PPolitics has intensified this year on the celebration of Hyderabad’s joining the Union of India. While the Narendra Modi government at the Center has officially decided to observe September 17 as ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’, Chief Minister K. The Telangana government led by Chandrashekhar Rao will remember it as ‘National Unity Day’.
The reference to the BJP probably points to the “liberation” of Hyderabad from the monarchical rule of its last Nizam, Osman Ali Khan. The RSS-BJP see the Nizam rule not only as monarchy but also as ‘Muslim rule over Hindus’. CM Rao’s decision seeks to counter this aggressive ‘anti-Muslim stand’ of the central government. The move assumes greater significance in the light of Rao projecting himself as a national leader.
In all this, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India, which on 17 September created a ‘the rebels (Cheat) Day’ completely marginalized. However, he is of the view that the merger of Telangana State with the Union was done to crush their armed struggle.
Why integration should be discussed
Junagadh was the last unified state that saw much concern because its Muslim ruler, Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, had already joined Pakistan and settled there. But the RSS-BJP alliance does not talk about Junagadh at all.
This controversial, competitive celebration of Hyderabad’s merger with the Indian Union, under the decisive leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, requires intense discussion. With the annexation of Hyderabad on 17 September 1948 and before that of Kashmir, there was no disintegrating princely state left to be unified.
Kashmir and Hyderabad wanted to become independent nations while the Raja of Junagadh wanted to go with Pakistan. The remaining princely states were merged through diplomatic negotiations by Patel and VP Menon, who was secretary in the home ministry and was known for his negotiating abilities.
Kashmir was a Muslim-majority state ruled by a Hindu king while Hyderabad was a Hindu-majority state under a Muslim king. After the partition of West Pakistan, the Congress was serious about bringing them into the Union. It did not want any idea of an independent state within India. Therefore, the Nehru-Patel government was ready to use force and integrate them. Only then will India’s status as a sovereign and independent nation come into existence. While Kashmir was seen as a problem area on the border, Hyderabad was a major problem at the centre. Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru were very serious about it. Had Hyderabad state not merged, ‘India’ would have meant something else.
The RSS was also advocating for merger while the Communist Party of India made it the basis of an experimental armed struggle. The RSS saw it as a Muslim state and was therefore against its status as an independent nation. But RSS was not a force in those days. Its nationalism was largely centered on ‘anti-Muslim’ ideas and the organization itself was a campaign network.
The Congress wanted India to be a well-governing, geographically united state. And this happened with the merger of Hyderabad – known as ‘Police Action’. The central government was required to use force in Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad, and this led to many deaths and atrocities.
Read also: ‘Liberation Day’ in Hyderabad has always been a Hindu-Muslim issue for BJP, but experts differ
deepen the division
After a long hesitation, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has taken an appropriately crafted stand as the RSS-BJP alliance has been trying to turn it into a communal issue for the past few years. Now the Center has jumped into the fray keeping in mind the 2023 assembly elections.
The key difference between the ‘integration’ and ‘mukti’ approach is that the latter is designed to inflame and target the 15 per cent Muslim population of Telangana and isolate and harass them. A ruling party at the national level with a comfortable majority works around these issues so that the nation does not move forward on the path of development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed a huge statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat and called it ‘The Statue of Unity’ as Patel was a key figure in the integration of Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir into the union. Why didn’t they name it ‘The Statue of Liberation’? Patel’s greatness lies in merging these three ‘troubled states’ into the Union. The RSS-BJP appropriated Congress leader Patel for this reason and made him their role model. Unlike Nehru, Patel is the tallest leader with a Shudra-agricultural background without any dynastic politics, which is why the RSS-BJP alliance is spending so much political and financial capital on him.
Why use a special language for Telangana and keep the state in constant religious conflict? The people and political parties of Telangana should observe September 17 as ‘National Unity Day’ to bury the communal swamp surrounding the issue.
There is a popular picture of Sardar Patel and Usman Ali Khan walking shoulder to shoulder after signing the merger agreement in Hyderabad. It can be seen at many places in the city and also on social media. Unlike the ruler of Junagadh, who migrated to Pakistan, Osman Ali Khan remained in India. Most of his family’s property was also given to the Sangh, including the famous Hyderabad House in Delhi. Then why should he and the Muslims be defamed after 75 years in this so-called Amrit Kaal?
The people of India certainly proved that they are kind enough to forget past wounds and live in peace. What the BJP government is doing is indecent for a nationalist party.
Nationalism is not about reopening pre-independence wounds and pouring salt on them. Nationalism is also not about turning people against each other. Let us celebrate 17th September as ‘National Unity Day’ and pay homage to Sardar Patel and those who died on both sides.
Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd is a political theorist, social activist and author. His best-known books are Why I am not a Hindu: A Shudra Critic of Hindutva Philosophy, Culture and Political Economy, and Post-Hindu India: A Discourse in Dalit-Bahujan Socio-Spiritual and Scientific Revolution. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Likes)