The city of Hyderabad
is a historic city noted for its many monuments, temples, churches, mosques, and bazaars. A
multitude of influences has shaped the character of the city in the last 400
years.
The city is changing its role and
outlook as part of the booming service industry revolution, and is trying to
preserve and popularize its history.
Various Buddhist and Hindu
kingdoms ruled the area during the subsequent centuries. The area was ruled by
the Kalyani
branch of the Chalukya
kings. When the Chalukya
kingdom became weaker, Kakatiyas, who were feudal chieftains of Chalukya, declared
independence and setup their kingdom around Warangal. The
fall of Warangal to Muhammad bin Tughluq's forces from the Delhi
Sultanate in 1321 AD brought anarchy to the region. For the next few
decades, the Bahmani Sultanate of the Deccan fought the Musunuri Nayakas on the north and the Vijayanagara Rayas on the south for control of
the region. By the middle of the 15th century, the region was under the firm
control of the Bahmani Sultanate which controlled the Deccan north of the Krishna
River from coast to coast.
In 1463, Sultan Mohammad Shah Bahmani dispatched Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk to the Telangana
region to quell disturbances. Sultan Quli quelled the disturbance and was
rewarded as the administrator of the region. He established a base at Kakatiya hill
fortress of Golconda
which he strengthened and expanded considerably. By the end of the century,
Quli ruled from Golconda as the Subedar of Telangana. Quli enjoyed virtual independence from Bidar, where the
Bahmani sultanate was then based. In 1518, he declared independence from the
Bahmani Sultanate and established the Golconda Sultanate under the title Sultan
Quli Qutub Shah. This was the start of the Qutb Shahi
Dynasty. The Bahmani Sultanate disintegrated into five
different kingdoms, with the others based in Ahmednagar,
Berar, Bidar and Bijapur.
Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah of Qutb
Shahi dynasty, built the city of Hyderabad {formerly known as Bhagyanagar} on
the Musi River,five miles (8 km) east of Golconda in 1589 and dedicated it to
his beloved Hindu wife Bhagyamathi (popularly known as Bhagmathi) He also
ordered the construction of the Char Minar,
the iconic monument of the city, in 1591, reportedly in gratitude to the
almighty for arresting a plague epidemic before it did irreversible damage to
his new city. The Purana Pul ("old bridge") spanning the Musi was
built a few years earlier, enabling quick travel between Golconda and Hyderabad.
Legend has it that the bridge was
built by Mohammad Quli's father Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah so his son's life would
not be endangered when he went to visit his future wife during the monsoon
months.
The early history of Hyderabad is inextricably intertwined with the
history of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. As Qutb Shahi power and
fortune rose during the 16th and early 17th centuries, Hyderabad became a center of a vibrant diamond
trade. All seven Qutb Shahi sultans were patrons of learning and were great
builders. They contributed to the growth and development of Indo-Persian and Indo-Islamic
literature and culture in Hyderabad. Some of the sultans were known as
patrons of local Telugu culture as well. During the Qutb Shahi reign Golconda became one of the leading markets in the
world for diamonds, pearls,
steel, arms, and
also printed fabric. In the 16th century the city grew to accommodate the
surplus population of Golconda and eventually became the capital of the Qutb Shahi
rulers. Hyderabad became known for its gardens (called baghs) and its comfortable climate.
Visitors from other lands compared the city most to the beautiful city of Isfahan
in Iran.
[edit]The Beginning of
the End of the Mughal Empire
By the mid-17th century, politics
in the Deccan were ready for yet another tectonic
shift. Mughal prince Aurangzeb
spent most of his time in the Deccan
fighting local Hindu and Muslim kingdoms to establish and enforce Mughal
Sovereignty. The rise of Maratha power under Shivaji kept the
Mughals constantly challenged. After the death of Shah Jahan
in 1666, Aurangzeb consolidated his power in Delhi as Emperor and returned to the south. He
spent most of his imperial reign in military camps in the Deccan, in an almost desperate campaign to expand the
empire beyond the greatest extent it had reached under Akbar. The biggest
prize in his eyes was the rich city of Hyderabad, protected by the reportedly impregnable fort of Golconda.
Aurangzeb laid siege to Golconda in 1686. Golconda held fast under months of siege, and
Aurangzeb had to retreat in frustration. Aurangzeb returned in 1687 and laid
siege for 9 months camping in the Fateh Maidan ("victory field," now
the Lal Bahadur Stadium). Local legend has it that the fortress held on, but
the gates were opened at night by a saboteur who was bribed by Aurangzeb.
Sultan Abul Hassan Tana Shah, the seventh king of the dynasty, was taken
prisoner. Hyderabad's independence was eclipsed. Aurangzeb's efforts would turn out largely in
vain, with Hyderabad remaining in Mughal hands for less than four decades.
For a few decades, Hyderabad declined, and its vibrant diamond trade
was all but destroyed. Aurangzeb's attention moved away quickly to other parts
of the Deccan, with the Marathas slowly but steadily
gaining ground against the Mughals.
With the emaciation of the Mughal
Empire after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal-appointed governors of Hyderabad gained more autonomy from Delhi. In 1724, Asaf Jah I,
who was granted the title Nizam-ul-Mulk ("governor of the country") by the
Mughal emperor, defeated a rival official to establish control over Hyderabad. Thus began the Asaf Jahi dynasty that
would rule Hyderabad until a year after India's independence from Britain.
Asaf Jah's successors ruled as Nizams of Hyderabad. The rule of the seven Nizams saw the
growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically. Hyderabad became the formal capital of the kingdom and Golconda, the former capital, was all but
abandoned. Huge reservoirs, like the Nizam Sagar,
Tungabhadra,
Osman
Sagar, Himayat Sagar, and others were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna
Sagar had also begun during this time.
When the British
and the French
spread their hold over the country, successive Nizams won their friendship
without bequeathing their power. The Nizams allied themselves with each side at
different times, playing a significant role in the wars involving Tipu Sultan
of Mysore, the
British and the French. During the reign of the third Nizam, Sikandar
Jah, the city of Secunderabad was founded to station French troops and
subsequently, British troops. The British stationed a Resident
at Hyderabad and their own troops at Secunderabad, but
the state continued to be ruled by the Nizam. Hyderabad, under the Nizams, was the largest princely
state in India,
with an area larger than England, Scotland and Wales combined. It was considered the "senior-most"
princely-state, and within the elaborate protocols of the Raj, its ruler the
Nizam was accorded a 21-gun salute. The State had its own currency, mint, railways, and postal system. There
was no income
tax.
Although The Hyderabad State was
surrounded by The British India, the state was politically isolated from the
rest of India. The Nizams were reputed to be autocratic but
benevolent rulers. They pledged allegiance to the King
of England in order to retain control over their vast dominions. By the
20th century, they had the titles "Faithful Ally of the British Empire," and "His Exalted
Highness." A title bestowed on no one else. It was the only Princely state
of that size. He was given this title for exemplary administration and the
prosperity the State ushered in.
From a bankrupt state The seventh
Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, made it into the wealthiest
state in the sub-continent. He was considered the world's richest man (Time
cover story Feb. 22, 1937), and he was famous for patronage to learning and
institutions. Some eccentricities included the use the 400 carat (80 g) Jacob
Diamond as a paperweight.
Mir Osman Ali Khan founded number of
institutions the world over including the eponymous Osmania General Hospital and Osmania University -- the first modern
university to teach in an Indian language (Urdu and many others).
Above all there was total harmony[citation needed]. There was
never a riot[citation needed]. People lived
in total peace and harmony in the upwardly mobile composite Hindu Muslim
fraternal society[citation needed]. The law
prevailed[citation needed]. No one
including the ruler was above the law and the state and judiciary was separate.[citation needed]
When India gained independence
in 1947, the Nizam declared his intention to remain independent, either as a
sovereign ruler or by acquiring Dominion status within the British
Empire. In order to keep essential trade and supplies flowing, he signed a
Standstill Agreement with the Indian
Union which surrounded him on all sides. The law and order situation soon
deteriorated, with escalating violence between the private Razakar army
fighting for continuation of the Nizam's rule and the people with the support
of the Congress leaders like Swami Ramanand Tirtha and the communists of Telangana,
were fighting for joining in the Indian Union. As the violence spiraled out of
control with refugees flowing into the coastal Andhra region of the Madras state of India, the Indian Government under Home
Minister Sardar Patel initiated a police action titled Operation
Polo.
On
September 16, 1948, Indian Army moved in to HyderabadState from five fronts. Four days later, the Hyderabad forces surrendered. The number of dead
was a little over 800. The Police Action achieved success within a matter of
days.
The
Nizam of Hyderabad remained a staunch supporter of Pakistan. Upon
the creation of Pakistan
on August 14, 1947, the Nizam was isolated since the State of Hyderabad was surrounded by the newly
independent Republic of India. Under these conditions, the Nizam could
not declare accession to Pakistan out of fear that India would invade the State of Hyderabad which it did a year later.
During
this period, the new state of Pakistan had tremendous financial problems as India had not released Pakistan's share to it in hopes that Pakistan would collapse economically.
Recalling
the incidents of that period, Mr. Farooq Ahmed Khan, Retired Deputy Inspector
General of Police recalls some of the most important incidents of this episode
stating
"Not
many people know that at the time when Pakistan came into existence in 1947; and before
the fall of Hyderabad, due to unprovoked Indian military aggression in 1948. The Government of
Pakistan had to start a new country from scratch. And India had purposely not given the share, which
