Rare Photos Of Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948

O

peration Polo code name for The Hyderabad Police Action was a military operation in September 1948 in which the Indian Armed Forces invaded the State of Hyderabad and ended the rule of Nizam, annexing the state into the Indian Union.

Major General Syed Ahmed 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 (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

The conflict began after Nizam Osman Ali Khan, Asif Jah VII decided not to join the princely State of Hyderabad to either India or Pakistan after the partition of India. The Nizam's defiance was backed by Qasim Razvi's armed militias, known as Razakars and had the moral support of Pakistan. After a stalemate in negotiations between the Nizam and India, and wary of a hostile independent state in the centre of India, Deputy Prime 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.

The operation was called "Operation Polo" because at that time, Hyderabad state had some 17 polo grounds, the largest number in India.

Crowds Cheering Indian Army  (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

SEE COMPLETE GALLERY OF OPERATION POLO / HYDERABAD POLICE ACTION 1948 AFTER THE CONTENT

The State of Hyderabad, located over most of the Deccan Plateau in southern India, was established in 1724 by Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah after the collapse of the Mughal Indian Empire. 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 Alliance instituted by Arthur Wellesley. When the British finally departed from the Indian subcontinent in 1947, they offered the various princely states in the sub-continent the option of acceding to 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 82,698 square miles (214,190 km2) 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, airline, telecommunication system, railway network, postal system, currency and radio broadcasting service.

Nizam decided to keep Hyderabad independent. The leaders of the new Union of India however, were wary of having an independent - and possibly hostile - state in the heart of their new country and were determined to assimilate Hyderabad into the Indian Union, even if it were by compulsion, unlike the other 565 princely states, most of which had already acceded to India or to Pakistan voluntarily.

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 Vallabhbhai 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 Mountbatten 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. Truman 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 Razvi, a close advisor, and leader of the radical Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Party, to set up a voluntary militia of Muslims called the 'Razakars'. 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 Telangana, large groups of peasants, aided by the Communist Party of India and Andhra Mahasabha, revolted against local Hindu and Muslim landlords, and also came into direct confrontation with the Razakars, in what became known as the Telangana Rebellion. Meanwhile, parties like the Hyderabad State Congress were involved in non-violent protests against the Nizam's rule.

On 4 December 1947, Narayan Rao Pawar, a member of a Hindu nationalist organisation called the Arya Samaj, made a failed attempt to assassinate the Nizam outside his palace.

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 horse cavalry regiment, 11 infantry battalions and artillery. These were supplemented by irregular units with 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. 55 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 Cotton.

As the Indian government received information that Hyderabad was arming itself and was preparing to ally with Pakistan in any future war against 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".

Finally, the Police Action against Hyderabad was started on Monday, 13th September 1948. There was hardly any resistance from the Hyderabad forces. The Indian forces reached the outskirts of the city four days later.

On 16 September, 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 17 September, 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.

It was the Nizam's first visit to the radio station. The Nizam of Hyderabad, in his radio speech on 23 September 1948, said "In November last [1947], a small group which had organized a quasi-military organization surrounded the homes of my Prime Minister, the Nawab of Chhatari, in whose wisdom I had complete confidence, and of Sir Walter Monkton, my constitutional Adviser, by duress compelled the Nawab and other trusted ministers to resign and forced the Laik Ali Ministry on me. This group headed by Kasim Razvi had no stake in the country or any record of service behind it. By methods reminiscent of Hitlerite Germany it took possession of the State, spread terror ... and rendered me completely helpless."

Major 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

According to the records maintained by Indian Army, General Chaudhari lead an armoured column into Hyderabad at around 4 p.m. on September 18 and the Hyderabad army, led by Major General El Edroos, surrendered.

RARE PHOTOS OF OPERATION POLO / HYDERABAD POLICE ACTION 1948

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri talking with Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi (Kulapati Dr. K. M. Munshi) - Agent-General of India in Hyderabad State (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Last Prime Minister of Hyderabad State Mir Laik Ali (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Syed Kasim Razvi (Qasim Razvi)- Razakars chief of Hyderabad State, a local militia (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (R) shaking hands with Lt. General Maharaj Kumar Shri Rajendrasinhji (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri talking with Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan with First Indian Union Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhai Patel (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri flank the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan after he signed the accession to India in September 1948 (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru with last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Mecca Masjid, September 1948 (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Crowds Cheering Indian Army (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Charminar Street (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Azam Jah (Prince of Berar) Eldest Son of Last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah VII (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Indian Army Vehicles (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Hussain Sagar, Tank Bund Road (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi (Kulapati Dr. K. M. Munshi) - Agent-General of India in Hyderabad State (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hyderabad Town hall (Now The Andhra Pradesh State Assembly), September 1948 (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri talking with Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Syed Kasim Razvi (Qasim Razvi)- Razakars chief of Hyderabad State, a local militia (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Soldiers (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Nawab Deen Yar Jung Bahadur - Hyderabad Police Commissioner During Operation Polo

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (R) shaking hands with Lt. General Maharaj Kumar Shri Rajendrasinhji (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri talking with Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Soliders (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Vehicles (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Vehicles (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hussain Sagar, Tank Bund Road (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri talking with Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri and Last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan at the King Kothi Palace, Hyderabad (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan receiving first Indian Union Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, at the Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Charminar Street (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Last Prime Minister of Hyderabad State Mir Laik Ali
(Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Azam Jah (Prince of Berar) Eldest Son of Last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah VII (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri talking with Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Indian Army Soldier (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri talking with Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Azam Jah (Prince of Berar) Eldest Son of Last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah VII (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Indian Army Vehicles (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Major General Syed Ahmed 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 (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Vehicles (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Vehicles (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Hyderabad State Forces (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Razakars, a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Vehicles (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Azam Jah (Prince of Berar) Eldest Son of Last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah VII (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Indian Army Tanks (Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic)

Operation Polo / Hyderabad Police Action 1948 Pic

Source: merepix