The liberation of Hyderabad in September 1948 by "Hyderabad Police Action" (code-named
"Operation Polo") was the operation by the Indian armed forces that ended the rule of the
NizamNizam , a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk , meaning Administrator of the Realm, was the title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad State, India, since 1719, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty...
of Hyderabad and led to the integration of the
princely state of HyderabadHyderābād state 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...
into the Indian Union.
The operation was necessitated as the princely State of Hyderabad under Nizam
Osman Ali Khan, Asif Jah VIIAsaf Jah VII , was the last Nizam of the Princely State of Hyderabad and of Berar, a state with majority of Hindu population. He ruled Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948, until it was merged into India...
, decided to not join either India or Pakistan after the
partition of IndiaThe Partition of India was the partition of British India that led to the creation, on August 14, 1947 and August 15, 1947, respectively, of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India...
. The Nisam's defiance was backed by
Qasim RazviQasim Razvi was the leader of a local militia, the Razakars of Hyderabad, who blocked accession into India after the partition against the wishes of the local population, and fought against the Indian forces during Operation Polo....
's armed militias, known as
RazakarsRazakars were a private islamic militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII and resist the integration of Hyderabad State in India....
and had the moral support of
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
,. When all attempts to persuade the Nizam to act friendly towards India failed, and wary of a hostile independent state right in the middle of India,
Deputy Prime MinisterThe Deputy Prime Minister of India is a member of the Indian cabinet in the Indian government. The post is not a constitutional post and seldom carries any specific powers. Generally a Deputy PM also holds other key portfolios like Home minister or Finance Minister...
Sardar Patel decided to annex the state of Hyderabad. He sent the Indian army and the Hyderabad State Forces were defeated within five days.
At that time, Hyderabad state had some 17 polo grounds, the largest number in India. Hence the name "Operation Polo".
Background
The State of Hyderabad, located over most of the
Deccan PlateauThe Deccan Plateau, also known as the Peninsular Plateau or the Great Peninsular Plateau, is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country, ranging in elevation from 100 metres in the north to 1000 metres in the south. It is located between three mountain...
in southern India, was established in 1724 by Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jha after the collapse of the
Mughal Indian EmpireThe Mughal Empire was an Islamic and Persianate imperial power of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, invaded and ruled most of Hindustan by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century...
. As was the case in several Indian royal states, the Nizam was a Muslim, while a majority of the subject population was Hindu. In 1798, Hyderabad became the first Indian royal state to accede to British protection under the policy of Subsidiary Alliances instituted by
Arthur WellesleyField Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, KP, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the nineteenth century....
. When the British finally departed from the Indian subcontinent in 1947, they offered the various princely states in the sub-continent the option of assimilating into either India or Pakistan, or staying on as an independent state.
The State of Hyderabad under the leadership of its 7th Nizam, Mir Usman Ali, was the largest and most prosperous of all princely states in India. It covered of fairly homogenous territory and comprised a population of roughly 16.34 million people (as per the 1941 census) of which a majority (85%) was Hindu. Hyderabad State had its own army, as well as its own airline, telecommunication system, railway network, postal system, currency and radio broadcasting service, with a GDP larger than that of Belgium.
It was in this context that the Nizam, then the richest man in the world, desired to retain independence for his state. The Indians however, were wary of having an independent - and possibly hostile - Islamic nation in the heart of its territory, and were determined to assimilate Hyderabad into the Indian Union, in the same manner as the other five hundred and sixty five royal states that had already acceded.
Political and Diplomatic Negotiations
The Nizam of Hyderabad initially approached the British government with a request to take on the status of an independent constitutional monarchy under the British Commonwealth of Nations. This request was however rejected.
When Indian Home Minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel requested the Hyderabad Government to sign the instrument of accession, the Nizam refused and instead declared Hyderabad as an independent nation on 15 August 1947, the same day that India became independent. Alarmed at the idea of an independent Hyderabad in the heart of Indian territory, Sardar Patel approached the governor general of India,
Lord MountbattenAdmiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC was a British admiral and statesman and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
who advised him to resolve the issue without the use of force.
Accordingly, the Indian government offered Hyderabad a 'Standstill Agreement' which made an assurance that the status quo would be maintained and no military action would be taken. Unlike in the case of other royal states, instead of an explicit guarantee of eventual accession to India, only a guarantee stating that Hyderabad would not join Pakistan was given. Negotiations were opened through K.M. Munshi, India’s envoy and agent general to Hyderabad, and the Nizam’s envoys, Laik Ali and Sir Walter Monckton. Lord Mountbatten, who presided over the negotiations, offered several possible deals to the Hyderabad government which were rejected. The Hyderabadi envoys accused India of setting up armed barricades on all land routes and of attempting to economically isolate their nation. The Indians retaliated by accusing the Hyderabad government of importing arms from Pakistan. Hyderabad had given Rupees 200 million to Pakistan, and had stationed a bomber squadron there.
In June 1948, Mountbatten prepared the 'Heads of Agreement' deal which offered Hyderabad the status of an autonomous dominion nation under India. The deal called for the restriction of the regular Hyderabadi armed forces along with a disbanding of its voluntary forces. While it allowed the Nizam to continue as the executive head of the state, it called for a plebiscite along with general democratic elections to set up a constituent assembly. The Hyderabad government would continue to administer its territory as before, leaving only foreign affairs to be handled by the Indian government.
Although the plan was approved and signed by the Indians, it was rejected by the Nizam who demanded only complete independence or the status of a dominion under the British Commonwealth.
The Nizam also made unsuccessful attempts to seek the arbitration of the President
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice-president and the 34th Vice President of the United States, he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
of the United States of America and intervention of the United Nations.
Civil Unrest in Hyderabad
The 1941 census had estimated the population of Hyderabad to be 16.34 million, over 85% of who were Hindus and with Muslims accounting for about 12%. It was also a multi-lingual state consisting of peoples speaking Telugu (48.2%), Marathi (26.4%), Kannada (12.3%) and Urdu (10.3%). In spite of the overwhelming Hindu majority, Hindus were severely under-represented in government, police and the military. Of 1765 officers in the State Army, 1268 were Muslims, 421 were Hindus, and 121 others were Christians, Parsis and Sikhs. Of the officials drawing a salary between Rs.600-1200 per month, 59 were Muslims, 5 were Hindus and 38 were of other religions. The Nizam and his nobles, who were mostly Muslims, owned 40% of the total land in the State.
Even as India and Hyderabad negotiated, most of the sub-continent had been thrown into chaos as a result of communal Hindu-Muslim riots pending the imminent partition of India. Fearing a Hindu civil uprising in his own kingdom, the Nizam allowed
Qasim RazviQasim Razvi was the leader of a local militia, the Razakars of Hyderabad, who blocked accession into India after the partition against the wishes of the local population, and fought against the Indian forces during Operation Polo....
, a close advisor, and leader of the radical Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Party, to set up an voluntary militia of Muslims called the '
RazakarsRazakars were a private islamic militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII and resist the integration of Hyderabad State in India....
'. The Razakars - who numbered up to 200,000 at the height of the conflict - swore to uphold Islamic domination in Hyderabad and the Deccan plateau in the face of growing public opinion amongst the majority Hindu population favouring the accession of Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
As the manpower and arsenal of the Razakars grew, there was an escalation of violence between the Razakars and Hindu communities. In all, more than 150 villages (of which 70 were in Indian territory outside Hyderabad State) were pushed into violence. In Telengana, large groups of peasants, aided by the
Communist Party of IndiaThe Communist Party of India is a political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 december 1925...
, and led by Swami Ramanand Teerth, revolted against local Muslim landlords, and also came into direct confrontation with the Razakars. Meanwhile, parties like the Hyderabad State Congress were involved in non-violent protests against the Nizam's rule.
On December 4, 1947, Narayan Rao Pawar, a member of a Hindu nationalist organisation called the
Arya SamajArya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded in India by Swami Dayananda in 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda advocated the doctrine of karma and reincarnation, and emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya and sanyasa...
made a failed attempt to assassinate the Nizam outside his palace.
Hyderabadi Military Preparations
The Nizam of Hyderabad had a large army with a tradition of hiring mercenary forces. These included Arabs, Rohillas, North Indian Muslims and Pathans. The State Army consisted of three armoured regiments, a horsed cavalry regiment, 11 infantry battalions and artillery. These were supplemented by irregular units with a horse cavalry, four infantry battalions (termed as the Saraf-e-khas, paigah, Arab and Refugee) and a garrison battalion - all forming a total of 22,000 men. This army was commanded by Major General El Edroos, an Arab. Fiftyfive per cent of the Hyderabadi army was composed of Muslims, with 1,268 Muslims in a total of 1,765 officers as of 1941.
In addition to these, there were about 200,000 irregular militia called the Razakars under the command of civilian leader Qasim Razvi. A quarter of these were armed with modern small firearms, while the rest were predominantly armed with muzzle-loaders and swords.
It is reported that the Nizam received arms supplies from Pakistan and from the Portuguese administration based in Goa. In addition, additional arms supplies were received via airdrops from an Australian arms trader
Sidney CottonFrederick Sidney Cotton OBE was an Australian inventor, photographer and aviation and photography pioneer, responsible for developing and promoting an early colour film process, and largely responsible for the development of photographic reconnaissance before and during the Second World War...
.
Breakdown of Negotiations
As the Indian government received information that Hyderabad was arming itself and was preparing to ally with Pakistan in any future war with India, Sardar Patel described the idea of an independent Hyderabad as an ulcer in the heart of India - which had to removed surgically. In response, Hyderabad's prime minister Laik Ali stated "India thinks that if Pakistan attacks her, Hyderabad will stab her in the back. I am not so sure we would not." Sardar Patel responded later by stating "If you threaten us with violence, swords will be met with swords".
In Hyderabad, militia leader Qasim Razwi told a crowd of Razakars, "Death with the sword in hand, is always preferable to extinction by a mere stroke of the pen.". Razwi was later described by Indian government officials as "The Nizam’s Frankenstein Monster". In response to reports that India was planning to invade Hyderabad Razwi stated, "If India attacks us I can and will create a turmoil throughout India. We will perish but India will perish also." The magazine "Time" pointed out that if India invaded Hyderabad, the Razakars would massacre Hindus, which would lead to retaliatory massacres of Muslims across India.
Skirmish at Kodar
On September 6 an Indian police post near Chillakallu village came under heavy fire from
RazakarRazakar is a Persian word which means volunteer. Razakar may refer to:*Razakars : Islamist East Pakistani militia that aided the Pakistan Army against the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War....
units. The Indian Army command sent a squadron of
The Poona HorseThe Poona Horse was a regular British Indian Army Cavalry regiment. It was formed from the 3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry, raised in 1820, and the Poona Auxiliary Horse, raised about 1817-18...
led by
Abhey SinghMajor Abhey Singh, was a cavalry officer in the Indian Army.-Early life:Abhey Singh was born in the Thikana of Palaitha in the Princely state of Kotah on 14 August 1922, the youngest son of Major-General Sir Onkar Singh, KCIE, a minister for the state of Kotah...
and a company of
2/5 Gurkha RiflesThe 5 Gorkha Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin. It was formed in 1891 as part of the British Indian Army and served in the First World War and Second World War. The regiment was one of the Gorkha regiments that was transferred to the...
to investigate who were also fired upon by the Razakars. The tanks of the Poona Horse then chased the Razakars to Kodar, in Hyderabad territory. Here they were opposed by the armoured cars of 1 Hyderabad Lancers. In a brief action the Poona Horse destroyed one armoured car and forced the surrender of the state garrison at Kodar.
Indian Military Preparations
On receiving directions from the government to seize and annex Hyderabad, the Indian army came up with the Goddard Plan (laid out by Lt. Gen E.N. Goddard, the C-in-C of the Southern Command). The plan envisaged two main thrusts - from
VijayawadaVijayawada earlier known as Bezawada, is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. Vijayawada literally translates to "The Place of Victory"...
in the East and
SolapurSolapur is a city and a municipal corporation in South Western Maharashtra, India near the Karnataka border and is the administrative headquarters of Solapur District. Solapur is one of the four districts that form the region of Western Maharashtra Solapur ( Marathi : सोलापुर) is a city and a...
in the West - while smaller units pinned down the Hyderabadi army along the border. Overall command was placed in the hands of Lt. Gen. Rajendrasinghji, DSO.
The attack from Solapur was led by Major General J.N. Chaudhari and was composed of four task forces:
- Strike Force comprising a mix of fast moving infantry, cavalry and light artillery,
- Smash Force consisting of predominantly armoured units and artillery,
- Kill Force composed of infantry and engineering units
- Vir Force which comprised infantry, anti-tank and engineering units.
The attack from Vijaywada was led by Major General A.A. Rudra and comprised the 2/5 Gurkha Rifles, one squadron of the
17th (Poona) HorseThe Poona Horse was a regular British Indian Army Cavalry regiment. It was formed from the 3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry, raised in 1820, and the Poona Auxiliary Horse, raised about 1817-18...
, and a troop from the 19th Field Battery along with engineering and ancillary units. In addition, four infantry battalions were to neutralize and protect lines of communication. Two squadrons of
Hawker TempestThe Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
aircraft were prepared for air support from the
PunePune , formerly known as Punawadi or Punya-Nagari or Poona, is the eighth largest city in India, and the second largest in the state of Maharashtra, after Mumbai...
base.
The date for the attack was fixed as 13 September, even though
GeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is simply called general.-All general officer...
Sir Francis Bucher, the Indian chief of staff, had objected on grounds that Hyderabad would be an additional front for the Indian army after
KashmirKashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent...
.
Day 1, September 13
The 1st battle was fought at
NaldurgNaldurg is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.Tulja Bhavani, revered deity of Maharashtra, at whose feet Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj received inspiration to establish Hindvi Swaraj, is at Tuljapur is in this district in which Shree Sant Goroba...
Fort on the Solapur Secundarabad Highway between a defending force of the 1st Hyderabad Infantry and the attacking force of the 7th Brigade. Using speed and surprise, the 7th Brigade managed to secure a vital bridge on the Bori river intact, following which an assault was made on the Hyderabadi positions at Naldurg by the 2nd Sikh Infantry. The bridge and road secured, an armoured column of the 1st Armoured Brigade - part of the smash force - moved into the town of
JalkotJalkot is a City and tehsil in Latur Division of Latur District in the Indian state of Maharashtra.It is the latest tehsil created in district of Latur.The place is famous for its Mahadeo Temple...
, 8 km from Naldurg, at 0900 hours paving the way for the Strike Force units under Lt. Col Ram Singh Commandant of 9 DOGRA (a motorised battalion) to pass through. This armoured column reached the town of Umarge, 61 km inside Hyderabad by 1515 hours, where it quickly overpowered resistance from Razakar units defending the town.
Meanwhile another column consisting of a squadron of
3rd CavalryThe 3rd Cavalry was a regular cavalry Regiment in the British Indian Army formed from the 5th and 8th Cavalry regiments in 1922.The which served on the North West Frontier and during World War I and World War II.-Early history:...
, a troop from
18th King Edward's Own CavalryThe 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922 by the amalagamation of the 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry and the 7th Hariana Lancers...
, a troop from 9 Para Field Regiment, 10 Field Company Engineers,
3/2 Punjab RegimentThe 2nd Punjab Regiment was a British Indian Army regiment from 1922 to the partition of India in 1947.The regiment was formed by the amalgamation of other regiments:*1st Battalion, from the 67th Punjabis, formerly the 7th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry...
, 2/1 Gurkha Rifles, 1
MewarMewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand and Udaipur. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later became a princely state under the British...
Infantry and ancillary units attacked the town of
TuljapurTuljapur is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative seat of Tuljapur taluka.The town is home to a famous temple, Tulja Bhavani Temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Bhavani...
, about 34 km north-west of Naldurg. They reached Tuljapur at dawn, where they encountered resistance from a unit of the 1st Hyderabad Infantry and about 200 Razakars who fought for two hours before surrendering. Further advance towards the town of
LoharaLohara is a tehsil in Balapur subdivision of Akola district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-References:Lohara is the name of a dynasty of Hindu Emperors in India, prior to the advent of Muslim rule....
was stalled as the river had swollen. The first day on the Western front ended with the Indians inflicting heavy casualties on the Hyderabadis and capturing large tracts of territory. Amongst the captured defenders was a British mercenary who had been tasked with blowing up the bridge near
NaldurgNaldurg is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.Tulja Bhavani, revered deity of Maharashtra, at whose feet Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj received inspiration to establish Hindvi Swaraj, is at Tuljapur is in this district in which Shree Sant Goroba...
.
In the East, forces led by Lt. Gen A.A. Rudra met with fierce resistance from two armoured units of
Humber armoured carThe Humber Armoured Car was one of the most widely produced British armoured cars of World War II. It supplemented the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and remained in service until the end of the war.-History:...
s and
StaghoundThe T17 and the T17E1 were American armored cars produced during the Second World War. They did not see service with frontline US forces but the latter was supplied via the United Kingdom to British and Commonwealth forces during the war and received the service name Staghound.-History:In July...
armoured cars, but managed to reach the town of Kodar by 0830 hours. Pressing on, the force reached Mungala by the afternoon.
There were further incidents in
Hospet----Hosapete, formerly Hospet is a city in Bellary District in northern Karnataka, India. Hosapete is on the Tungabhadra River, 12 km from Hampi, the site of the ruins of the medieval city of Vijayanagara, former capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Tungabhadra Dam is here and was built in the...
- where the 1st Mysore assaulted and secured a sugar factory from units of Razakars and Pathans - and at Tungabhadra - where the 5/5 Gurkha attacked and secured a vital bridge from the Hyderabadi army.
Day 2, September 14
The force that had camped at Umarge proceeded to the town of Rajasur, 48 km east. As aerial reconnaissance had shown well entrenched ambush positions set up along the way, the air strikes from squadrons of
TempestsThe Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
were called in. These air strikes effectively cleared the route and allowed the land forces to reach and secure Rajasur by the afternoon.
The assault force from the East was meanwhile slowed down by an anti-tank ditch and later came under heavy fire from hillside positions of the 1st Lancers and
5th InfantryThe 5th Mahratta Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, whenthe Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. The regiment fought in World War II and raised 30 battalions...
6 km from Surriapet. The positions were assaulted by the 2/5 Gurkha - veterans of the
Burma CampaignThe Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, the Burmese Independence Army and the Indian National Army...
- and was neutralised with the Hyderabadis taking severe casualties.
At the same time, the 3/11 Gurkha Rifles and a squadron of 8th Cavalry attacked
OsmanabadOsmanabad is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Osmanabad is located at . It has an average elevation of 647 metres .-Demographics:...
and took the town after heavy street combat with the Razakars who gave a determined resistance to the Indians.
A force under the command of Maj. Gen. D.S. Brar was tasked with capturing the city of
AurangabadAurangabad Aurangabad Aurangabad ( ( , meaning "Built by the Throne", named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb), is a city in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, India. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO...
. The city was attacked by six columns of infantry and cavalry, resulting in the civil administration emerging in the afternoon and offering a surrender to the Indians.
There were further incidents in
JalnaJalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Jalna is located at . It has an average elevation of 489 metres .-Demographics:...
where 3 Sikh, a company of 2 Jodhpur infantry and some tanks from 18 Cavalry faced stubborn resistance from Hyderabadi forces.
Day 3, September 15
Leaving a company of 3/11 Gurkhas to occupy the town of
JalnaJalna may refer to:*Jalna district, an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in western India*Jalna , a city and a municipal council in Jalna district*Jalna , a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency of Maharashtra...
, the remainder of the force moved to
Latur, and later to
MominabadMominabad is one of the neighbourhoods of Orangi Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.There are several ethnic groups in Orangi Town including Urdu speakers, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochs, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis. Over 99% of the population is Muslim...
where they faced action against the 3 Golconda Lancers who gave a token resistance and soon surrendered.
At the town of Surriapet, air strikes cleared most of the Hyderabadi defences, although some
RazakarRazakar is a Persian word which means volunteer. Razakar may refer to:*Razakars : Islamist East Pakistani militia that aided the Pakistan Army against the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War....
units still gave resistance to the 2/5 Gurkhas who occupied the town. The retreating Hyderabadi forces destroyed the bridge at Musi to delay the Indians but failed to offer covering fire, allowing the bridge to be quickly repaired. Another incident occurred at Narkatpalli where a Razakar unit was decimated by the Indians.
Day 4, September 16
The task force under Lt. Col. Ram Singh moved towards
ZahirabadZahirabad is a town and a municipality in Medak district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Zahirabad is located at . It has an average elevation of 622 metres .-Features:...
at dawn, but was slowed down by a mine field which had to be cleared. On reaching the junction of the Bidar road with the
SolapurSolapur is a city and a municipal corporation in South Western Maharashtra, India near the Karnataka border and is the administrative headquarters of Solapur District. Solapur is one of the four districts that form the region of Western Maharashtra Solapur ( Marathi : सोलापुर) is a city and a...
-Hyderabad City Highway, the forces encountered gunfire from ambush positions. However, leaving some of the units to handle the ambush, the bulk of the force moved on to reach 15 kilometres beyond Zahirabad by nightfall in spite of sporadic resistance along the way. Most of the resistance was from Razakar units who ambushed the Indians as they passed through urban areas. The Razakars were able to use the terrain to their advantage until the Indians brought in their 75 mm guns.
Day 5, September 17
In the early hours of September 17, the Indian army entered
BidarBidar is a city and taluka in Karnataka state, India. It is the administrative seat of Bidar District. Bidar is also known as Karnatakda kerita.Bidar city is known for its unique Bidri handicraft products...
. Meanwhile, forces led by the 1st Armoured regiment were at the town of
ChityalChityal is a village and a mandal in Warangal district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. -Villages:The following are the villages in Chityal mandal:
Ankushapur
Ashireddipalle
Bhavusinghpalle
Bhoopalapally
Chainpaka
...
about 60 km from the capital city, while another column took over the town of
HingoliHingoli is a city and a municipal council in Hingoli district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Hingoli is located at . It has an average elevation of 457 metres .-Rail transport:...
. By the morning of the 5th day of hostilities, it had become clear that the Hyderabad army and the Razakars had been routed on all fronts and with extremely heavy casualties. The
NizamNizam , a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk , meaning Administrator of the Realm, was the title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad State, India, since 1719, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty...
's defeat was now imminent.
Consultations with Indian Envoy
On September 16, faced with imminent defeat, the Nizam summoned the Prime Minister Mir Laik Ali and requested his resignation by the morning of the following day. The resignation was delivered along with the resignations of the entire cabinet.
On the noon of September 17, a messenger brought a personal note from the Nizam to India's Agent General to Hyderabad, K.M. Munshi summoning him to the Nizam's office at 1600 hours. At the meeting, the Nizam stated "The vultures have resigned. I don't know what to do". Munshi advised the Nizam to secure the safety of the citizens of Hyderabad by issuing appropriate orders to the Commander of the Hyderabad State Army, Major General El Edroos. This was immediately done.
Radio Broadcast of Surrender Offer
Munshi also suggested that the Nizam might make a broadcast welcoming the Police Action and withdrawing his complaint to the Security Council. Munshi explained and offered to help draft the speech.
It was the Nizam's first visit to the radio station. No red carpet was spread for him; no formalities were observed. No music, no anthem was played before or after the broadcast. The speech was in English. Nobody bothered to translate it into Urdu. After the broadcast the Nizam drove back to
King Kothi PalaceKing Kothi Palace is a royal palace located in Hyderabad, India. It was the palace where the erstwhile ruler, the Seventh Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, of Hyderabad state lived here.-History:...
to brood.
The Surrender Ceremony
The surrender ceremony was fixed at 4 p.m. General Chaudhuri spoke gravely:
- "I have been ordered by Lt. General Maharaj Rajendrasinhji, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command to take the surrender of your army".
- "You have it".
- "You understand that this surrender is unconditional".
- "Yes, I understand".
Chaudhuri smiled and shook hands with Edroos. Then he opened his cigarette case and offered him a cigarette. Edroos proffered a lighter. Chaudhuri's team joined them. The party drove to the residence of India's Agent General. A jubilant crowd cheered the victorious general there. He waved in return and then sat down to discuss the details with Munshi, Edroos and others.
The Aftermath
"Operation Polo" resulted in moderate casualties for Indian forces, with significantly higher losses for Hyderbadi forces. Indian losses were 32 killed and 97 wounded. Among the Indian units, the
Punjab RegimentPunjab Regiment may refer to the following existing units:*Punjab Regiment *Punjab Regiment From 1922 to 1947, the British Indian Army included 6 numbered Punjab Regiments:*1st Punjab Regiment*2nd Punjab Regiment*8th Punjab Regiment...
had by far suffered the greatest number of casualties, with 20 of its soldiers killed in action. The losses suffered by Hyderbad state forces and Irregular forces combined were 1,863 killed, 122 wounded, and 3,558 captured. In the following weeks the state erupted in widespread communal violence. 50,000 people may have died in the reprisals that followed the invasion. Most of the violence occurred in the state's rural districts, sparking large scale migration both to the capital at Hyderabad, and to
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
.
The Nizam received the ceremonial post of
RajpramukhRajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain of India's provinces and states....
in 1950, but resigned from this office when the states were re-organized in 1956 on linguistic basis and large parts of Hyderabad state went to
Bombay StateThe Bombay State was a former state of India, dissolved with the formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat states on May 1, 1960.-History:During British rule, portions of the western coast of India under direct British rule were part of the Bombay Presidency...
. Many officials and members of the royal family fled and re-settled in
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
where they now live.
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