Question

Provide details of the events leading up to the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union.

Answer 1

Instructions:

• The answer should have 5-8 points.
• Focus on the violence unleashed by the Razaks.
• Mention the counterattack by the leaders revolting against the Nizam.

Solution:

The following actions were taken during the struggle against the Nizam:

• The freedom struggle for Hyderabad was led by Swami Ramananda Tirtha and Hardikar Manjappa. Ramananda Tirtha went across the Hyderabad state and organised satyagraha movements.
• Popularly known as Gandhi of Karnataka, Manjappa spread awareness about khadi, prohibition and elimination of untouchability.
• The singing of Vande Matram was banned by the government. Ramachandra Rao defied the order and started a struggle known as the Vande Matram Movement. The government imprisoned thousands of people for singing Vande Matram.
• The Congress party’s demand to merge Hyderabad state into the Indian Union resulted in a ban on the party in Hyderabad.
• The Razaks, a part of the Nizam’s forces, began plundering and killing the people. Even then, the cries of Vande Matram continued.
• Hundreds of thousands of people left Hyderabad due to the violence unleashed by the Razaks and took shelter in neighbouring Indian Union territories.
• Counterattack by the people and merger with India:
• Sharanagowda Inamdar, a young leader, launched a counter attack on the Razaks.
• He organised the youth in the region. These people conducted lighting attacks and freed villages from the clutches of the Razaks.
• Camps were built on the borders of Hyderabad which facilitated the armed struggle of the youth against the Razaks.
• When India attained independence, Hyderabad had rejected the proposal to join it.
• On 17 September, 1948, Indian Army units were ordered to go into Hyderabad by Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel, the Home Minister of India.
• The Nizam had to surrender and Hyderabad became a part of India.