KASIM  RAZVI DESERVED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

                                    
DR K Prabhakar Rao

                   September 17/18 every
year   in the Telangana region of Andhra
Pradesh  are very important.  They are also associated with  rise of passions . In recent times, it has
become more important with the strong demand for a Telangana state bifurcating
AP. On this day   the regime of  Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah Bahadur,
Fateh  Jung, the Nizam 7 of  Hyderabad state laid down his power  when his much glorified army and
Razakars  ( volunteers) surrendered to
the Indian Army  that invaded the state
in 1948. The Hyderabad
state was merged with Indian union and the rule of the Nizam was annulled. Asif
jahi dynasty was established by Qamruddin Chin Khilji khan the Mughal governor
in Deccan who was appointed  as Subedar by Mughal emperor Mohammed Shah (Rangila)
in  18 century. By this , Mughals at Delhi  lost most of 
their provinces and lost 
authority too Marathas  were
dominating under Peshwa rule from Pune. The Asif  Jha dynasty produced  seven regular 
and recognized rulers.They were Qamruddin Chin khilij Khan , Nizam ali,
Nasir  ud dula,  Sikandar Jha,Afzal ud daula, Mahboob Ali Khan
and Osman Ali Khan The last  ruler  was Mir Osman Ali Khan  who was removed after Police action by Indian
army in 1948.

                When India
gained independence, all most all the regional princely states merged with
Indian union, except Junagarh, Kashmir and Hyderabad. 
The English men gave an option to the rulers that either they could
merge with Pakistan or India
or remained independent.  Kashmir was
invaded by Pakistan tribals
and regular army immediately after independence   and they were repulsed by Indian army and
the forces of Jammu
state. The maharaja of Kashmir signed the document of accession to India and Kashmir became part of India.
India regained  all the areas except Gilgit  and Hunza 
and these areas too were also about to fall to India when  Jawaharlal Nehru the much over glorified Prime
minister declared ceasefire and referred the matter to UNO ( an incompetent
world body), an absolute foolish step and it has been proved beyond doubt over
the years. India even today
is struggling due to this lack lustre decision and Nehru left a permanent
cancer to India
to bleed and suffer.  Referendum was held
in Junagarh and it was taken over by India
while the Nawab of Junagarh ran away to Pakistan. Hyderabad remained a pain the ass for as
Nizam 7 decided to stay independent. Pleas of n union fell on deaf ears at Hyderabad.

                 Hyderabad state at that time consisted areas
of Telangana ( Mostly Telugu  and Urdu
speaking people), Marathwada (consisting of Kannda and Marathi speaking
people).The districts were:

 a. Telangana

Medak, Karimnagar, Nizamabad,
Mahboob nagar, Adilabad, Khammam met, Nalgonda, Warangal,
Atraf balda ( surrounding Hyderabad
city) (9)

 b. Marthwada.

Bidar, Beed, Aurangabad,
Osmanabad, Gulbarga,
Raichur, Nanded, Parbhani ( 8),

                Nizams decision to remain
independent was not accepted by the Indian union  and Nizam slowly tried to build up his army
for confrontation and he came under the influence of Kasim Razvi the  chief of Majlis Ittehad muslimeen ( MIM ),
the fundamentalist Islamic party. Razvi encourage the  affected Mulsim of partition to settein Hyderabad.   These at a later stage became Hindu haters.

                    Kasim Razvi hailed from UP state and was a lawyer
by profession at Latur in Osmanabad district 
and  he joined MIM. Bahadur yar jung
was the president of MIM and after the untimely death of him Razvi became its
President in 1946. His influence over Nizam was complete. He was totally a
fundamentalist to the core and organized a volunteer force named Razakars in
the state. Every Razakar had to take a oath that he would die for Islam. This
force was armed with al facilities and was given military training. They were tutored
in to Hindu tirade. Razvi ensured that Sir Mirza Ismail a moderate PM of Hyderabad state was
hounded out of the state. Similarly Nawab of Chattari  who 
came to Hyderabad  for a 
second term  as PM was hounded
out. In 1948 Razvi imposed a new government in Hyderabad under Laik Ali the PM. With the
help of Razakars   terror was let loose
on Hindu population in the state. Villages were burnt, scores of men and
children were killed,    and women were raped in public in large
numbers in the state. Dacoities were committed with connivance of Nizam’s
police  and Hyderabad army. Razakars were fully abetted
by  Police Chief Deen yar Jung. Shoibullah
Khan the young editor of daily Imroz who 
condemned Nizams government was 
brutally murdered by Razakars. It 
was believed that Kasim Razvi was behind the plot. Kasim Razvi assumed
title Field Marshal of Razkar forces. Kasim Razvi even proclaimed that Asifia
flag would be unfurled on Red ort at Delhi  and that waters of Bay
of Bengal  would wash the
feet of Mir Osman ali Khan.. Nizam was  a
puppet in his hands and in all aspects he abdicated his  responsibility towards his subjects. He
became blind under the passion of remaining independent.   Thus
Nizam lost his  moral authority to rule
the state as a king. Destiny was waiting to strike at right moment.  All appeals from Indian union to restrain
Razkars fell on deaf ears and action was contemplated by Indian union.

                         Sardar Vallabhai   was the
Deputy Prime Minister at Delhi and it is well known
now that Jawaharlal Nehru the  PM was not
in favor of invasion of Hyderabad
state.  But  Asi Jha’s rule was coming to an end. Destiny
was making moves. Kasim Razvi also visited Delhi 
and Patel where he said that it would be better to die  holding a sword than  dying by the stroke of a pen.  Indian government declared Razvi was    a
Frankenstein   in the company of Nizam in Hyderabad.  But for Patel Hyderabad would have become
another Pakistan in the
heart of India.  Probably Nehru would have taken the matter to
UNO that would never settle the issue. It would have become a permanent
ulcer  in the heartland of India. Indian
army invaded Hyderabad
state on 13  Sept 1948  from four directions. It was called operation
POLO and termed Police action. Hyderabad
army   and Razakars who boasted  high collapsed like pack of cards with feeble
resistance.  Many Razakars were killed in
the action.  Helpless Nizams army
surrendered disgracefully to  Indian army
on 17 Sept 1948. Kasim Razvi was arrested along with the Deen Yar jung the
police chief  and many leaders of
MIP  nad cabinet ministers. Laik Ali the
PM of Hyderabad state escaped to Pakistan.
Military government under General Chaudhry 
with some civilian advisors was formed in Hyderabad
and it was merged with India
 

                 A special tribunal
with three judges — one Christian, one Muslim, and one Hindu was constituted to
try the accused. Later, the Government withdrew the Aland Murder case for want
of sufficient evidence. Askar Yar Jung, a former member of the State Judicial
Committee was appointed the defense counsel along with some others to assist
him After detailed investigation, three criminal cases were filed against Razvi
and six others: the Aland Murder Case; the Shoebullah Khan Murder Case; and the
Bibinagar Dacoity Case. At the argument stage, Razvi asked for the removal of
the counsels and argued his own case.

 
            Kasim Razvi was
convicted in Bibinagar ( It is a small place and is located about 35Km from Hyderabad city on
Hyderabad Kazipet railway line) dacoity case 
and  was not found guilty in the
case of  murder of Shoibullah Khan.. the
sentence was passed on 10 sept 1950  and
was sentenced for 10 yerasRI. Nizam was pardoned and was Rajpramukh ( governor)
of Hyderabad
state by the weak kneed Indian government. It was done obviously to
appease   Muslims.   In fact Nizam should have been tried for
Misrule  and atrocities on Hindus in
state   and for his failure to control
Razkars. But Nizam escaped the punishment and enjoyed in the  palace at koti. Kasim Razvi no doubt  was handed down much lesser punishment in
prison.  In fact in any other country he
would  have faced gallows as a criminal
for   atrocities committed on Hindus  by letting loose Razakars force that he
commanded.  He should have been subjected
to summary trial  by a military
court  and hanged. Alternately he should
have been shot by a firing squad on the streets of Hyderabad at Charminar in  full public view. Alas!  India lacked leaders of that
caliber to take such decisions.  Razvi
was imprisoned at Chanchalguda prison 
and was subjected to hard labor. Later he represented against  the alleged inhuman treatment at the jail  and was sent to Pune jail in 1954 where he
served his term  and was released under
the condition that with in 48 hours  he
should leave the country and leave for Pakistan.

                   After his release on 11 Sept
1957 he was  brought to Hyderabad an young advocate ZahidAli Kameel
and he drove him to his house where he held the meeting of his party. Out
of  140 members of  MIM   only 40    leaders attended.  He said that he would handover the party to even
a twelve year boy . None was ready to takeover the reigns of the party. It was
finally handed over to Wahaab Owaissi. The present city MLA Akbaruddin Owaissi,
and his elder brother who is an MP are his grandsons.  Kasim Razvi left for Pakistan on 18 Sept 1957  and was seen off  By 
ZahidAli Kameel at Bombay and  lived rest of his life in Pakistan 
and practiced law midst of 
Muslims who migrated from India. They are called Mujahirs.Kasim
Razvi was not given any recognition in Pakistan  and he was overlooked. He had no political life
and he died unsung  and unheard a
broken  and  disgraced man on 15January 1970 at the age of
67 years.

                 The fact that Kasim Razvi was let off  with jail term inspite of the fact  he spearheaded Razakars, fanned communal hatred  and crime on Hindus in the state,  is clear indication of weak   and appeasement policy of Indian
leaders   even at the time of partition.
They had no courage and lacked spine to hang this person who was squarely
responsible for inhuman conduct of Razakars towards Hindu population in Hyderabad state. He
really deserved   death sentence and
nothing short.  By letting  him off   with
lesser punishment Indian authorities have insulted the   Hindu population of the state who lost lives
and honor of women at the hands of Razakars and justice was denied to them. It
is sure that their souls are not at rest yet and hover over Hyderabad city crying in despair. Probably
letting off Razvi  is a greater crime
than other crimes committed.