Osmanistan
Encyclopedia
Osmanistan was the name proposed for an independent state to be created as a successor to the Princely State
of Hyderabad which existed in the Empire of India
before the departure of the British. The princely states that existed before independce of India in 1947 were given the choice of joining one of the new dominions, Pakistan
or India, or in some cases, remain independent. The Nizam of Hyderabad initially chose to join neither India nor Pakistan but when the Indian Army invaded his princely State
he chose to declare independence under the name of Osmanistan. However, his forces were unable to withstand the Indian army and were defeated. The Nizam was forced to accept accession to India. The former princely state was reorganised in 1956 and its territories are now parts of the current Indian states
of Maharashtra
, Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh
.
and the British suzerainty
over the princely states of India ceased, the states had the choice of joining one of the new dominions, Pakistan
or India, or remaining independent. The Nizam (ruler) of Hyderabad
initially planned to join Pakistan, but was persuaded not to do so by the last British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten
. He therefore chose for his state to remain independent, with the projected name of Osmanistan. However, on 13 September 1948 the Indian Army entered
Hyderabad, which was unable to withstand the attack and was quickly overrun, with the last Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII forced to surrender and accept accession to India. The former princely state Hyderabad was reorganised in 1956 and its territories are now parts of the current Indian states
of Maharashtra
, Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh
The Princely State
of Hyderabad was a majority Hindu princely state with a Muslim ruler who chose to remain independent after the Partition of British India
. In September 1948, the Indian government launched the Hyderabad Police Action, using the Indian Army
to take over and integrate Hyderabad State into the Indian Union. After a series of successful actions by different groups of civilians against the local militia composed of Razakars
and with the support of the Indian army, the princely state of Hyderabad ultimately acceded to India after signing a treaty and covenants with the government of India
. For this reason the frailty of Osmanistan, an idea of Choudhary Rahmat Ali’s
scheme, was eventually let off in the demand for Pakistan as it was "unpracticable."
) and Osmanistan. He later even called for a Nasaristan in eastern Ceylon. After the Muslim League's acceptance of the British partition plan on June 3, 1947 he issues a statement 6 days later called "The Great Betrayal" in asking for the rejection of the British plan and the acceptance of his Pakistan plan "to prevent the great evil of Hindu hegemony on Indian Muslims". In the end the British plan was accepted, and his was rejected for the aforementioned pragmatic reasons.
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Hyderabad which existed in the Empire of India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
before the departure of the British. The princely states that existed before independce of India in 1947 were given the choice of joining one of the new dominions, Pakistan
Dominion of Pakistan
The Dominion of Pakistan was an independent federal Commonwealth realm in South Asia that was established in 1947 on the partition of British India into two sovereign dominions . The Dominion of Pakistan, which included modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, was intended to be a homeland for the...
or India, or in some cases, remain independent. The Nizam of Hyderabad initially chose to join neither India nor Pakistan but when the Indian Army invaded his princely State
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
he chose to declare independence under the name of Osmanistan. However, his forces were unable to withstand the Indian army and were defeated. The Nizam was forced to accept accession to India. The former princely state was reorganised in 1956 and its territories are now parts of the current Indian states
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
.
History
After the Partition of British IndiaPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
and the British suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
over the princely states of India ceased, the states had the choice of joining one of the new dominions, Pakistan
Dominion of Pakistan
The Dominion of Pakistan was an independent federal Commonwealth realm in South Asia that was established in 1947 on the partition of British India into two sovereign dominions . The Dominion of Pakistan, which included modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, was intended to be a homeland for the...
or India, or remaining independent. The Nizam (ruler) of Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :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...
initially planned to join Pakistan, but was persuaded not to do so by the last British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. He therefore chose for his state to remain independent, with the projected name of Osmanistan. However, on 13 September 1948 the Indian Army entered
Operation Polo
Operation Polo code name for The Hyderabad Police Action was a military operation in September 1948 in which the Indian Armed Forces engaged those of the State of Hyderabad and ended the rule of Nizam, annexing the state into the Indian Union....
Hyderabad, which was unable to withstand the attack and was quickly overrun, with the last Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII forced to surrender and accept accession to India. The former princely state Hyderabad was reorganised in 1956 and its territories are now parts of the current Indian states
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
The Princely State
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Hyderabad was a majority Hindu princely state with a Muslim ruler who chose to remain independent after the Partition of British India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
. In September 1948, the Indian government launched the Hyderabad Police Action, using the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
to take over and integrate Hyderabad State into the Indian Union. After a series of successful actions by different groups of civilians against the local militia composed of Razakars
Razakars (Hyderabad)
Razakars were a private 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 with the support of the Indian army, the princely state of Hyderabad ultimately acceded to India after signing a treaty and covenants with the government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. For this reason the frailty of Osmanistan, an idea of Choudhary Rahmat Ali’s
Choudhary Rahmat Ali
Choudhry Rahmat Ali was a Pakistani Muslim nationalist who was one of the earliest proponents of the creation of the state of Pakistan. He is credited with creating the name "Pakistan" for a separate Muslim homeland in South Asia and is generally known as the founder of the movement for its...
scheme, was eventually let off in the demand for Pakistan as it was "unpracticable."
Rahmat Ali’s plan
Chaudhry's scheme did not initially call for an Osmanistan. However, on 8 March 1940 he proposed a new scheme for the establishment of Pakistan, Bangalistan (East BengalEast Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
) and Osmanistan. He later even called for a Nasaristan in eastern Ceylon. After the Muslim League's acceptance of the British partition plan on June 3, 1947 he issues a statement 6 days later called "The Great Betrayal" in asking for the rejection of the British plan and the acceptance of his Pakistan plan "to prevent the great evil of Hindu hegemony on Indian Muslims". In the end the British plan was accepted, and his was rejected for the aforementioned pragmatic reasons.