History of 12th September – Operation Polo in Hydrabad
Explore the fascinating history of 12th September, from the origins of the marathon inspired by Pheidippides’ run to the groundbreaking public test of the first submarine by Cornelis Drebbel, and the discovery of the ancient Lascaux Cave Paintings.
Recently the Olympics were held in Paris and one of the key events of the Olympics or as a matter of fact any athletic event is marathon. But do you know where did the name marathon come from? Well for that we need to read the history of 12th September.
Going back in the pages of history I see that it was this day when Greek messenger Pheidippides ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce the victory over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon in the year 490 BCE. According to legend, he ran without stopping, told the citizens of Athens “We have won,” and then died. The account of Pheidippides’ run is the origin of the name marathon. Marathon is a town in Greece. Fascinating isn’t it?
Moving on with the history of 12th September, I find that it was this day in the year 1624 when the first submarine was publicly tested in London on the Thames for King James I.It is worth nothing that Drebbel ended up building 2 successful submarines between 1620 and 1624, but it was this third ship that he demonstrated in front of King James I and thousands of Londoners. It successfully navigated at depths of 12 to 15 feet below the surface and stayed submerged for three hours, traveling from Westminster to Greenwich and back.
Moving on with the history of 12th September, I find that it was this day in the year 1940 when four teens, following their dog down a hole near Lascaux, France discovers the 17,000 year old drawings. We now known these paintings as the Lascaux Cave Paintings.
Well, with that I come to the feature story form the history of 12th September, and for that we need to travel to the state of Hydrabad, I present to you the feature story form the history of 12th September :-
The Beginning of Operation Polo
Do you have a soft spot for Hyderabadi Biryani? Personally, I lean towards the Calcutta version, but let’s face it—Biryani, in any guise, is a delight. Speaking of Hyderabad, did you know it wasn’t always a part of India? Hyderabad’s history is as rich and layered as the Biryani itself. To get a grasp on this, let’s turn the clock back to the history of 12th September 1948, when Hyderabad was incorporated into India through a military operation known as Operation Polo, which was somewhat misleadingly termed a “police action.”
In 1947, following India’s independence, princely states were given a choice: join India, join Pakistan, or remain independent. While most opted to align themselves with either India or Pakistan, Hyderabad took a different path. The Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, preferred the notion of independence, despite ruling over a predominantly Hindu population while being a Muslim himself. As the saying goes, it was a recipe for trouble. The Nizam was not only grappling with political dilemmas but also had to deal with a communist insurgency in Telangana, which proved difficult to control.
In 1947, Hyderabad entered into a standstill agreement with India, which essentially meant “Let’s keep things as they are, shall we?” However, things did not remain stable. The Nizam’s control was slipping, partly due to the radical militia known as the Razakars, whose popularity was akin to that of a soggy biscuit. The Indian government, wary of the prospect of a communist state emerging in the heart of India, decided enough was enough. After issuing a series of ultimatums and imposing a severe economic blockade, India launched its invasion of Hyderabad in September 1948.
What you might expect to be a swift operation turned out to be more akin to a lengthy shopping trip on a bank holiday. After several days of conflict, the Nizam realised that his irregular forces were no match for the Indian military. He chose to capitulate and signed the instrument of accession, thereby integrating Hyderabad into India.
Nevertheless, the aftermath was far from straightforward. The operation resulted in considerable violence, with estimates of casualties ranging from 30,000 to over 200,000. A committee set up by Prime Minister Nehru later determined that many lives were lost in the ensuing turmoil, though the findings were not made public until some time after. To this day, it remains a somewhat sensitive topic, not unlike asking for ketchup with your Biryani.
So, there you have it—the spicy backstory of how Hyderabad came to be a part of India. The next time you tuck into a plate of Biryani, remember it’s not merely a dish, but a rich slice of history!
That concludes our history lesson for 12th September. Until next time.
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