Hyderabad State | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1724–1948 | |||||||||
| Motto: Al-ʿAẓmatu Lillāh' ("Greatness belongs to God") Ya Osman ("Oh Osman") | |||||||||
 Show map ofSouth Asia in 1805 as "Nizam'sDominions".svg) Map of Hyderabad StateHyderabad (dark green) andBerar Province, not a part of Hyderabad State but also the Nizam's Dominion between 1853 and 1903 (light green) | |||||||||
| Status | Vassal state of theMughal Empire(de jure, 1724–1858) Semi-independent under British protection(1798–1858) Princely state ofIndia(1858–1947) Unrecognised independent state(1947–1948) | ||||||||
| Capital | Aurangabad (1724–1763) Hyderabad (1763–1948) | ||||||||
| Official languages | Persian (Court and revenue 1724–1886) andUrdu (dynastic)[1] Urdu (For Court and revenue from 1886–1948) | ||||||||
| Common languages | Telugu (48.2%) Marathi (26.4%) Kannada (12.3%) Deccani Urdu (10.3%)[2][3] | ||||||||
| Religion | |||||||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Nizam | |||||||||
• 1724–1748 | Asaf Jah I (first) | ||||||||
• 1911–1948 | Asaf Jah VII (last) | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1724–1730 | Iwaz Khan (first) | ||||||||
• 1947–1948 | Mir Laiq Ali (last) | ||||||||
| Historical era | . | ||||||||
• Established | 31 July 1724 | ||||||||
| 1946 | |||||||||
| 18 September 1948 | |||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 1941[7] | 214,187 km2 (82,698 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1941[7] | 16,338,534 | ||||||||
| Currency | Hyderabadi rupee | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | India | ||||||||
Hyderabad State (pronunciationⓘ)[8] was aprincely state in theDeccan region of south-centralIndia with its capital at the city ofHyderabad. It is now divided into the present-day state ofTelangana, theKalyana-Karnataka region ofKarnataka, and theMarathwada region ofMaharashtra in India.
The state was ruled from 1724 to 1948 by theNizam, who was initially aviceroy of theMughal empire in theDeccan. Hyderabad gradually became the first princely state to come underBritish paramountcy signing asubsidiary alliance agreement. During the British rule in 1901, the state had a revenue of₹4,17,00,000.[9] The native inhabitants of Hyderabad State, regardless of ethnic origin, are called "Mulki" (countryman), a term still used today.[10][11]
The dynasty declared itself an independent monarchy during the final years of theBritish Raj. After thePartition of India, Hyderabad signed astandstill agreement with the newdominion of India, continuing all previous arrangements except for the stationing of Indian troops in the state. Hyderabad's location in the middle of the Indian Union, as well as its diverse cultural heritage led toIndia's annexation of the state in 1948.[12] Subsequently,Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam, signed aninstrument of accession, joining India.[13]
Hyderabad State was founded byMir Qamar-ud-din Khan who was the governor of Deccan under theMughals from 1713 to 1721. In 1724, following theBattle of Shakar Kheda, he resumed rule from the Mughal provincial capital of Aurangabad, under the title ofAsaf Jah (granted by Mughal EmperorMuhammad Shah). His other title,Nizam ul-Mulk (Order of the Realm), became the title of his position "Nizam of Hyderabad". By the end of his rule, the Nizam had become independent from the Mughals, and had founded theAsaf Jahi dynasty.[14][15]
Following the decline of the Mughal power, the region of Deccan saw the rise of theMaratha Empire. The Nizam himself saw many invasions by the Marathas in the 1720s, which resulted in the Nizam paying a regularChauth (tax) to the Marathas. The major battles fought between the Marathas and the Nizam includePalkhed, Rakshasbhuvan, andKharda, all which the Nizam lost.[16][17] Following the conquest of Deccan byBajirao I and the imposition ofChauth by him, Nizam remained a tributary of the Marathas for all intent and purposes.[18]
In 1763, the Nizam shifted the capital to the city ofHyderabad.[15] From 1778, a BritishEast India Company (EIC) resident and EIC soldiers were installed in his dominions. In 1795, theNizam lost some of his territories to theMarathas. The territorial gains of the Nizam fromMysore as a British ally were ceded to the East India Company to meet the cost of maintaining the EIC garrison.[14]
In 1768, the Nizam signed theTreaty of Masulipatam[19] ceding theNorthern Circars to British. Later in 1779, the Nizams along with Marathas and Hyder Ali Mysore came together and formed an alliance against the British. This resulted in British defeating the alliance and subsequently Nizam in 1788 had to cedeGuntur to British. Subsequently the Nizams had to sign various treaties, the most important of this was the signing of Treaty of Subsidiary Alliance under which Nizams had ceded most of the power to the British. Gradually the entire coastal areas were lost to the British and Hyderabad became a landlocked kingdom.[20]
In 1798,Nizam ʿĀlī Khan (AsafJah II) was forced to enter into an agreement that put Hyderabad under British protection. He was the first Indian prince to sign such an agreement. (Consequently, the ruler of Hyderabad rated a 23-gunsalute during the period ofBritish India.)[citation needed] The Crown retained the right to intervene in case of misrule.[14]
Hyderabad underAsaf Jah II was a British ally in the second and thirdMaratha Wars (1803–05, 1817–19),Anglo-Mysore wars, and would remain loyal to the British during theIndian Rebellion of 1857 (1857–58).[14][21]
His son,Asaf Jah III Mir Akbar Ali Khan (known asSikandar Jah) ruled from 1803 to 1829. During his rule, a British cantonment was built in Hyderabad and the area was named in his honour,Secunderabad.[22] The British Residency atKoti was also built during his reign by the then British ResidentJames Achilles Kirkpatrick.[23]
Sikander Jah was succeeded byAsaf Jah IV, who ruled from 1829 to 1857 and was succeeded by his sonAsaf Jah V.[24]
Asaf Jah V's reign from 1857 to 1869 was marked by reforms by hisPrime MinisterSalar Jung I. Before this time, there was no regular or systematic form of administration, and the duties were in the hands of theDiwan (Prime Minister), and corruption was thus widespread.[25]
In 1867, the State was divided into five divisions and seventeen districts, and subedars (governors) were appointed for the five Divisions andtalukdars andtehsildars for the districts. The judicial, public works, medical, educational, municipal, and police departments were re-organised.[26] In 1868,sadr-i-mahrams (Assistant Ministers) were appointed for the Judicial, Revenue, Police, and Miscellaneous Departments.[27]
Later on, Asaf Jah VI succeeded the position.
Asaf Jah VI Mir Mahbub Ali Khan became the Nizam at the age of three years. Hisregents wereSalar Jung I and Shams-ul-Umra III and later onAsman Jah andViqar-ul-Umra. He assumed full rule at the age of 17 and ruled until he died in 1911.[28][29][30] His reign saw the official language of Hyderabad State shift from Persian to Urdu, a change implemented in the 1880s during the short tenure of Prime MinisterSalar Jung II.[31]
TheNizam's Guaranteed State Railway was established during his reign to connect Hyderabad State to the rest ofBritish India. It was headquartered atSecunderabad Railway Station.[32][33] Therailway marked the beginning of industry in Hyderabad, and factories were built in Hyderabad city.[28][34]
During his rule, theGreat Musi Flood of 1908 struck the city of Hyderabad, which killed an estimated 50,000 people. The Nizam opened all his palaces for public asylum.[35][36][37]
He also abolishedSati where women used to jump into their husband's burning pyre, by issuing a royalfirman.[38]
The lastNizam of HyderabadMir Osman Ali Khan ruled the state from 1911 until 1948. He was given the title "Faithful Ally of the British Empire".[14] After Operation Polo, he continued to rule the state until January 1950, but in name only.[39]
The Nizam established theHyderabad State Bank. Hyderabad was the only independent state in theIndian subcontinent that had its own currency, theHyderabadi rupee.[40] TheBegumpet Airport was established in the 1930s with formation ofHyderabad Aero Club by the Nizam. Initially, it was used as a domestic and international airport for Nizam'sDeccan Airways, the earliest airline in British India. The terminal building was created in 1937.[41]
To prevent anothergreat flood, the Nizam also constructed two lakes, namely theOsman Sagar andHimayath Sagar. TheOsmania General Hospital,Jubilee Hall,State Library (then known asAsifia Kutubkhana) andPublic Gardens (then known asBagh e Aam) were constructed during this period.[42][43]
In 1947India gained independence andPakistan came into existence. The British left the local rulers of theprincely states the choice of whether to join one or the other or to remain independent. On 11 June 1947, the Nizam issued a declaration to the effect that he had decided not to participate in the Constituent Assembly of either Pakistan or India.
However, the Nizams were Muslim ruling over a predominantly Hindu population.[14]India insisted that the great majority of residents wanted to join India.[44]
The Nizam was in a weak position as his army numbered only 24,000 men, of whom only some 6,000 were fully trained and equipped.[45]
On 21 August 1948, the Secretary-General of the Hyderabad Department of External Affairs requested the President of the United Nations Security Council, under Article 35(2) of theUnited Nations Charter, to consider the "grave dispute, which, unless settled byinternational law and justice, is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security".[46][non-primary source needed]
On 4 September the Prime Minister of HyderabadMir Laiq Ali announced to the Hyderabad Assembly that a delegation was about to leave forLake Success, headed byMoin Nawaz Jung.[47] The Nizam also appealed, without success, to the BritishLabour Government and tothe King for assistance, to fulfil their obligations and promises to Hyderabad by "immediate intervention". Hyderabad only had the support ofWinston Churchill and the BritishConservatives.[48]
At 4 a.m. on 13 September 1948, India's Hyderabad Campaign, code-named "Operation Polo" by theIndian Army, began. Indian troops invaded Hyderabad from all points of the compass. On 13 September 1948, the Secretary-General of the Hyderabad Department of External Affairs in a cablegram informed the United Nations Security Council that Hyderabad was being invaded by Indian forces and that hostilities had broken out. The Security Council took notice of it on 16 September in Paris. The representative of Hyderabad called for immediate action by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The Hyderabad representative responded to India's excuse for the intervention by pointing out that the Stand-still Agreement between the two countries had expressly provided that nothing in it should give India the right to send in troops to assist in the maintenance of internal order.[49][non-primary source needed]
At 5 p.m. on 17 September, the Nizam's army surrendered. The Government of Hyderabad resigned, and militarygovernors and chief ministers were appointed by the Nizam at India's direction.[50][51] The new military government was headed byMajor General J. N. Chaudhuri who had led Operation Polo. Afirman issued by the Nizam on November 24, 1949, accepted that the Indian Constitution applied to the State of Hyderabad.[39]
The Nizam signed anInstrument of Accession to India on January 25, 1950. The next day, India became aRepublic, and the Nizam was given the new title ofRajpramukh.[39][52][53] India formally incorporated the state of Hyderabad into the Union of India and ended the rule of the Nizams.[54]
After the incorporation of Hyderabad State into India,M. K. Vellodi was appointed as Chief Minister of the state. The Rajpramukh now had little power and the administration of the state was with the help of bureaucrats fromMadras state andBombay state.[55]
In the1952 Legislative Assembly election,Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was elected Chief Minister of Hyderabad State. During this time there were violent agitations by someTelanganites to send back bureaucrats from Madras state, and to strictly implement 'Mulki-rules' (local jobs for locals only), which was part of Hyderabad state law since 1919.[56]
In 1956 during thereorganisation of the Indian States based along linguistic lines, the state of Hyderabad was split up amongAndhra Pradesh andBombay state (laterMaharashtra) andKarnataka.[57]
On 2 June 2014, the state ofTelangana was formed splitting from the rest ofAndhra Pradesh state and formed the 29th state of India, withHyderabad as its capital.
Wilfred Cantwell Smith states that Hyderabad was an area where the political and social structure from medieval Muslim rule had been preserved more or less intact into modern times.[58] The last Nizam was reputed to be the wealthiest man in the world.[59] He was supported by anaristocracy of 1,100 feudal lords who owned a further 30% of the state's land, with some 4 million tenant farmers. The state also owned 50% or more of the capital in all the major enterprises, allowing the Nizam to earn further profits and control their affairs.[60]
Next in the social structure were the administrative and official classes, comprising about 1,500 officials. A number of them were recruited from outside the state. The lower-level government employees were also predominantly Muslim. Effectively, the Muslims of Hyderabad represented an 'upper caste' of the social structure.[61][b]
All power was vested in the Nizam. He ruled with the help of an Executive Council or Cabinet, established in 1893, whose members he was free to appoint and dismiss. The government of the Nizam recruited heavily from the North Indian HinduKayastha caste for administrative posts.[62] There was also an Assembly, whose role was mostly advisory. More than half of its members were appointed by the Nizam and the rest were elected from a carefully limited franchise. There were representatives of Hindus,Parsis, Christians and Depressed Classes in the Assembly. Their influence was however limited due to their small numbers.[63][64]
The state government also had a large number of outsiders (callednon-mulkhis) – 46,800 of them in 1933, including all the members of the Nizam's Executive Council. Hindus and Muslims united in protesting against the practice which robbed the locals of government employment. The movement, however, fizzled out after the Hindu members raised the issue of 'responsible government', which was of no interest to the Muslim members and led to their resignation.[65]
Various properties and wealth owned by the Nizam as part of Hyderabad State are now succeeded by his descendants, including his grandsons Prince Mukarram Jah, Prince Mufakkam Jah & Prince Shahmat Jah and his great-grandson Himayat Ali Mirza among others.[66][67] Himayat Ali Mirza, great-grandson of the Nizam, remarked that his stake in the English state sums up to 36% of the total amount.[66] For claiming the total share of £35 million, Nizam's great-grandson, Himayat Ali Mirza, reached the London High Court.[68]
Up to 1920, there was no political organisation of any kind in Hyderabad. In that year, following British pressure, the Nizam issued afirman appointing a special officer to investigate constitutional reforms. It was welcomed enthusiastically by a section of the populace, who formed the Hyderabad State Reforms Association. However, the Nizam and the Special Officer ignored all their demands for consultation. Meanwhile, the Nizam banned theKhilafat movement in the State as well as all political meetings and the entry of "political outsiders". Nevertheless, some political activity did take place and witnessed cooperation between Hindus and Muslims. The abolition of the Sultanate in Turkey and Gandhi's suspension of theNon-co-operation movement in British India ended this period of cooperation.[64]
An organisation calledAndhra Jana Sangham (later renamedAndhra Mahasabha) was formed in November 1921 and focused on educating the masses ofTelangana in political awareness. With leading members such asMadapati Hanumantha Rao,Burgula Ramakrishna Rao and M. Narsing Rao, its activities included urging merchants to resist offering freebies to government officials and encouraging labourers to resist the system ofbegar (free labour requested at the behest of state). Alarmed by its activities, the Nizam passed a powerful gagging order in 1929, requiring all public meetings to obtain prior permission. But the organisation persisted by mobilising on social issues such as the protection ofryots, women's rights, abolition of thedevadasi system andpurdah, uplifting ofDalits etc. It turned to politics again in 1937, passing a resolution calling for responsible government. Soon afterwards, it split along the moderate–extremist lines. The Andhra Mahasabha's move towards politics also inspired similar movements inMarathwada andKarnataka in 1937, giving rise to theMaharashtra Parishad andKarnataka Parishad respectively.[64]
Hyderabad's first ruler,Asaf Jah I (r. 1724–1748) was a talented commander and assembled a powerful army that allowed Hyderabad to become one of the preeminent states in southern India.[69] After his death, the military was crippled by the succession wars of his sons. It was restored underAsaf Jah II (r. 1762–1803) who modernised the army.[70] Notable units during his reign includedBritish-trained battalions,[71] the French-trainedCorps Français de Raymond which was led byMichel Joachim Marie Raymond and fought under theFrenchTricolour, and the Victorious Battalion, an elite infantry unit entirely composed of women.[72]
![State Emblem of Hyderabad (1947–1948)[73]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aState_Emblem_of_Hyderabad.jpg)
The coat of arms features the full titles of the Nizam at the bottom, and adastar[citation needed]
.svg)
![Flag of State of Hyderabad (1900–1947)[74]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFlag_of_Hyderabad_(1900%25E2%2580%25931947).svg)
Under the leadership ofAsaf Jah V the state changed its traditional heraldic flag.The Asafia flag of Hyderabad. The script along the top readsAl Azmatulillah meaning "All greatness is for God". The bottom script readsYa Uthman which translates to "OhOsman". The writing in the middle reads "Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah"
The stamps of the Hyderabad State featured theGolconda Fort,Ajanta Caves, and theCharminar.[75]
TheHilal-i-Osmania,Tamgha-i-Khusrow-i-Deccan, andTamgha-i-Asafia were orders and decorations conferred by theNizam.[76][77]
Mulkis, or Mulkhis, are the native inhabitants of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, regardless of ethnic differences.[10] The term was popularly used during the1952 Mulkhi Agitation (Telangana), which saw protests demanding job reservations for Mulki people, and demanding non-Mulkis to leave.[78]
As per the 1941 Hyderabad State Census, 2,187,005 people spokeUrdu, 7,529,229 people spokeTelugu, 3,947,089 people spokeMarathi, 1,724,180 people spoke Kanarese (Kannada) as native languages.[80] TheHyderabadi Muslim population, including the rulingAsaf Jahi dynasty numbered around 2,097,475 people, while Hindus numbered around 9,171,318 people.[81]
The architecture of Hyderabad State is very cosmopolitan, and heavily influenced by European and Islamic styles. The Nizam's palaces and several public buildings were built in a distinctive style. The earliest surviving buildings are purely European, examples being theneoclassicalBritish Residency (1798) andFalaknuma Palace (1893). In the early 20th century, theOsmania General Hospital[82]City College,High Court, andKacheguda Railway station were designed in theIndo-Saracenic style byVincent Esch. TheMoazzam Jahi Market was also built in a similar style.[83]
Various major industries emerged in various parts of the State of Hyderabad before its incorporation into the Union of India, especially during the first half of the twentieth century. Hyderabad city had a separate power plant for electricity. However, the Nizams focused on industrial development in the region ofSanathnagar, housing several industries there with transportation facilities by both road and rail.[84]
| Company | Year |
|---|---|
| Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway | 1875 |
| Karkhana Zinda Tilismat | 1920 |
| Singareni Collieries | 1920 |
| Hussain Sagar Thermal Power Station | 1920 |
| Hyderabad Deccan Cigarette Factory | 1930 |
| Vazir Sultan Tobacco Company, Charminar cigarette factory | 1930 |
| Azam Jahi Mills Warangal | 1934 |
| Nizam Sugar Factory | 1937 |
| Sirpur Paper Mills | 1938 |
| Allwyn Metal Works | 1942 |
| Praga Tools | 1943 |
| Deccan Airways Limited | 1945 |
| Hyderabad Asbestos | 1946 |
| Sirsilk | 1946 |
The Nizams from Mīr Qamruíd-Dīn Khān (1724-48) until the sixth ruler of the house Mīr Maḥbūb ʿAlī Khān (1869-1911) used Persian as their court language, in common with the prevailing fashion of their times, though they spoke Urdu at home.
On 17 September 1948, the troops of Hyderabad surrendered and the Government of Hyderabad administration headed by Laik Ali (and including Moin) resigned.
... Government of India had purposely avoided any question of accession and maintained until that date Nizam's authority as source from which military Governors' and chief Ministers' powers were derived.[permanent dead link]
Further, on 26 January 1950 there came into being the Union of India and a new State of the Union of India, the Union State of Hyderabad.[permanent dead link]
... Firman issued by Nizam on 24 November 1949…which suggests that accession became effective on 26 January 1950.[permanent dead link]
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