What’s in celebration name, Hyderabad embraced India on September 17

HYDERABAD: It is that time of the year when most political conversations end in a debate on the significance of September 17, when the princely state of Hyderabad formally joined the Indian Union in 1948.
Political parties of all hues agree on the significance of September 17, but disagree on the nomenclature. For some it is ‘Liberation Day’, while for others it is ‘Merger Day’, ‘Integration Day’ or ‘Unification Day’.
When India became Independent in 1947, two princely states — Hyderabad and Kashmir — presented unique challenges for the then home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s grand project of unifying over 500 princely states.
Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu king, but majority of its subjects were Muslim. On the other hand, Hyderabad was ruled by a Muslim king and its subjects were predominantly Hindu.
The proponents of ‘Liberation Day’ claim Hyderabad was “liberated from the Nizam’s tyrannical rule” on September 17, 1948. Barring BJP, no other party agrees to this narrative.
Congress, Left parties and TRS keep their celebrations low profile with flag hoisting and speeches.
But BJP wants the Telangana government to officially celebrate September 17 as ‘Liberation Day’, just as the Nizam’s former dominions in Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka) and Maharashtra (Marathwada) observe it now. It wants to propound the myth that Razakars — a private militia allegedly propped up by the Nizam — targeted only Hindus. Though most victims were from the majority community, there were many Hindu feudal lords among the ranks of Razakars, who wanted to protect their fiefdoms.
TRS has accused the saffron party of “divisive politics” and a move to communalise Hyderabad by proposing mega celebrations on September 17. On the other hand, BJP claims the pink party is playing vote-bank politics to appease certain sections.
Earlier, TRS was gung-ho about celebrating September 17 as ‘Liberation Day’, but the churning during statehood movement forced it to change its stand to appear more inclusive. Now, it has resigned to the fact that September 17 should be observed as ‘Merger Day’.
India’s first home minister Patel reposed faith in Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan after annexation of Hyderabad and gave the last ruler of Hyderabad his due.
But present home minister Amit Shah is aiming to send the political temperature a few notches up with his public meet at Veyi Udala Marri in Nirmal. The purpose of the meeting is to “inspire people of the state”. The venue, Veyi Udala Marri, was carefully chosen as Razakars reportedly killed at least a 1,000 people under the banyan tree.
Much water has gone down the Musi since 1948, and whatever be the name, the only irrefutable fact is that Hyderabad State became a part of India on September 17.