There was chaos in and around abids and sultan bazaar. Unverified Reports we’re coming in about burning of hindu homes within the city. People feared they’ll suffer the same fate as the villages at the borders did at the hands of the razakars. Hindus were packing their stuff to.. https://twitter.com/scarysouthpaw/status/1306442339234193409

leave. They thought another partition would happen. Almost all of my grandfather’s neighborhood had already left & Others were ready to leave but my great grandfather wasn’t. He wanted to stay and fight because he had no where else to go. His village had been raided

His home burnt down and his brother’s family was nowhere to be found. He didn’t know if they were alive or dead. He had no other choice.

He had been smuggling money & arms from Pune consistently post independence because he knew this day would come. He was prepared.

And then Operation Polo happened but Nobody knew what was going on. Nobody had any idea that a massive invasion was underway. It was only on day 4(16th sept) that people started getting some news. The Prime minister and his cabinet had resigned.

The nizam has issued orders to his commanders to deploy forces all across hyd to secure it. Then, on the 5th day(17th sept) in the morning, a Neighbor came running to our house and told them to switch on the radio.

They put on Radio Deccan, Aurangabad. But to their surprise, the announcement started as All India Radio, Aurangabad. And that’s when they came know. Everyone started screaming and shouting in joy.

The news read that the Indian army had launched a massive invasion and had routed the nizam’s forces on all fronts. It said about how the nizam’s forces were bombed by the Air Force and had them completely on the run and

that an armored coloumn of the Indian army had reached a town just outside of nalgonda and would soon enter the city for a formal surrender. The nizam has ordered a ceasefire.

And, as the radio broadcast said, the armored column of the Indian army led by Gen Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri, entered the city for a formal surrender at Secunderabad. They did a huge roadshow and everyone came out to celebrate and welcome the Indian army.

This is the story of Hyderabad’s liberation. This is no less than another Independence Day for the Hindus of Hyderabad, telangana, marathwada and hyd-Karnataka region. It’s the day when we joined the union of India. This is our story.

Luckily my great grand father’s brother and his family survived but there were many who didn’t. They’re homes were destroyed and lives, lost. The least we can do is celebrate this day in their honor and remember their sacrifice.

One interesting thing that I forgot to mention - my great grandfather’s cousin had a house just adjacent to the police station of sultan bazaar. When the news came in of the Indian army’s arrival, all police personnel ran away.

The circle inspector Abdul Ghani came to his house and handed over the keys to the entire building, armoury and the treasury. My great grand uncle was guarding the armoury and treasury of Nizam’s police station lol.

It was only after the nizam stepped down on 23rd sept and the state of hyd came under the governorship of Gen Chaudhuri, all police stations came under the control of the army. A captain came and took charge and had signed an official order to hand over the treasury and armoury.

It had signatures of the Governer(gen chaudhari), the captain and my great grand uncle. Sadly that document is lost.