Accession of Hyderabad: The Inside Story

In this book, the author has given a detailed and interesting account of the events that unfolded in the drama of the accession of Hyderabad to the Indian Union. Hyderabad was one of the largest princely states to be brought under the gambit of British imperialism during the early 19th century. Ruled by seven Nizams. It had played a prominent role in the History of deccan from 1724 to 1947. When India gained gained independence the then Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, under the influence of a number of forces within his territory chose to remain independent of the Indian Union. Independent India could not choose to have a feudal state having close ties with Pakistan to remain in the middle of its sovereign territory. Therefore the nationalist forces under the banner of the Hyderabad State Congress started the Join India Movement to force the Nizam to join the Indian union. On the other hand, the coterie of the Nizam wanted him to remain independent for their own selfish reasons. The events that emerged out of these conflicting interests dominated the political events from 1945 to 1948. The book brings out the other forces like the Arya Samaj and the Communist groups which acted as major pressure groups during this time. The press also played an important role in bringing about the much – needed awakening in India. The book highlights the events that ked to the rise of the various pressure groups during this time and their impact. It ends with the events that led to the merger of Hyderabad into the Indian Union.