THE PRINCES WHO LOVED SLAVERY THAN FREEDOM AND SELF RESPECT

THE PRINCES WHO LOVED SLAVERY THAN FREEDOM AND SELF
RESPECT


Afzal –ud-Daula the V th Nizam of Hyderabad ( Deccan)

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

The war of 1857 is dubbed as Sepoy Mutiny by the English historians while Indians claim it as first war of Independence. The war was mostly confined to Delhi, Kanpur. Meerut, Lucknow, Bareli, Faizabad and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, Arrah in Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. Other north Indian States and south India were peaceful although some isolated actions were fought that were crushed easily. The causes for this war were many. However they can be briefly stated as ( 1) :
a. The arrival of missionaries had caused great unease among the Indians. Evangelical
Christians had little understanding of, or respect for, India's ancient faiths. The attitude of scrupulous non-interference in religious affairs that had characterized British rule in the 18th century was forgotten. Native populace started to believe that the British wished to convert them. The passing of Act XXI of 1850, which enabled converts to inherit ancestral property, confirmed this belief; the new law was naturally interpreted as a concession to Christian converts. Hindus and Muslims were forced into Christianity. The British were rude and arrogant towards the Indians who they described as barbarians without any culture. The European judges hardly ever convicted British for their crimes.
b. Thousands of soldiers and nobles got unemployed when Lord Dalhousie annexed Avadh. Under his 'Doctrine of Lapse' the princes were denied the long-cherished right of adoption; in this way Dalhousie annexed the Maratha States of Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi and several minor principalities. On the death of the ex-Peshwa, Baji Rao II, the pension granted to him was abolished and the claims of his adopted son, Nana Sahib, were disregarded.
c.British administrative laws ruined both the peasants and landlords. Indian handicrafts completely collapsed and the craftsmen were impoverished. India became a market place for finished goods from England. Poverty increased and the discontent among the masses motivated the Indians to join the revolt in large numbers. Thus, the British drained India of her wealth and all her natural resources.
The most important personalities who had grievances against the British rule were Nana Saheb, adopted son of former and last Peshwa of Maharshtra, Rani Laxmi Bai ( Widow of ruler Gangadhar Rao) of Jhansi, Begum of Awadh, Kunwar singh of Arrah, Emperor ( Namesake) Bahadur shah ( Zafar) II at Delhi (2). Unfortunately many princes of native states did not join the struggle. They did not want to take risk of loosing their states and power. They preferred to be with the Company. They lacked true patriotism and spirit of conviction and determination. The Nizam 7 Afzaluddaula was one among them. Hyderabad ( Deccan ) was a very important state in south India and enjoyed confidence of the English men. The rulers were from Asifia dynasty. It can be traced to Kamruddin Chin khilij khan , a Mughal Subedar appointed by Farookh siyar, a later Moghal. All the Mughal rulers after Aurangzeb ( Died in 1707) are called as later Mughals ( 1707-1857). These were insignificant and incompetent rulers who contributed to rapid decay of the empire in changed circumstances and very soon they became puppets in the hands of court nobles and Europeans. The Deccan Subedar took advantage of their incompetency and threw away their over lordship and functioned independently. For all purposes Nizams were sovereigns. They however accepted Mughal emperor as supreme and embossed the emperor’s name on coins issued by them.
Afzaluddaula became the fifth Nizam when his father Nawab Mir Farkhonda Ali Khan, Siddiqui Naseer-ud-Daula, Nizam ul mulk Asf Jah Bahadur, Nizam IV passed away on 16 May 1857. This was the most eventful year as Sepoy mutiny broke out that very soon engulfed north India. The Europeans were caught unawares who did not expect such large scale revolt from natives. The aggrieved rulers soon joined the fray and gave direction to the sepoys. Very soon it was major war. Nizam Afzaluddaula is titled as Asaf Jah V , Nizam V, Nizam –Ul—Mulk, Afzalud Daula, Nawab Mir Tahniyat Ali Khan siddiqui, Bahadur, Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI. Soon he was faced with the greatest turmoil of his times, the first war of independence. Although the East India Company was caught unawares, soon they rallied themselves. Unexpectedly they received great support from majority of native rulers. Afzaluddaula was among them. His support became very important for continued rule by the Nizams at a later date even after India got independence in which . Nizam 7 Mir Osman ali KhanAsaf Jah, harbored the idea of remaining an independent ruler after 1947. However he was deposed after Police action by Indian army in 1948.
Afzaluddaula at the out break of revolt was advised by his advisors in both ways. It is learnt that a section supported the idea of joining and supporting the rebels while Salar Jung the I the senior noble preferred to support the English men. The Nizam preferred the second one. He became the staunch ally of the English men. The war was over in course of time and the Queen of England recognized his services in a difficult situation and conferred on him the title GCSI ( The Knight grand commander of the order of the star of India). It is learnt that although he refused it initially he accepted in 1861 with some hesitation. The title ‘ Our faithful ally “ accompanied with medal.
Once the war was over the Mughal emperor Bahadur shah who was arrested at Delhi after its fall was tried and he was exiled to imprisonment in Burma at Rangoon. The Mughal rule was terminated. Consequently the title of Bahadur Shah on coins of Nizam was removed and the name of Nizam V was embossed on coins. It is claimed that he was hesitant, but accepted it under advise from his counsel. These coins were known as Hali Sicca and these were in circulation and were minted till the rule of last Nizam VII in 1948. Once the name of former emperor Bahadur shah was removed, the Nizam became free from being the Subedar of the Emperor. He became independent ruler. All ties with Delhi’s emperor broke (3). He settled down for a comfortable rule. The most busy Afzal Gunj Bridge on Musi river was constructed by him linking old and new cities of Hyderabad. Destiny however did not him a long life and he passed away on 26 Feb 1869 after a rule spanning 12 years leaving an infant son Mir Mahboob Ali Khan to succeed him as Nizam VI.
Afzaluddaula thus supported the East India Company in their effort in crushing the rebels and thus earned titles, gun salutes and other favors. He was not alone in this direction. There were many like him in India who preferred to turn their eyes from the patriots who were shedding blood for gaining independence from the foreign rulers. Personal safety, well being and comforts were important for all these men than the hardships of the battle field. They have not preferred the glorious death on battle field by letting their blood to flow on battle field and preferred the comforts of palaces, harems, Concubines and dozens of wives. They became the faithful allies of the British empire. Can they be really blamed? Some might argue that the days were different. Make hay while sun shines was the motto. Selfishness was rampant. There was no national outlook. These princes were no doubt narrow minded and did not risk their kingdoms by joining the rebels. Destiny of course smiled on them and the Englishmen became victorious while the rebels lost their lives and their kingdoms. All the patriots who fought in the 1857 war have special place in the history of India while these rulers of native states who preferred to support the East India Company are no more remembered and no doubt they have vanished into dark pages of history for their inability to rise on the occasion overcoming the personal selfish interests.

Bibilography

1.Indian History, British period, First war of independence, www.gatewayforindia.com/hi
2. Dr K Prabhakar Rao, Was Rani Laxmi Bai the valiant warrior queen betrayed in 1857 by our own princes? Sanghparivar.org, May 10, 20100, 02:41
3.Mir Tahniat Ali Khan, hyderabdplanet.com/mir-tahniat-ali-