Question

Explain the contribution of Swami Ramananda Tirth in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad. 

Answer 1

Swami Ramananda Tirth was an important figure in the Hyderabad liberation Movement against Osman Ali Khan, the then Nawab of Hyderabad. He was also the leader of Hyderabad State Congress. The princely state of Hyderabad, also known as the Hyderabad Deccan was located in the South-Central region of the Indian union. The state was ruled by the Nizam who was initially a Mughal governor before becoming independent. After the independence of the country in 1947, the British government gave freedom to the princely states to either join India or Pakistan or remain independent.

The Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII announced that he intended to remain independent and was not ready to join either India or Pakistan. Consequently, the Indian government signed a Standstill Agreement whereby the status quo would be maintained without any army action for one year, and India would handle Hyderabad's foreign affairs. But, a majority of the citizens wanted to join India.

Swami Ramananda Tirth spearheaded the Hyderabad Liberation movement against the Nizam under the Hyderabad State Congress established in 1938. He resisted the Nizam forces non-violently. He initiated various satyagrahas and was imprisoned by the Nizam forces for 111 days. He had attracted a large number of people alongside him for fighting for the cause of Hyderabad’s integration with India.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Peasant Riots, attacks by quasi-military body Razakars and other Hindu-Muslim communal violence was raging in Hyderabad. The Indian forces posted in the borders were attacked by them. India retaliated by invading Hyderabad from all the borders from 13 September 1948. The military operation was named Operation Polo. The Nizam surrendered on 17 September, and Hyderabad was annexed to the Indian union.

Thus, the ability of Swami Ramananda Tirth combined with the diplomatic and military actions of the Indian union resulted in the integration of Hyderabad with the Indian union.