Nizam's grandson Nawab Mir Najaf Ali Khan says Liberation Day an attempt to alter history

My grandfather was the prime example of a tolerant, religious, and benevolent ruler. His contribution to the Deccan region is unparalleled till date. Most of the services that 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.

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 from the examples set by Nizam VII on how to serve their people and work for the supreme cause of humanity.

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 monarchial rule of Nizam VII came to an end and ushered in democracy. There was no participation of the people and much less of politicians.

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. 'Operation Polo' which is known in history as 'Police Action' was a military invasion.

On 17 September, at 5 p.m 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 the Hyderabad army and allowed the Indian Army to enter Hyderabad city. Curfew was imposed in Hyderabad city on 17 September, therefore there was no participation of the common man.

the transition of power was done without bloodshed by the Nizam's army. At the time of surrendering the state, my grandfather was sitting on the prayer mat and praying for the betterment of his subjects.

Nizam was the architect of modern Hyderabad

Nizam's 37-year rule changed the face of Hyderabad with numerous progres made in every sector. He was the architect of modern Hyderabad. All his subjects have derived some benefit from him and he never shied away from helping anyone. Telangana is famous for its Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb (tradition of Hindu-Muslim unity). People of all religions live peacefully together. The Nizam's era was a period of peace and tranquility with secularism as it's essential form of governance. The Nizam stated, "Hindus and Muslims are like my two eyes. How can I favour one eye over the other?"

In his 37-year rule, 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.

In 1950 he was made Rajpramukh, Governor with full powers, and he took a salary of Re. 1 per month. He never used any government machinery and voluntarily gave up the position in 1956. On the demise of Nizam VII, on 24 February 1967, the government of Andhra Pradesh issued an Extraordinary Gazette and some of its extracts were:

1. 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.

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

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

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

5. 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 with no public entertainment by/on behalf of Government that day.

Remembered for his development works

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 history and the whole region mourned his death.

During 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 Glass Factory, Azamjahi Mills, Deccan Road & Train department,Nizam Sugar Factory, City Development Board, Hyderabad Civil Service, Archeology department, Kacheguda Railway Station, Begumpet Airport, electricity department, Deccan Airways, ENT Hospital, Karantine (Present Fever Hospital), Unani Ayurvedic Hospital, Women's College Kothi, Niloufer Hospital for Children, Niloufer Cancer Hospital, and others.

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 the 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.

The mineral resources were a great asset. Places like Raichur, Gulbarga, Adilabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, and Mahoobnagar played an important role. The gold mines of Hatti, Raichur, Wadilli, and Topaldoddi produced gold that was exported abroad. In the power sector, there were separate power plants in Warangal, Gulbarga, and Nanded.

The school for the deaf and mute was a source of education and has educated thousands of students. Several schools were opened for the Harijan community for their education.

Secular ruler

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. Another example is that he always granted regular financial assistance to mosques, temples, churches, gurudwaras, and other places of worship and did not make any discrimination. Nizam VII was a believer in equality among all human beings. Once he expressed his views saying "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 subjects as an unbiased and secular King who considered both his Hindu and Muslim subjects as his two eyes.

The Nizam Charitable Trust was established for the common man with a corpus of Rs. 5 crores which is still existing and helping the poor in the form of monthly pensions and scholarships. The Nizam Orthopedic Hospital was built by Nizam VII in 1954 and was given on Re. 1 per month lease for 99 years to the state government; the value of the said property is worth thousands of crores.

Grants & donations

The Nizam donated Rs. 1,00,000 to the Banaras Hindu University. Even today, there is a Nizam Hyderabad Colony in the Banaras Hindu University where dozens of teaches and their families reside. The grants to Hindu temples was a tradition of the earlier Nizams during the 19^th Century which was continued by Nizam VII.

The Nizam's secular policies and religious tolerance towards the people is evident from grants in cash or land that he made regularly, monthly or annually, to scores of temples within the state and to some outside the state in order to meet the daily expenses of the temple and pay subsistence allowance to various persons serving in the temples, including Pujari Pandit, etc.

Grants to temples

Various temples that were beneficiaries of the Nizam received generous grants that 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. Pandit Rambilas, the priest of Sita Ram Bagh Temple, was paid monthly. When he died, the grant was continued to his son Jai Bhagwean Das who was sanctioned 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 Temple in Bhogir was granted the highest amount of Rs. 82,825.

5. Nagnath Temple 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 Bala Sahib Temple at Ambar was 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 received Rs. 1.900.

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

Several Hindu priests, living or deceased, were paid pensions for subsistence, either monthly or annually.

5,000 kg gold for the National Defence Fund

In 1965, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri started collecting funds to combat the potential threat from the neighboring countries. He set up the National Defence Fund for the purpose. The Prime Minister headed for Hyderabad hoping that the Nizam would not disappoint the Indian government and contribute generously to the National Defence Fund. Without a second thought, the Nizam announced that he would contribute 5 tons (5000 kg) of gold for the 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 organisation in India that remains unsurpassed till today.

The Razakars were a private militia organised by Qasim Razvi and they wanted the state to be an independent state. They had nothing to do with the Nizam.

The above views are purely of the author and does note reflect that of NewsMeter.