic view of Deccan". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 25 August 2009. http://www.hindu.com/br/2009/08/25/stories/2009082550041600.htm. 
  2. ^ Lucien D. Benichou, From autocracy to integration: political developments in Hyderabad State, 1938-1948 (2000), p. 19
  3. ^ Benichou (2000), p. 229
  4. ^ Benichou (2000), p. 230
  5. ^ Benichou (2000), p. 231
  6. ^ Benichou (2000), p. 232

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hyderabad State
Princely states of India during the British Raj
21 Gun Salute
19 Gun Salute
17 Gun Salute
15 Gun Salute
13 Gun Salute
11 Gun Salute
States of India on 26 January 1950
Part A States
India
Part B States
Part C States
Part D States

Coordinates: 17°00′N 78°50′E / 17°N 78.833°E / 17; 78.833

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hyderabad_State&oldid=479801308"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages