12 Freedom Movement in Hyderabad State CHAPTER Hyderabad was an important princely chapter we will learn the condition of the state of South India under the British people of this state under the British-Nizam Swamy Ramananda Mulla Abdul Madapati Ravi Narayana paramountcy. It was ruled by the Nizams rule and how they fought for freedom. The Tirtha Qayyum Hanumanth Rao Reddy who were allied with the British Viceroys Hyderabad state comprised of regions in and had to adhere to policies decided by which Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and Early years of Nationalism and forms of the Government with them. The Viceroys appointed Residents in Deccani Urdu were spoken. In this chapter In October 1888, in Hyderabad a small representative institutions. the princely states who supervised the we will consider mainly the Telugu and committee of influential persons In the year 1892 Arya Samaj was policies of the state and also interfered in Urdu speaking parts which form the circulated handbills and placards for established in Hyderabad. Arya Samaj the administration from time to time. In this Telangana districts. holding a meeting to popularise Indian served as a training ground for workers in National Congress. The Congress attracted constructive activities and helped to rouse a large section of the educated classes. public opinion and build socio-religious Mulla Abdul Qayyum of Hyderabad awareness. It has credited many leaders to became a great champion of the Congress. the nationalist movement in Hyderabad. He attended the Congress meetings and Feudal system of the state appealed to Muslims to actively participate The Nizams were initially provincial in it. He attacked the nobility, and opposed governors of the Mughal emperors. They the special favours granted to them in the ruled with the help of hereditary jagirdars Nizam state. He was also responsible for and subordinate kings. Jagirdars were organising Anjumen-e-maref which aimed given control of dozens and even hundreds at developing social, intellectual and of villages which they ruled as they desired economic life of the people. Various and collected taxes from the people. The newspapers were published from the state rest of the kingdom was ruled directly by indicating the extent of nationalist the Nizam with the help of ‘ doras ’ about influence. Papers like Hyderabad whom you read in an earlier chapter. Telegraph, Deccan Standard, Musllism-I- The Nizams wanted to retain the old Safiq etc. propagated nationalism. Many of system in which the king and his nobles them supported the nationalist cause. controlled all resources and ruled as they The missionaries like Rev. Gilder of the willed. They did not allow any democratic Chaderghat Methodist Episcopal church system like local bodies or legislatures. supported the Congress. Thus Congress had The Nizams opposed the Congress led gained roots in Hyderabad and served as a nationalist movement and passed several factor in awakening the people on the Map 1: Hyderabad state map showing Nizam’s Diwani and Non Diwani areas ‘firmans’ or royal orders curtailing questions of independence, development political activity in the state. They had a 140 Political Systems and Governance Freedom Movement in Hyderabad State Free distribution by A.P. Government 141 network of police and spies who kept a result even by 1941 only 9.3% people of Telugu remained discriminated in the of which had to be closed down due to the close watch on people. the state were literate (only 4.3% women Hyderabad state. In 1921 in a meeting in opposition of the government. were literate). In contrast other princely Viveka Vardhini College in Hyderabad a Nevertheless the movement grew in Language and Religion states like Travancore had 47.7% literacy person was insulted for bringing a momentum as more and more people - The Nizam rulers of Hyderabad state rate, Baroda had 23% and Mysore had resolution in Telugu rather than in English women, students, singers etc. participated were Muslims who spoke Deccani Urdu. 12.2%. or Urdu. Telugu speaking people felt greatly in it. However, the majority of the people of the offended by this incident and were state were Hindus who spoke Telugu, Do you think the problems faced by What are the languages spoken in the people of Hyderabad state were motivated to fight for the rightful place of your area? Kannada and Marathi. Urdu was the official Telugu. language and more than 90% of all high in some ways different from those What is the medium of teaching in In 1924 Madapati Hanumanta Rao and officials were Muslims. Urdu was the faced by living in British ruled states? schools and colleges today in our others formed the Andhra Jana Sangham to medium of instruction from primary Was there any difference between the state? establish libraries and reading rooms, school to the university. Even technical text attitude of the British and the Nizams encourage students and scholars and collect Do you think all teaching should be books were translated and made available when it came to democracy? Telugu manuscripts and promote Telugu done in one’s mother tongue? in Urdu. literature. They published small booklets Andhra Jana Sangham Why do you think it is important to The Nizams were slow in setting up and held meetings in the villages to set up th publish books in mother tongues? schools in their kingdom. Many jagirdars In the early 20 century a large number libraries. Some of these booklets spoke of of books in Telugu were printed in the Andhra Maha Sabha and the did not even allow setting up of schools in the problems faced by small traders, their areas. The Nizams were also Andhra region and libraries had been set up peasants, labourers and other poor people. Library Movement suspicious of private schools that they in towns and villages. In 1901 Sri They also set up over 4,000 schools many The leaders of various sections decided would become centres for propagation of Krishnadevaraya Andhra Bhasha Nilayam to unite into one large anti-Nizam ideas. They actually was established in Hyderabad by Komarraju organisation and thus discouraged the setting up of private Telugu Lakshmana Rao along with Nayani Andhra Maha Sabha (AMS) medium schools and did not allow those Venkatarangarao and Ravichettu Ranga Rao, was formed in 1930. students to join Osmania University. As a which continues to this day. However, Among its founders were Madapati Hanumanta Rao, Ravi Narayana Reddy, etc. Its initial objectives were more educational facilities. They submitted prayers and requests to the government seeking the establishment of schools Fig 12.2: A Colonial officer as well as an Indian official from and redressing grievances Nizam’s court meeting people at Keslapur in Adilabad. of the people. In its annual conference in 1935 the Fig 12.1: Nizam College 142 Political Systems and Governance Freedom Movement in Hyderabad State Free distribution by A.P. Government 143 following demands were identified: government subjected these centres to a lot banned the singing of ‘Vandemataram’ Find out more about the song – 1. Compulsory primary education should of harassment as they were becoming the popular nationalist song. This caused Vandemataram. a mass reaction and students in schools be implemented. centres of new radical thinking. By 1940 Find out about the life of Swami and colleges took part in agitations 2. Mother tongue (Telugu) should be the many communists had joined the AMS and singing that song. The Nizam responded Ramananda theertha medium of instruction. they insisted on taking up other demands of the rural people like end to vetti, land by closing down the colleges forcing 3. The legitimate rights of the people in many students to go to other states to The Telangana Armed Struggle reforms, oppression by doras etc. Some Jagirs should be protected. continue their studies. (1946-51) of the old leaders of the AMS disagreed 4. Child marriages should be discouraged. You read about the doras and jagirdars and wanted it to continue as educational and Enthused by the response of the youth 5. Local self Government should be of the state, the Nationalists of of the Hyderabad state in Chapter 10. literary forum. Soon the radical elements introduced. Hyderabad, who were sympathetic to the Recall the problems faced by the peasants gained leadership and a new movement of 6. Untouchability should be eradicated Congress movement in the country had and service castes of the Telangana region. the peasants started. and the untouchables should be given set up the Hyderabad State Congress in From 1929, Ryot sangams were due place in the society. Is there a public library in your village 1938. Its prominent leader was Swami established at Nalgonda, Pillalamarri, Ramananda Theertha. Several young You can see that they combined both or locality? Karimnagar, etc. to fight against the leaders like B. Ramakishan Rao, educational and social reform objectives. If you have been to a public library exploitation by the Patels, Patwaris, Jamalapuram Kesavarao, K. V. Ranga The AMS activities spread rapidly all over describe what happens there to your Deshmukhs, Revenue and Police officials. Reddy, J. V. Narasinga Rao were top classmates. AMS was also active in this area Telangana and libraries and cultural centres leaders of the movement. Young establishing libraries and night schools. were established in even remote villages. Why do you think the libraries Congress leaders like Dr. M. Chenna Peasants and labouring people came to became the centres of anti-Nizam Reddy later became Chief Minister of The Communists working in AMS and Kisan Sabhas finally captured the AMS in them to learn to read, listen to newspaper, and anti-landlord movements? Andhra Pradesh and P.V. Narasimha Rao discuss current topics, and also their own became Prime Minister of India.