Hyderabad Liberation Day: Integration of Hyderabad with the Indian Union

Key Points:

Hyderabad Liberation Day 2026

• September 17 marks the integration of the erstwhile Hyderabad State into the Indian Union in 1948 following Operation Polo. The Union government officially began observing the day as Hyderabad Liberation Day in 2022. 
• In 2026, the day was observed differently in Telangana: 
• The Union government held the 79th Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Secunderabad Parade Ground. 
• The Telangana government observed it as People's Governance Day. Earlier, the BRS government had called it National Integration Day. 

Historical Background

• At Independence, Hyderabad was the largest princely state, ruled by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. 
• The Nizam sought to maintain Hyderabad as an independent entity rather than acceding to India. 
• India and Hyderabad signed the Standstill Agreement on November 29, 1947, intended to maintain existing arrangements while negotiations continued. 
• Political tensions increased due to opposition to the Nizam's rule, the Razakars, and the Telangana peasant struggle, which challenged feudal practices. 

Operation Polo

• With negotiations failing, India launched Operation Polo on September 13, 1948. 
• It was a military operation aimed at bringing Hyderabad into the Indian Union. 
• Major General J.N. Chaudhuri led the Indian forces. 
• On September 17, 1948, Hyderabad State forces surrendered, ending the operation and paving the way for integration. 
• After Integration
• Hyderabad continued as a separate state after 1948. 
• Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, its Telugu-speaking areas became part of Andhra Pradesh, while other regions were reorganised among neighbouring states. 
• Telangana was eventually formed as a separate state on June 2, 2014. 

Practice Question:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Hyderabad State and its integration into the Indian Union:

1. The Standstill Agreement of 1947 was intended to preserve the existing administrative arrangements between India and Hyderabad for one year. 
2. The Telangana peasant movement and the activities of the Razakars were among the factors that contributed to the growing unrest in Hyderabad. 
3. Operation Polo began on 13 September 1948, and the Hyderabad State Forces surrendered on 17 September 1948. 
4. Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the entire territory of the erstwhile Hyderabad State was merged into Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 3 only
 B. 1 and 4 only
 C. 2 and 3 only
 D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A. 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. The Standstill Agreement was signed in November 1947 for one year. Political unrest involved both the Telangana peasant struggle and the Razakars. Operation Polo began on 13 September 1948 and ended with the surrender of Hyderabad's forces on 17 September. Statement 4 is incorrect because the Hyderabad State was divided along linguistic lines in 1956: Telugu-speaking areas went to Andhra Pradesh, while Marathi- and Kannada-speaking areas were merged with neighbouring states.