Hyderabad Liberation - 3 |
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Hyderabad Liberation - 3 |
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Part III - Mundaragi Youths. Nizam Mir Usman Ali of Hyderabad was the hier to immense wealth, had the tactic support of British, open support of Jinnah and a large well trained army at his command. The moderates grouped under the Diwan Mirza Ismail and were successful till mid-1947 in controlling the activities of Razaakars and also in preventing the Nizam Mir Usman Ali from declaring Hyderabad independent. But post August 1947 Diwan Mirza Ismail was forced to resign and Hyderabad province began to slip out of Indian Hands. Nizam Mir Usman Ali, was intolerant of those who did not agree with him and saw to it that all posts in the government were occupied by his followers only. He made Urdu as language of administration and even the only language in schools and colleges. Even degree, technical, law and medical subjects had to be taught in Urdu only. So much so, that world history was not taught in Osmania University but only history of Islam . Hence, attempts were made by the "Lion of Karnataka" Shri Gangadhar Rao Desphande to start "Rashtriya" schools in Belgaum, Dharwad and Bijapur but these schools had to close by the year 1910. Similarly Arya Samaj started schools in Gulburga (1908), Raichur (1920) Kukunur (1922) and Shri.Karnad Sadashiva Rao started such school in Mangalore (1921). Pandit Taranath was forced to leave the Hyderabad province, as a punishment for starting Hamdard school in Raichur ! A similar school, started in Dharwad by Shri.Alur Venkat Rao had teachers like D.R.Bendre, Shamba Joshi, Diwakar amongst others ! Lokamanya Tilak's concept of aggressive freedom struggle found acceptance in many parts of Karnataka and Shri.Tilak visited this region many times. - Dharwad (1903), Bellary (1905), Belgaum (1906), Belgaum (1916). Similarly Gandhiji visited the north karnataka region in 1916 (Belgaum) 1918 (Bijapur), 1920 (Mangalore) and as president of Congress session in Belgaum (1924). Shri.Ramanand Theertha as the president of congress in Hyderabad did a lot of work in building congress in north karnataka and awakening people against the mis-rule of Nizam but lack of same commitment from many congressmen, saw congress becoming a party of Brahmins and being restricted to meetings and protest resolutions in this region. Disillusioned by the congress, the youths came together at the sleepy town of Mundargi, to set up the first camp of freedom fighters who would fight the Razaakars and the Nizam rule and work towards merger of Hyderabad with India. The conditions in this camp were very bad and no food was available for the youths. The convenor of the camp, Shri.Alwandi Shivmurthy Swami was unable to make any progress and it appeared as if the Mundargi camp would be closed down soon. It was then, that Shri.Annadanayya Puranik, a native of Dyampur village of erstwhile Raichur district and was studying B.Com degree at Osmania University of Hyderabad, came to this camp. Discontinuing the studies, he joined the camp and approached the Swamiji of Mundargi Mutt for assistance. The Mutt liberally provided food and clothing to the youths of the camp and people of Mundargi began to take active interest in the activities of the camp. Shri.Puranik, convinced the Fauzdar of Mundargi, Shri.Hebsur to provide training in using fire arms to the youth of the Mundargi Camp. Soon, the youths began guerilla type of attacks on the Razaakars and Nizam Police. The success lead to more success and the Nizam government began to notice that these attacks had support of the people and began to hunt down the youths of Mundargi camp. Thus began the first armed struggle against the Razaakars and the Nizam rule in Hyderabad province and soon these youths, now numbering 1000, from Mundargi camp under the leadership of Shri.Annadanayya Puranik, were able to liberate 85 villages in Nizam province and form a government in exile!! Sardar patel was so impressed by the success and commitment of these youths and Shri.Puranik that he sent Union minister Shri.Gadgil on a special mission to Mundargi. Mr.Gadgil brought the support of Sardar Patel and gave instructions to the Mundargi youths, to become more active and also communicate the acts of mis-rule of Nizam and Razaakars to the outside world. What happened at Mundargi Camp and how it helped in liberation of Hyderabad - we will learn in coming days. |
| -Basavaraj Koppal |