Operation Polo, 1948: Annexation of Hyderabad into India

by

Operation Polo: The Integration of Hyderabad into India

The city-state of Hyderabad was established in 1724 by Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah. By the 18th century, Hyderabad had grown into one of the most prosperous princely states in India, with an annual revenue of nine crore rupees. 
 
However, it became a protectorate of the British Empire in 1798 through a subsidiary alliance with the East India Company, which meant that while the Nizam maintained internal control, the British Empire held significant power over the state’s external affairs.
 
When India gained independence in 1947, Hyderabad, like other princely states, was asked to integrate into either India or Pakistan. However, Hyderabad’s ruler, Nizam Osman Ali Khan, refused both options and declared his desire for independence. 
 
Nizam Osman Ali Khan was one of the world’s wealthiest individuals at the time. He was determined to turn Hyderabad into a sovereign Islamic state with the help of his vast fortune and military force. He had built a separate currency, army, and railway network. He was confident that with his wealth and resources, he could sustain an independent kingdom. 
 

 

This decision was rejected by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, and India’s leaders, particularly Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the head of India’s States Committee. 
 
Sardar Patel, later known as the Iron Man of India, had the responsibility of integrating all the princely states of India. Hyderabad was geographically located in the heart of India due to which its independence posed a significant threat to India’s stability and security.
 
 

The princely state of Hyderabad. The light green area was not a part of hyderabad but it was under Nizam’s dominance.

 

Political Tensions and the Role of the Razakars

 

Despite the pressure from India, the Nizam continued to pursue independence. On August 15, 1947, as India celebrated its independence from British rule, the Nizam also declared Hyderabad as an independent state. This led to a political standoff, with both sides ignoring an interim agreement that was signed in November 1947, which was meant to maintain the status quo.

The Nizam’s refusal to integrate was largely driven by fears about being a Muslim ruler in a state with a majority Hindu population. His anxiety led him to rely on the Razakars, a paramilitary group originally formed by the Ittehad-e-Muslimeen, a conservative Muslim political party. 

 

Qasim Rizvi’s Razakars were the armed enforcers of the Nizam’s regime, and their violent campaigns targeted Hindus, looting trains, committing atrocities against women, and killing civilians indiscriminately. The Razakars aimed to establish Islamic supremacy in Hyderabad, mirroring Pakistan’s ideology. They were determined to keep the Nizam in power by any means, including ruthless violence.

Qasim Rizvi, Founder of the Razakars 

Escalation and the Lead-up to Military Action

By 1948, the situation in Hyderabad had become increasingly volatile. The Razakars had expanded their violent activities beyond Hyderabad’s borders, targeting Hindu communities. Reports of looting, murder, and sexual assault committed by Razakars spread across the region, with an estimated 40,000 Hindus fleeing the state. In response, Hindu communities also launched retaliatory attacks. The escalating violence and communal tensions were starting to mirror the chaos of the Partition, raising fears of a full-scale civil war within India.

At this point, Patel was convinced that military intervention was the only solution to prevent further bloodshed and secure Hyderabad’s integration into India. Intelligence reports also suggested that the Nizam was considering an alliance with Pakistan, which heightened India’s concerns about a hostile state within its borders.

The tipping point came on September 6, 1948, when Razakars attacked an Indian outpost in the village of Chilkotah. This act of aggression made it clear that Hyderabad’s government was willing to engage in open conflict with India.
 
 

Operation Polo: The Military Action

On September 13, 1948, India launched Operation Polo, a full-scale military assault on Hyderabad. Officially framed as a “police action” to prevent international criticism, the operation was carried out by 35,000 Indian troops against the Nizam’s forces, which included the Razakars.

The Indian Army advanced into Hyderabad with overwhelming force. The Nizam’s army, despite its numerical strength, was ill-prepared to withstand the well-equipped and disciplined Indian forces. 

The Razakars, known for their brutality against civilians, proved ineffective in facing the military might of the Indian army. Tanks rolled into key positions in Hyderabad, and within five days, the Indian forces had subdued the Nizam’s troops. Over 2,000 of the Nizam’s soldiers were killed, and another 3,600 were imprisoned.

On September 17, 1948, Nizam Osman Ali Khan officially surrendered to the Indian government. Hyderabad was formally integrated into the Indian Union, ending the Nizam’s dream of independence.

 

Timeline of Operation Polo 

1) September 6, 1948: The Tipping Point

  • The first shots were fired when Razakar forces attacked an Indian outpost at the village of Chilkotah (or Chilcaluripet, as sometimes referred). This incident directly sent the message to the Indian Government that Nizam is willing to engage in an open conflict with India.
 

2) September 9, 1948: Final Preparations

  • The Indian government issued an ultimatum to the Nizam, demanding that Hyderabad integrate into the Indian Union or face military intervention. However, the Nizam, encouraged by the Razakars and external support from Pakistan, refused to capitulate.
  • Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Home Minister Sardar Patel, after assessing the situation, gave the green light for a military operation to annex Hyderabad. The operation was code-named Operation Polo.
 

3) September 13, 1948: Launch of Operation Polo

  • Early Morning: The Indian Army, under the command of Major General J.N. Chaudhuri, launched the military operation. The attack was framed as a “police action” to maintain law and order and to prevent external criticism. The Indian Army’s Southern Command was tasked with leading the invasion.

  • Main Objective: Indian forces aimed to neutralize the Razakars, dismantle the Nizam’s army, and bring Hyderabad under Indian control within the shortest possible time.

  • Military Setup:
    • The Indian force comprised approximately 35,000 troops, including infantry, armored vehicles, and artillery units.
    • The Hyderabad State Army and the Razakars had an estimated combined strength of 24,000 troops. However, they were not as well-equipped or trained as the Indian Army.
  • Key Targets:
    • The operation was strategically aimed at capturing key cities and communication hubs, including Secunderabad, Bidar, and Hyderabad itself.
    • The Indian Army also targeted the Razakars’ strongholds, which were scattered across rural areas and towns.

4) September 13, 1948: Battle at Kodar

  • The first major military engagement occurred in the village of Kodar. Here, Indian forces clashed with the Nizam’s troops and Razakar fighters. Tanks were used to overwhelm the local defenders.
  • Despite their large numbers, the Razakars were no match for the modern, mechanized units of the Indian Army. The Indian forces swiftly advanced through the region, forcing many Razakars to retreat or surrender.
Operation Polo
Indian Army Tanks 
 

5) September 14, 1948: Capture of Jalna and Secunderabad

  • On the second day of the operation, Indian forces captured the towns of Jalna and Aurangabad, two key locations in Hyderabad State. These victories helped secure control over important transport and communication routes.
  • Indian forces also advanced on Secunderabad, the military cantonment that was under Nizam’s rule but had housed British troops before Indian independence.
  • The 1st Armoured Division and the 7th Brigade of the Indian Army played key roles in this phase of the operation, using tanks and armored vehicles to clear out resistance from the Razakars and Hyderabad’s military units.

6) September 15, 1948: Intense Fighting and Advancements

  • Indian forces continued to advance deeper into Hyderabad State, encountering pockets of resistance from the Razakars, particularly in rural areas. However, these forces were quickly overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the Indian Army.
  • The Nizam’s forces attempted to mount defenses at key positions, but their equipment and morale were no match for the Indian Army.
  • A major focus of this day’s operations was the strategic town of Bidar. By capturing Bidar, Indian forces gained control of a vital military and transportation hub.
Indian Army Vehicles 

7) September 16, 1948: Securing Surrounding Areas

  • By this point, the Indian forces had secured most of the surrounding areas of Hyderabad city. Indian soldiers continued to neutralize Razakar strongholds and dismantle any remaining resistance from the Hyderabad State Army.
  • The Indian Air Force played a crucial role in providing reconnaissance and supporting ground operations, ensuring that the Indian troops could swiftly move through Hyderabad’s territory.
  • Psychological Impact: The rapid and decisive nature of the Indian Army’s advance demoralized the Nizam’s forces and the Razakars. Many began to surrender or flee in the face of overwhelming Indian superiority.

 

 

8) September 17, 1948: Hyderabad’s Surrender

  • Morning: Indian forces reached the outskirts of Hyderabad city, where they encountered the last remnants of the Nizam’s army and Razakars.
  • The Nizam, realizing that further resistance would be futile and would only lead to more bloodshed, agreed to surrender.
  • Nizam’s Radio Address: On the morning of September 17, 1948, Nizam Osman Ali Khan made a public announcement over the radio, declaring his decision to surrender to the Indian Union and cease all military operations.

The Aftermath and Continued Violence

Though the military action ended quickly, violence in the region did not. After the Nizam’s surrender, Hindu mobs, seeking revenge for the atrocities committed by the Razakars, launched retaliatory attacks against Muslims in the state. Some reports even suggested that Indian soldiers participated in the violence and looting. 
 
To investigate these incidents, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed a committee, led by Pandit Sunderlal, which found that thousands of innocent Muslims were killed during the post-operation violence. However, these findings were kept confidential by the Indian government, likely to prevent further communal unrest and international backlash.

 

Click here to read about the India Pakistan War 1947

Leave a Comment

Top 10 greatest movies to watch on netflix Bite-Sized Motivation: Lessons from Eat That Frog!