Osmanistan

Osmanistan was the name proposed for an independent state to be created as a successor to the Princely State of Hyderabad which existed in the Empire of India before the departure of the British. The princely states that existed before independce of India in 1947 were given the choice of joining one of the new dominions, Pakistan or India, or in some cases, remain independent. The Nizam of Hyderabad initially chose to join neither India nor Pakistan but when the Indian Army invaded his princely State he chose to declare independence under the name of Osmanistan. However, his forces were unable to withstand the Indian army and were defeated. The Nizam was forced to accept accession to India. The former princely state was reorganised in 1956 and its territories are now parts of the current Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Map of the Princely State of Hyderabad in 1909

History

After the Partition of British India and the British suzerainty over the princely states of India ceased, the states had the choice of joining one of the new dominions, Pakistan or India, or remaining independent. The Nizam (ruler) of Hyderabad initially planned to join Pakistan, but was persuaded not to do so by the last British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten. He therefore chose for his state to remain independent, with the projected name of Osmanistan. However, on 13 September 1948 the Indian Army entered Hyderabad, which was unable to withstand the attack and was quickly overrun, with the last Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII forced to surrender and accept accession to India. The former princely state Hyderabad was reorganised in 1956 and its territories are now parts of the current Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

The Princely State of Hyderabad was a majority Hindu princely state with a Muslim ruler who chose to remain independent after the Partition of British India. In September 1948, the Indian government launched the Hyderabad Police Action, using the Indian Army to take over and integrate Hyderabad State into the Indian Union. After a series of successful actions by different groups of civilians against the local militia composed of Razakars and with the support of the Indian army, the princely state of Hyderabad ultimately acceded to India after signing a treaty and covenants with the government of India. For this reason the frailty of Osmanistan, an idea of Choudhary Rahmat Ali’s scheme, was eventually let off in the demand for Pakistan as it was "unpracticable."^[1][2][3]

Rahmat Ali’s plan

Main article: Pakistan Declaration

Chaudhry's scheme did not initially call for an Osmanistan. However, on 8 March 1940 he proposed a new scheme for the establishment of Pakistan, Bangalistan (East Bengal) and Osmanistan. He later even called for a Nasaristan in eastern Ceylon. After the Muslim League's acceptance of the British partition plan on June 3, 1947 he issues a statement 6 days later called "The Great Betrayal" in asking for the rejection of the British plan and the acceptance of his Pakistan plan "to prevent the great evil of Hindu hegemony on Indian Muslims". In the end the British plan was accepted, and his was rejected for the aforementioned pragmatic reasons.^[4]

See also

• Andhra Pradesh

References

1. ^ DAWN - Features; April 23, 2003
2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=-78yjVybQfkC&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=osmanistan+hyderabad&source=web&ots=EJZgFA7X0B&sig=AQ85j7Fy-C-GbnlSRmZk2K15xBY&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result
3. ^ http://vulms.vu.edu.pk/Courses/PAK301/HandOuts/LECTURE9.pdf
4. ^ ::: Pioneers of Freedom - Chaudhry Rahmat Ali :: Humsafar.info :::