Hyderabad 1948: An Avoidable Invasion  (Paperback, Syed Ali Hashmi)

The “Police Action” of 1948 against Hyderabad State remains a blind spot in the post-Partition history of India. While Pakistan launched an infiltration in Kashmir, India began a full-blown military invasion of Hyderabad State. The Indian Army’s atrocities against Muslims residents were documented by the Sunderlal Committee in 1948, but its report was shelved and remains classified to this day. The present book is a recapitulation of the tragic events that followed the so-called Police Action. It is a saga of the destruction of the distinct culture of Hyderabad. The author describes the propaganda tactics adopted by the Indian State before, during and after the Police Action and exposes the treacherous role played by persons holding key positions in the Nizam’s own state. Besides using published material on the subject, the author has also relied on testimonies of eye-witnesses of the period.