The Events Before and After Operation Polo In Hyderabad

The Events Before and After Operation Polo In Hyderabad

Subject: History

Section: Modern India

Context: 

The newest book to join the corpus is Afsar Mohammed’s ‘Remaking History- 1948 Police Action and the Muslims of Hyderabad’, published by Cambridge University Press in 2023. Afsar’s book looks at the events of ‘Police Action’ through the prism of fiction and nonfiction mostly in Telugu and Urdu languages.

About Operation Polo:

• Operation Polo was launched in the context of the Nizam of Hyderabad’s desire to keep his state independent after India gained independence in 1947.
• He took advantage of India’s focus on the Kashmir conflict with Pakistan, which diverted resources and attention away from Hyderabad.
• In November 1947, the Nizam signed a standstill agreement with India, which meant that there would be no immediate integration of Hyderabad into India, and the existing conditions would continue for a year.
• However there were several reasons that led to the launch of operation Polo on September 13, 1948:
• Increasing Tensions: The Nizam’s administration in Hyderabad took advantage of the standstill agreement to increase the strength of its irregular force known as the These Razakars, led by Maj Gen SA El Edroos, were causing problems for the predominantly Hindu population in the state.
• Cross-Border Raids: The Razakars were conducting cross-border raids and creating tensions along the state’s borders.
• Overtures to Pakistan: The Nizam was making overtures to Pakistan, hinting at the intention to establish an independent country within India’s borders.
• Threat of Secession: The Nizam’s actions and the presence of the Razakars posed a threat to the unity of India, and there was a fear of Hyderabad attempting to secede from India.
• As a result of these developments, the Indian government decided to take action against Hyderabad to remove the threat of secession and to ensure the state’s integration into India.
• In terms of military strength, the Nizam’s forces numbered less than 25,000, and only a fraction of them were well-trained.
• The razakars, though numerous, were not a formidable military opposition. The Nizam had boasted of a much larger force, but this turned out to be an empty claim, and Hyderabad’s resistance crumbled within the first two days of the offensive.
• Operation Polo was conducted primarily by Maj Gen Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri’s 1 Armored Division, with subsidiary thrusts from the north, south, and east of the state.
• The operation was a success, and the Nizam announced a ceasefire on September 17, with the formal surrender taking place on September 18.
• Maj Gen Chaudhuri became the Military Governor of Hyderabad, and the state was integrated into India.

Aftermath

• Integration: The successful conclusion of Operation Polo marked the integration of Hyderabad into the Indian Union, ensuring the end of princely rule in India. The state was reorganized into Andhra Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• Resettlement: Many Razakars and officials of the Nizam’s government were arrested and tried for their roles in the violence and atrocities during the conflict.
• Legacy: Operation Polo remains a subject of historical debate. Critics argue that the Indian government’s use of force was heavy-handed, while proponents contend that it was necessary to prevent further communal violence and to secure Hyderabad’s integration into India.
• Cultural Integration: Hyderabad’s integration into India brought together people from diverse linguistic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. It marked the beginning of a process of cultural assimilation and integration.