Hyderabad 1948

About the Book

Hyderabad 1948: An Avoidable Invasion by Syed Ali Hashmi examines the 1948 military invasion of Hyderabad State, commonly referred to as "Police Action." The work presents a recapitulation of the events following the action, tracing the impact on the distinct culture of Hyderabad, the propaganda tactics deployed prior to and during the conflict, and internal betrayals within the Nizam's administration. Drawing upon published sources as well as firsthand testimonies, the author reconstructs the circumstances surrounding the accession and its tragic aftermath.

What You'll Discover

• Analysis of Partition diplomacy, the Cripps Plan, Cabinet Mission Plan, and the Standstill Agreement.
• The socioeconomic conditions, welfare works, and governance under the Asafjahi Dynasty.
• The rise, composition, and actions of the Majlis and Razakar movement under Qasim Razvi.
• Military operations, blockades, border skirmishes, and the defense of Hyderabad.
• The human impact, atrocities, concentration camps, and refugee conditions documented following the military campaign.
• Oral histories and interviews with key eyewitnesses, civil servants, and political leaders.

Table of Contents

1. Preface
2. Prologue to Partition
3. Cripps Plan
4. Cabinet Mission Plan
5. Nehru opted for Partition
6. Jinnah's stand on Partition, or Pakistan
7. Mountbatten succeeds as Viceroy
8. India Independence Act, 1947
9. Post-Partition India
10. Asafjahi Dynasty in the Deccan
11. British hegemony over Hyderabad
12. The special status of Hyderabad among native states
13. Nizam, the richest man of the world
14. Public welfare works
15. Irrigation projects
16. Economic condition of Hyderabad State
17. Hyderabad agricultural produce
18. Hyderabad and Kashmir compared
19. Exodus of Muslims from Jammu
20. Hyderabad among native states
21. Rise of communalism in Hyderabad State
22. The idea of transfer of Muslim population to Hyderabad
23. Genesis of Majlis & Razakar Movement
24. Composition of Razakar force
25. Qasim Razvi
26. Razvi's release and relocation
27. Razvi's quarrel with army chief
28. Razvi meets the Sardar
29. Razakars in the Indian press
30. Atrocities attributed to Razakars
31. Destruction of heroes of Hyderabad
32. Communal harmony, the casualty
33. Standstill Agreement
34. Laiq Ali takes over as PM
35. Negotiations resumed with Government of India
36. Parallels in present times
37. Correspondence continued
38. Rumours in Delhi
39. Parity in the Government
40. Laiq Ali meets men who matter
41. Dialogue breaks
42. Negotiations resume
43. Mountbatten's predictions
44. K. M. Munshi comes as the agent general
45. Truth about border skirmishes
46. Subversive activities of the state Congress
47. Events culminating into the fall
48. Sidney Cotton, the daring aviator
49. Economic Blockade
50. How Hyderabad sustained economic blockade
51. Arms embargo
52. Laiq Ali's last attempt to forestall invasion
53. Legislative powers usurped
54. Hyderabad preferred over Kashmir for accession
55. Propaganda machinery
56. Defence of Hyderabad
57. Hyderabad case in British parliament
58. Bottlenecks for Sidney Cotton
59. Mountbatten's predictions come true
60. Laiq Ali's adventurous journey to Karachi
61. Nizam's struggle for amicable agreement
62. Mirza comes into the picture again
63. Pakistan's role
64. Nehru invited to visit Hyderabad
65. Hyderabad delegation goes to U.N.
66. The Nizam's desperate attempts to stop invasion
67. Churchill's speech in the House of Commons
68. All India Radio and press propaganda
69. Invasion news spreads
70. Invasion of Hyderabad
71. Undeclared war
72. Unequal military might
73. Military strength of Hyderabad before Police Action
74. Nizam's army retreats
75. PWD engineer defended against the invaders
76. Malabari Muslims' defence
77. Individual instances of heroic deeds
78. Defence handed to civilians
79. Atrocities committed by the Indian army
80. The fate of Ittehad leaders
81. Qasim Razvi's fate
82. Genocidal massacre
83. Comparison with prisoners' care during the Nizam's time
84. Arson and atrocities committed by Indian army
85. Fate of refugees
86. Pathans and Arabs
87. Government servants
88. Concentration camps
89. Muslim employees replaced by Hindus
90. Nizam's status
91. Conversion campaign
92. Gen. Chaudhuri's comments on arms catch
93. Police Action a misnomer
94. Causes of the Police Action
95. Inherent weakness of feudal society
96. Caste war turns into a communal war
97. Feudal oppression
98. Communist angle causing Police Action
99. Post-Police Action scenario
100. List of persons aspiring to ministerial berths
101. No regrets from the ruling party
102. Maulana Maududi's recommendations
103. Avoidable invasion
104. Was Nehru aware of the invasion?
105. Hyderabad case in the UNSC
106. The case
107. Constitutional position of Hyderabad
108. Indian Independence Act, 1947
109. Lack of allies in the West
110. Disintegration of Nizam's wealth
111. Oral history
112. Interview with Dr. Raj Bahadur Goud
113. Interview with K. L. Mahendra, trade union leader and former MLC, A. P.
114. Interview with Dr Hasnuddin Ahmed, IAS (retd.) in presence of Dr Rajender Prasad (retd. Postmaster General)
115. Interview with Dr. Hasnuddin Ahmed recorded on different occasions, in person, as well as over telephone
116. Interview with Abdur Rahim Qureshi, Ta'meer-e Millat
117. Interview with Mr. Malik Mohammad Ali Khan
118. Interview with Dr. Rahimuddin Kemal
119. Oral history: personal accounts
120. Sources
121. Index

More About the Author

Syed Ali Hashmi completed his studies in Hyderabad and the United States, and served as a librarian across institutions in India, Iraq, and the US. He has participated in national and international conferences and contributed papers to learned journals.