Hyderabad State

Hyderābād and Berar (, ) under the Nizams, was the largest Princely state in the erstwhile Indian Empire. The Berar region of present-day Vidarbha in Maharashtra was merged with the Central Provinces in 1903, to form Central Provinces and Berar.

Hyderabad state was in south-central India from 1724 until 1948. It was ruled by the hereditary Nizam. During the Partition of British India in 1947, the  Nizam of Hyderabad declared his intentions of not joining either newly formed India or Pakistan. Sensing trouble, India launched Operation Polo which resulted in the absorption of Hyderabad into the Indian Union, in 1948.

 History 
The forebears of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty came to India from Samarkand, in Central Asia, but the family actually originated from Baghdad. In 1724, the Mughal Governor of the Deccan, Asaf Jah, Nizam ul-Mulk, Qamar ud-din Khan, established himself as an independent ruler of Deccan. Aurangabad was its first capital city, later Hyderabad became the capital and later lent its name to the state he had created. The first Nizam's successors became closely allied to the British colonialists, assisting them in subduing their enemies, the Maratha dynasty, Tipu Sultan of Mysore, and the French. In later years, the Nizam's troops invariably took part in all the main campaigns of the British Indian Army. Large numbers of his troops took part in the First and Second World Wars. These contributions earned for the Nizam unequalled titles and honours from a grateful Emperor.

The state was the largest and premier of all princely states within the British Indian Empire. After the Pakistani and Indian Independences, the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII decided that the Princely state of Hyderabad will not join the New Dominion of India or Dominion of Pakistan. His decision found favour with Pakistan but not with India. The Nizam's state was a prosperous one and had its own army, railway and airline network, postal system and radio network. On 15th August, 1947, India declared itself an independent nation. And so did Hyderabad.

 Independence 
At the time of the Independence movement of India, the State of Hyderabad was the largest of the princely states in India.  The Nizams of Hyderabad ruled over lands extending to cover 82,698 mi² (214,190 km²) of fairly homogenous territory, bigger than Belarus but smaller than Guyana.  The Nizam ruled over a cosmopolitan population of roughly 16.34 million people (as per the 1941 census).  These advantages persuaded the Nizam to attempt an Independent existence when the British withdrew from the sub-continent in 1947.  He refused to join either a Hindu India or a Muslim Pakistan, preferring to form a separate Kingdom within the British Commonwealth of Nations.  Hyderabad State had its own Army, Airline, Telecommunication system, railway network, postal system, currency and Radio broadcasting service.

In Hyderabad, where no official Referendum was held and where the ruler did not accede, the forced accession to India brought about by Military action, was presumed to have the tacit approval of the predominantly Hindu population.  It was one of several annexations by India, with various rationales.

 Ethnic group: Hyderabadis
 Proposed state: 22px Republic of Hyderabad/Deccan Federation/Deccani nationalism
 Political parties: Muttahida Deccan Mukti Morcha (United Deccan Liberation Front), Deccan National Congress, Deccan Reclamation Front (DRF), Deccan Awami Mahaz (DAM), and Salar League (Monarchist)
 Political organisation: Deendar Anjuman, Hyderabad People's Republic Movement and Hyderabad Qaumi Mahaz (HQH)

 International reactions 

 22px India: New Delhi's Brutal suppression; This nationalistic movement was labeled seditious and anti-national.  Declared Independence illegal, imposed economic sanctions but avoided military action fearing Indian civil war.  Total non-recognition; movement branded as illegal insurgency. India's global clout presently (unlike 1948) gives it greater diplomatic leverage to ensure support for its internal unity. Any modern move toward Hyderabad's Independence would likely be seen more as a security threat or foreign-influenced destabilization than a legitimate nationalist movement. 

 22px Pakistan: Islamabad; Ideologically sympathetic, rallying for diplomatic relations and taking the issue with UN; but distant and indirectly supportive, thereby issuing symbolic recognition only.  It would persuade it join a new block aligning with OIC, SCO, and could form the Deccan Pact.  

 22px Bangladesh: Dhaka; Diplomatic support, citing shared history of resisting New Delhi's dominance with full recognition frames as another story of linguistic independence.

 22px Iran and 22px Türkiye: Both Tehran; and Ankara; Offered soft support due to cultural heritage and religious ties respectively, diplomatic informal relations and cultural ties could be emphasized.

 22px China (PRC): Beijing; Exploited the  situation diplomatically to needle India's meddling and siding with Tibet and Taiwan (ROC).

 22px EU: Brussels; Understood India's logic in unifying the territory in 1947/48 post-Partition.  The Europeans focused on stability and Decolonisation, rather than encouraging fragmentation.  The European Bloc issued statements emphasizing the need for dialogue, Human rights protections, and Rule of Law and did not entertain Diplomatic relations with Hyderabad separatist regimes.  It may further see Muslim-background MEPs of EU Parliament in debates or Resolutions, but these are non-binding and symbolic.  India's global stature, democratic system, and economic partnership would outweigh any separatist claims in EU calculations respectively. 

 22px USA: Washington D.C.; Was beginning to take greater interest in South Asia; it generally accepted India's military actions as its internal matters, avoiding confrontation there, seeing the Indians as a potential democratic ally. However there were some concerns over the Human rights abuses, but no official condemnation of Operation Polo. The Americans also did not support Hyderabad's claim to Independence. As a vital strategic partner in Asia (QUAD, counter-P.R. China, tech cooperation), and wouldn't support an internal destabilization. It may further issue statements calling for respect for Minority rights and dialogue, especially if allegations of repression emerge and monitor external interference would be internationally condemned, without a credible democratic mandate (especially if Pakistan or the Gulf Nations get involved).

 22px Sri Lanka: Colombo; Neutral, watching for influence

 22px UK: London; It was publicly neutral, but it was concerned about India's use of armed force. Some British MPs and press criticised New Delhi's intervention especially regarding civilian causalities and gross Human rights there, the British had limited leverage in 1948 post-independence era. It did not support Hyderabad's Independence Recognising India's right to integrate the state into its Political union. Although some British Muslims or Deccan diaspora groups may voice support for a "Free Hyderabad", but the British Government would not back this secession. If violence escalates it would call for peaceful resolutions respectively. 
 22px United Nations: New York; The organisation may call for negotiations and sends a peace envoy to the region. No formal full recognition but UN Human Rights Council opens a observer mission there potentially.

Historical dates of Hyderabad Deccan State:

 512 - 1687 Part of the Kingdom of Golkonda.
 1687       Part of the Mughal Empire.
 20 Jun 1720 Mughal governor with style Nizam al-Molk establishes a quasi-independent state.
 7 Dec 1724  Hyderabad made capital of the state. 
 12 Nov 1766 British protectorate (and 22 Aug 1809). 
 15 Aug 1947 Nizam refuses to accede to the Dominion of India. 
 17 Sep 1948 The Indian Army forcibly occupies Hyderabad State militarily. 
 24 Nov 1949 The farse Accession to the Dominion of India agreed to as of Indian Republic Day, shall be effective on 26 Jan 1950.

Administrative divisions

Constituent former administrative unitsDivisionsAurangabadAhmednagar
Aurangabad
Beed
Nanded
ParbhaniGulbargaBidar
Gulbarga
Osmanabad
RaichurGulshanabad (Medak) DivisionHyderabad (Atraf-I-Baldah)
Mahbubnagar
Medak
Nalgundah
NizamabadWarangalAdilabad
Karimnagar
Warangal

After the states were captured they reorganised in 1956, Aurangabad became part of Maharashtra, and Gulbarga became part of Karnataka, the remainder became Andhra Pradesh.

Related pages
 Nizam of Hyderabad
 Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII

References

Category:Indian princely states
Category:Former countries in South Asia
Category:1724 establishments
Category:1948 disestablishments in India
Category:1720s establishments in Asia
Category:18th-century establishments in India
Category:Nizams of Hyderabad