Nizam regime; Controversies Continue to Haunt

17th September every year is celebrated as Liberation Day to commemorate the end of Nizam regime and beginning of a new chapter in the form of democratic form of popular government. However, the claims, counter claims and controversies continue to remain till date.

Nizam not a foreigner: Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the last Nizam or Nizam VII contradicts the popular assumptions and says: "Liberation means liberating from foreign yoke or from foreign rulers. The Nizam was not a foreigner. Hence the question of liberation did not arise. It is equally incorrect to say that the monarchical rule of Nizam VII came to an end and ushered in democracy. They were no participation of the people and much less of politicians... 

...Day of Genocide: The wounds of Operation Polo (Police Action) are still deep and fresh. It is not a liberation day but the day of genocide, the implications of which can be felt even today. The horrible memories still hound the minds causing trauma to many poor civilians. Thousands of common men were massacred by the Indian Army in the Hyderabad state as documented in Sunder Lal Committee Report. The name of ‘Operation Polo’ which is known in the history as ‘Police Action but, it was a Military invasion.

Surrender of Hyderabad Army: "On 17th September at 5 pm H.E.H Sir Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur Nizam VII visited Radio Deccan and addressed the people that he had ordered the surrender of Hyderabad army, allowed Indian army to enter Hyderabad city. Curfew was clamped in Hyderabad city on 17 September therefore there is no participation of common man. Transition of Power was done without bloodshed by the Nizam Army. At the time of surrendering the Nizam State my grandfather was sitting on the Pray mat and praying for the betterment of his subjects", informs Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the last Nizam or Nizam VII.

Nizam VII, modern architect of Hyderabad: "Nizam’s 37 years rule changed the face of Hyderabad with numerous progress in every sector. He was the architect of modern Hyderabad. All his subjects have derived some sort of benefit from him and he never shied away from providing any help to anyone. Telangana was famous for its Ganga -Jamuni Tehzeeb (tradition of Hindu-Muslim unity). People of all religions lived peacefully together for years. This was a period of peace and tranquillity with secularism as it’s essential form of governance. The Nizam stated “Hindus and Muslim are like my two eyes, how can I favour one eye over the other”, says Najaf Ali Khan.

Several reforms in administration: He also asserts: "In his rule of 37 year there were no hangings and he implemented several reforms in the administration. He never interfered in the Judicial System and always kept it separate from the executive. He separated the executive from the judiciary. In 1950 he was made Rajpramukh, the present position of Governor with full powers and he took a salary of Rs 1 per month. He never used any Government Machinery and voluntary gave up the position 1956.

Extraordinary Gazette issued: On the demise of Nizam VII, On 24 Feb 1967 the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued an Extraordinary Gazette and some of its extracts were:

“His Exalted Highness the Nizam also deeply solicitous of the welfare of the depressed classes. His Exalted Highness kept up the tradition of the house of Asaf Jah to observe absolute impartiality in matters pertaining to the religions of different communities in the Dominions.

His Exalted Highness the Nizam was appointed Rajpramukh. He continued to fill this high office till the Reorganization of States in November 1956.

His Exalted Highness gave substantial contributions to variety of institutions to all creeds and communities.

The country has lost a premier prince and oldest of the former Rulers of the Princely States.

State Government Offices in the State will as a mark of respect, remain closed on 25th February 1967, the day on which the funeral takes place and the Flags will be flown at half-mast on all State Government buildings throughout the State. State mourning will be observed will no public entertainment by/on behalf of Government that day”, recalls Najaf Ali Khan.

Remembered for philanthropic work: "Even after 55 years of his passing away people not only in Hyderabad but all over the World remember him for his philanthropic work. His funeral was the largest gathering in the history and the whole region mourned his death...

...A series of buildings and institutions: In his rule Nizam VII pioneered many buildings and institutions and founded the High Court, Osmania Hospital, Osmania University, Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar Nizam Sagar, State Bank of Hyderabad, Jagirdar College (Hyderabad Public School), Asia Library (Central Library), Drainage System(underground),Iron Rolling Factory, Deccan Button Factory, Chemical Factory, Deccan Gless Factory, Azamjahi Mills, Deccan Road & Train Dept ,Nizam Sugar Factory , City Development Board, Hyderabad Civil Service, Archeology Dept, Kacheguda Railway Station, Begumpet Airport, Electricity Dept, Deccan Airways, ENT Hospital, Karantine (Present Fever Hospital), Unani Ayurvedic Hospital, Women's College Kothi, Niloufer Hospital for Children, Niloufer Cancer Hospital and others", lists out Najaf Ali Khan.

Industrial Trust Fund: "The Nizam Government created an Industrial Trust Fund with a capital of Rs 1 Crore to invest in large scale industries. A separate Department for Industries was formed and Industrial areas like Sanathnagar and Musheerabad were created exclusively for the establishment and promotion of Industries. His commercial policy led to growth and progress of several indigenous industries. These industries played a vital role in the State Economy and provided employment opportunities for the people. Many cottage industries were given several incentives for improvement and increase in production like Textile, Bidri, Sliver, Carpets, Embroidery, Toys and Crafts", exclaims Najaf Ali Khan.

Mineral resources, Gold mines: He says, "The mineral resources were a great asset while places like Raichur, Gulbarga, Adilabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar played an important role. Gold Mines of Hatti, Raichur, Wadilli and Topaldoddi produced Gold which was exported abroad. In Power Sector there were separate power plants in Warangal, Gulbarga and Nanded".

School for SC/STs': "The school for Deaf & Dumb which was source of education and has educated thousands of students. Several School were open for the Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes community for their education", he added.

Secular Nizam: Najaf Ali Khan narrates any number of instances to substantiate the secular nature of the Nizam VII : "There are scores of examples of the secular nature of Nizam VII. This was practically demonstrated by appointing Sir Maharaja Kishen Parshad as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. He always granted regular financial assistance to Mosques, Temples, Churches and Gurudwaras and other places of worship and did not make any discrimination. The Nizam VII was a believer in equality among all human beings. Once he expressed his views that “to me all communities are alike. Neither any one is superior, nor inferior, I consider all human beings alike”. His rule was considered the Golden Period of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty during which Hyderabad progressed and prospered remarkably. He was equally popular among his non-Muslim subject, as an unbiased and secular minded King who considered both Hindu subjects and the Muslim subjects as his two eyes".

Nizam Charitable Trust: Najaf Ali Khan gives a long list of philanthropic deeds of the late Nizam VII : 

"The Nizam Charitable Trust was established for common man with the corpus amount of Rs 5 Cr which is still existing and helping the poor in the form of monthly pensions and scholarships. The Nizam Orthopaedic Hospital was built by Nizam VII in the year 1954 and was given on Rs 1 per month lease for 99 years to State Government the value of the said Property is thousands of crores...

...Timeline some of the grants & donations made by the Nizam VII

The Nizam donated Rs.1,00,000 to Banaras Hindu University. Even today there is a Nizam Hyderabad Colony in the Banaras Hindu University where dozens of teachers and their families reside. The Grants to Hindu Temples was tradition of the earlier Nizams during the nineteenth century and was continued by the Nizam VII.

The Nizam VII’s secular polices and religious tolerance towards the people is evident from grants in cash or land , he made regularly monthly or annually to the scores of Temples, within the state and to some outside the state in order to meet the daily expenses of the Temple, Subsistence allowance for various persons serving in the temples, including Pujari Pandit etc was also paid monthly.

Various Temples who were beneficiaries of the Nizam VII generous grants are listed here along with the amount of the grant they received.

1. Sita Ram Bagh Temple in Hyderabad was granted Rs.50,000/ annually. And the Pandit Rambilas, the priest of Sita Ram Bagh Temple was paid monthly. But when he died, the grant was continued to his son Jai Bhagwean Das and sanctioned to him Rs.20/ per month.

2. Kishan Bagh Temple in Hyderabad was granted Rs. 15,000.

3. Jham Sing Temple Hyderabad was granted Rs. 10,000.

4. Yadgiri Tempolke in Bhogir was granted highest amount Rs 82,825.

5. Nagnath Tempole in Jalna was granted Rs. 628.

6. Sree Ainalwada was granted Rs.50,000.

7. Sree Ramnavami Temple at Bhadrachalam was granted Rs. 29,000.

8. Sree Balaji Temple at Tirupati was granted Rs.8,000.

9. Kasinath Temple at Vololini was granted Rs. 3,129.

10. Sree BalaSahib Temple at Ambar wa granted Rs. 2,305.

11. Math Khemdas was granted Rs. 10,000.

12. Math Bhagwan Gunj was granted Rs.4,000.

13. Math Balakdas was granted Rs. 60,000.

14. Sikhar Temple at Adilabad was granted Rs. 60,000.

15. Sree Aknath Temple at Patan was granted Rs.24,000.

16. The twin Temples at Anantgiri and Balaji in the Nanded District was given cash grant of Rs.1,390.

17. Badrachallam Temple Rs.1.900.

18. Cash grant of RS. 20,495 was made for the repairs of the Anantgiri Balaji Temple.

Several Hindu Priest, living or deceased were paid pension for subsistence, either monthly or annually".

5,000 Kilograms of Gold donated: Najaf Ali Khan says: "In 1965 the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri started collecting funds to combat the potential threat from the neighbouring countries. He set up National Défense Fund for the purpose. The Prime Minister headed for Hyderabad hoping that the Nizam would not disappoint Indian government and contribute generously to the National Defence Fund. Without a second thought, the Nizam announced that he would contribute 5 tons (5,000Kg) of gold for National Defence Fund. The announcement left the people present there flabbergasted. Asif Jah VII created a record by making the biggest ever contribution by any individual or organization in India that remains unsurpassed till today".

Razakars a private militia: However, Najaf Ali Khan prefers to take a contradictory view as far as the cruelty unleashed by the Razakars. He claims: "The Razakars were a private militia organized by Qasim Razvi and they wanted the State to be an Independent State while they had nothing to do with the Nizam".

Nizam VII name being defamed: Najaf Ali Khan says: "My grandfather was a prime example of religious tolerance and a benevolent ruling. His contribution to the Deccan region is unparalleled till date. Most of the services developed under his guidance and rule are still in use and remembered by the common people. He was a compassionate ruler who contributed immensely in making Hyderabad a modern city...

...The Political Parties and Politicians are defaming my grandfather’s name for their political gains and are creating a negative image. The ones who use caste and religion to divide people for votes should revisit history and learn through the example set by the Nizam VII on how to serve their people and work for the supreme cause of humanity".

-Manohar Yadavatti