ఆపరేషన్ పోలో 1948: హైదరాబాద్‌ను భారత్‌లో కలిపిన ఐదు రోజులు

Operation Polo, 1948: The five days that brought Hyderabad into India

While the entire country celebrated independence on August 15, 1947, the people of Hyderabad State did not get that freedom. It was only about a year later, on September 17, 1948, that the region became a part of India. What happened in between? What is "Operation Polo"?

Hyderabad State

During British rule, there were over 560 princely states in India. The largest and wealthiest of them was Hyderabad. It included parts of present-day Telangana, Maharashtra (Marathwada), and Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka). The seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was known as one of the richest men in the world at that time.

The dream of an independent kingdom

At the time of independence, the princely states were to join either India or Pakistan. Many princely states were merged with India. But the Nizam wanted to remain independent. In November 1947, a "standstill agreement" was signed with the Indian government for a year. Negotiations continued during this time, but without any results.

Razakars' atrocities

During this period, the Majlis Party armed force "Razakars" led by Qasim Razvi created terror throughout the state. Attacks on villages, murders, robberies, and atrocities against women took place. Those who demanded merger with India and those who criticized the Nizam's rule were targeted. On the other hand, an armed peasant struggle was going on in the villages of Telangana. State Congress leaders launched the "Join India" movement. The Center felt that the situation was getting out of control.

Sardar Patel's decision

The country's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel considered the existence of an independent, hostile state in the middle of the country a threat to national security. When negotiations failed, a decision was made to take military action. This was officially called "Police Action". The military code name was "Operation Polo" — it is said that the name was derived from the large number of polo grounds in Hyderabad at that time.

Those five days (September 13–17, 1948)

The Indian army, led by Major General J.N. Chowdhury, entered the state from several directions, including Solapur and Vijayawada, on September 13. Although the Nizam's army and the Razakars resisted at some places, the Indian army advanced rapidly. On the evening of September 17, the Nizam announced his surrender over radio. On September 18, the Nizam's army chief surrendered. Qasim Razvi was arrested; he later fled to Pakistan.

What happened next?

For some time, J.N. Chowdhury was the military governor, and then the civilian rule continued. The Nizam continued as the "Rajpramukh". The first democratic elections were held in 1952 and Burgula Ramakrishna Rao became the Chief Minister. The "Sunderlal Committee" prepared a report on the violence that occurred in some areas during the police action and later — that chapter is also a part of history.

September 17 — One day, many names

There are different opinions on how to call this day. Some call it "Liberation Day", others call it "Merger Day". Different governments have organized official events under names like "National Integration Day" and "Democratic Governance Day". Whatever the name, today is the day the people of Hyderabad became part of democratic India.

Conclusion

Operation Polo was not just a five-day military operation; it was the end of two centuries of Nizam rule and a new beginning for the political future of the Telugu people. Students preparing for competitive exams should definitely remember these dates and names.

Photo: Archives of the Chicago Sun-Times / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)