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Indo-Pakistan War 1947-1948 Module - V

Major Wars Post
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan was a
Independence
Muslim ruler who ruled a Hindu majority state. It was recognized as the richest
state and the Nizam was the richest man in the world. The state was actually
self-reliant, had its own currency (Hyderabadi Rupee), its own army, railway
network, radio network, postal system etc. In Map 16.3 we see the provinces
in Indian continent prior to 1947.
Note

Map 16.3: India during British period
2) After the crown rule ended, the last Governor General of India Lord Mountbatten
gave the princely states the choice to either join India or Pakistan or remain
independent. The Nizam of Hyderabad initially approached the British
Government with a request to take on the status of an independent constitutional
monarchy under the British Commonwealth of Nations. This request, however,
was rejected by the Governor General of India. When it was clear that India
would not accept an independent Hyderabad, the Nizam even threatened to
throw in his lot with Pakistan. The Nizam had a tendency towards Pakistan and
India was waging a war in Jammu and Kashmir with the same nation; India
became cautious with Hyderabad. The Nizam was adamant and unwilling to

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MILITARY HISTORY 35