October Coup: A Memoir of the Struggle for HyderabadIt is 1948. A newly-independent India is trying to persuade Hyderabad to join the Indian Union. Negotiations are difficult for both sides. The State Congress, now operating from Indian territory, has launched a campaign of violent raids, designed to cripple civil administration in the border areas, and provoke an annexation. The leading Islamic party inside Hyderabad, in an equally rash move, has created a paramilitary body, the Razakars, to counter the threat to Hyderabad’s borders. For Mohammed Hyder of the Hyderabad Civil Service, the newly-appointed Collector of Osmanabad District (situated on the Hyderabad-Bombay border), both, the wayward State Congress and the ramshackle Razakar outfit are a threat to law and order. This first-person account conveys a vivid picture of Hyderabad under pressure, through the eyes of a senior district administrator. |
Contents
Border Camps | |
A Conference at Shah Manzil | |
The Administration the Irregulars and the Army | |
Nanaj and After | |
The Fall of Osmanabad | |
Trials in Court | |
File a Writ | 12 |
The Governments CounterAffidavit | 13 |
My Reply to the Governments CounterAffidavit | 14 |
Final Judgement 16 Conclusion | 16 |
Appendix | 37 |
Glossary Timeline | 40 |
Acknowledgements | 42 |
Common terms and phrases
Abdul accused acquittal administration affairs affidavit alleged Andhra Pradesh appeal Apsingha armed arrest Article 311 attack Bahadur Yar Jung border camps cartmen charges Chief Secretary civil servant claimed privilege Collector Congress Constitution of India conviction copies criminal dacoity dated Deen Yar Jung defence Delhi dismissed document fact filed Ghatge Government of Hyderabad government’s Gulburga High Court Hindu Hyderabad Civil Service incident Indian Army Indian forces inquiry investigation judgement Killari Kishen Rao Kishen Teke Laiq Latur loot Majlis Mohammed Hyder Mohd murder Muslim Nanaj Nawab Nawaz Jung negotiations Nizam officers opportunity Osmanabad district Osmanabad jail Paigah Pakistan party Pathans person petitioner submits Police Action political prime minister prosecution provisions Qasim Razvi raiders Rajpramukh Razakars removed reply response Revenue Rohillas rules Section seemed September 1948 Sholapur Special Court Special Judge Standstill Agreement statement Supreme Court T.A.Bill tahsildar taken Talukdar trial Tuljapur Upla village witness Yedsi Zaman Khan