Second response to the Nizam article
Kaneez Fathima
Kaneez Fathima
Half-truths, Myths!
By Divi Kumar
14 March 2010
Andhra Jyothi.
The article written by Rafat Seema and Kaneez Fathima from Muslim Forum for Telangana on February 28 in Andhra Jyothi contains many half-truths. Having used the tune ‘Hindustan is mine, Pakistan is mine’ (from Habeeb Jalib’s song, written in 1960s) as the title of an editorial, now I respond to the article of these friends as someone belonging to neither Telangana nor Samaikyandhra.
As written in this article, Razakar movement started from 1944 onwards. Two years before that (in 1942) Shaik Bandagi was killed by the goondas of Visunoori Ramachandra Reddy. The writers of the present article have questioned the Communists: ‘Why is there not a single booklet on Shaik Bandagi who died fighting against landlords and Razakars?’ This is written without trying to know why Bandagi struggle took place, and what communists did during the years 1946-48. The play written by Sunkara-Vasireddy, ‘Maa Bhumi’ (Madras state banned this in 1948) was performed twice in a day in coastal districts. This play used to start with paying tributes to Shaik Bandagi while standing near his grave. The hero of this play, Vallam Narsimha Rao, until he reached 78 years, did not move from any stage nor was he allowed to move without singing song on Shaik Bandagi. Telugu people know Shaik Bandagi’s name hundred times more than Mir Osman Ali Khan’s name. In 1845 itself, Devulapalli Venkateshwar Rao wrote about Bandagi in detail in the book Janagaam Prajala Virochita Poratalu’ (Brave struggles of Jangoan people). B. Narsing Rao’s Maa Bhumi film came after the emergency. In it there is a song sung by Gaddar, ‘Bandenaka Bandi katti’ in which there is, ‘Nyzaam Sarkaroda Naazilanu minchinoda’. That is not the original creation of the cinema makers. That song was famous before the Military action itself.
The song that was written abusing Janna Reddy Pratap Reddy was re-sculpted afresh as Nyzaam Sarkaroda.. Such things are common in the movements. The important thing that has to be observed is, this song is against Nizam sarkar but not Muslims. The song that was written against an individual was changed against the establishment, government (sarkar). People would have built Nizam’s grave under Golconda Fort, if Nizam sarkar was not protected by Nehru and Patel government through military action!
It is true that Shoibullah Khan who sacrificed his life for democratic values and freedom of press did not get enough recognition, but it is incorrect to say that no one cared about him. Even Sangh Parivar magazines (whatever be the reasons) remember Shoibullah Khan. Journalists’ forums can do things such as conducting memorial speeches, giving his name to their offices, and gifting his photo frames.
The authors said there are books in English about Nizam’s religious tolerance and development, but not in Telugu. Many books went from Urdu to English but why didn’t some of them come into Telugu? Who is responsible for this? Nirmalanandu and we struggled a lot to bring a special issue of Praja Sahiti on Maqdoom Mohiuddin in the year 2003. We used to sit in Urdu Hall, Nusrat Mohiuddin would read and explain Maqdoom’s writing and we would wrote them in Hindi first and then translate into Telugu, in that way we brought them out. The people who know both Urdu and Telugu, can translate Maqdoom’s and other literature into Telugu. The editorials of ‘Imroze’ newspaper should have been introduced to Telugu people (has it come out even in Urdu in a book form?). We felt sad when we got to know about writer Jahandar Afsar only after his death. He died two years ago. Who should be made responsible for not knowing about Journalist, writer, Jahandar Afsar, who was born in the wealthiest Nizam family, but revolted against feudal rule, communalism and lived in poverty? I do not know a word of Urdu and until I went to Karachi, I did not come to know about Hasan Nasir. He was born in a great freedom fighter’s family, actively played an important role in Hyderabad student organization and finally was killed in Lahore jail at a very young age. Until I wrote an article in Andhra Jyoti, even the people who are in the age group of 75 years did not know even his name. Is it not the responsibility of the people who know both Urdu and Telugu? During the Razakar atrocities, an ex-progressive writer, who worked in Radio as News telecaster, Ibrahim Jalees, later went away to Pakistan and wrote the book Do mulkon ki ek kahani (probably, it might also contain something about country’s partition and last minutes of Nizam State). How should the Telugu people read it? Ok, we can criticize Andhra Pradesh government, Telugu, Urdu academy, but we should also make self-assessment of ourselves as writers!
Urdu is an Indian language. It gained too much of prominence in the past due to undemocratic politics. At present, it is undergoing discrimination. We have not yet developed democratic culture and the statistics cited by the writers show this! At present, it seems, there are only 2% Muslims in employment! How undemocratic! Wasn’t it undemocratic too when that number was 40%?
It is true that Urdu was not born as a religious language. However, are there any non-Muslims whose mother tongue is Urdu? As told by Gandhiji, if at all Hindustani (Hindi, Urdu without Parsi and Sanskrit words) had been accepted by central rulers and both Devanagari & Parsi scripts would have been spread, then, that would have been a permanent solution to the problem of Hindi-Urdu. In the past, there were many Hindus who knew Urdu-Telugu. Now not many. The number has increased a little among Muslims. At least these people should have propagated Urdu, as Hindi got propagated. If Urdu is taught through Telugu letters, it would have been easily learnt not only by the Muslims of coastal districts but even Hindus. Unless Urdu becomes the mother tongue of non-Muslims, the label of it being the Muslim religious language cannot be erased. At the same time, not much creative and secular literature is coming into Telugu from Urdu compared to the religious literature. Muslims gather for religious congregations but they don’t get mobilzed against the establishment (price rise, unemployment, corruption, attacks on women etc) with the same spirit.
Nizam will not command respect, but Siraj ud Dowla, Tipu Sultan, Bahdur Shah Zafar do. Those who did not fight against the enemies of the country, those who did not create history, cannot achieve historical respect. Nizam’s personal religious belief was Islam, he was feudal as a ruler. He is responsible for sustenance of British imperialists in South India and for the division among Telugus.
You have also written, ‘why are we not visible in your History’. This is Modi’s language but not from people’s vision. If separate Telangana is formed, how will Muslims achieve things which they do not have now or which they need or what they are aspiring for? The authors were unable to cite one thing that the Telangana Muslims lost due to living together with Andhra Muslims. Sorry!!
From: Kaneez Fathima <fath...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 3, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Subject: First response to the Nizam article
To: tracking-...@googlegroups.com
Kaneez Fathima
Is Nizam not cruel?
By SV Satyanarayana
7th March 2010
Andhra Jyothi
I was shocked to read the article ‘Do Not Hurt Self-respect’ by Dr.Rafat Seema and Kaneez Fathima of Muslim Forum for Telangana. I was surprised. Their argument goes like this: “We should not say Nizam was cruel. If songs are sung abusing Nizam, it would amount to hurting the self-respect of Muslims. Nizam observed religious tolerance. Muslims have no presence in the history of Rights Organizations.” This is the brief summary of the article. I will respond to it in briefly.
The song ‘Bandi enaka bandi katti’ written on Errambadu Dora Janna Reddy Pratap Reddy was different. Using the same tune, the people’s poet Yadagiri wrote, sang and popularized the song ‘Nyzaam sarkaroda- Nazila Minchinoda! Yamabadha Bedtivi Koduko – Nyzaam Sarkaroda!’ (Oh Nizam ruler, you have gone beyond the Nazis! You oppress us so much, oh son – Nizam ruler!.) For writing this one song, Yadagiri was caught and shot dead by the Nizam police near old Suryapet.
The song ‘Golconda Khilla kinda – Nee gori kadtaam koduko Nyzam sarkaroda!’ (Under Golconda fort, we will build your grave, O Nizam sarkar) testifying people’s anger showed up in 1947. It was not from the film Maa Bhumi. I’m not aware what kind of stuff people are writing in English in praise of Nizam’s religious tolerance, or exaggerating his ‘development’ but the scary stories that I heard from my parents and grand mothers (who were born in Hyderabad) still echo in my ears.
Makhdoom described the dark rule of Nizam as follows: “That is a devil’s abode, a blanket of ruins, it’s a kingdom of vultures feeding on corpses, everywhere endless disease/oppression, wherever we see, there is darkness and ruins.’ Despotism, oppression by landlords, bonded labor, slavery, illiteracy, forcible religious conversions, lack of safety and respect for life, heavy taxes, suppression of the language, culture and rituals of the majority people, reached a peak stage in Asaf Jahis’ rule. Mortar Tax, pestle tax, marriage tax, puberty tax, delivery (of babies) tax, tax on delivering a girl child, tax on death of old woman—with these taxes extracted from people Nizam nawab filled his khazana. As you said, Nizam was the wealthiest person. But, where did that wealth come from?
Nizam-ul-Mulk Khamruddin, who was appointed as Subedar for the Deccan, later in 1724 declared himself independent and established Asafia rule in Hyderabad. Since he came empty-handed but how did his inheritors become the wealthiest people in the world? With whose blood and sweat, did they acquire control and rights over the lakhs of acres of land? Think over it. Now comes the issue of religious tolerance. If Muslims’ and Hindus’ festivals happened to be on the same day, Hindu celebration was banned. Many temples were converted into Masjids in Hyderabad state. Forceful religious conversions took place. People lived in fear and insecurity. My father and grand fathers were forced to wear lungis and caps on their heads. Is this religious tolerance?
You believe, ‘Nizam had both good and bad sides’, how much good? How much bad? How much good happened to the people? How much bad? Should we approve of Nizam’s rule? Or Condemn? Look at these aspects patiently from a secular perspective. Balagopal said, ‘Hinduism works on our minds in such a way that we’re unaware of it.’ A small modification to it: ‘Religion works on our minds, in such a way that we’re unaware of it.’ That’s what I understand after reading your article.
Gandhi never said that there is no need of congress struggle in Hyderabad state. Gandhiji never praised that Nizam's rule was unbiased and peaceful. Because the political parties were banned here, there are no chances of peaceful protests. Protests may turn violent. Therefore, Gandhiji cautioned the Congress party. Gandhiji never considered that there is no need of protests and the rule here is going on for the welfare of the people. Let us all continue the protest without paying attention towards castes and religion in the ongoing separate Telangana movement which has reached a decisive point. Let us think together. As you said, ‘Democratic world cannot be built on distorted history.’
Dear All,
In the present Telangana movement, while participating in it, we observed that, Nizam is being criticized, songs sung accusing him and his rule as cruel rule and many other things. Then we started to examine as to what was the role of Nizam in merging Telangana in the Andhra region and many other things. And we found Nizam was not at all responsible in any way in the merging of Telangana with Andhra.
We wrote an article on this issue and sent to Andhra Jyothi, a Telugu daily. This article of ours was edited in such a manner that it looked as if we are defending and owning Nizam, which was not at all our aim. Then came the responses to that article from many people, mostly appreciating and few criticizing us. Responses have been coming almost every week in the same newspaper, though we have received lot of other responses personally.
Therefore, I would like to share with all of you the original text, the text published in Andhra Jyoti and the responses to it. These are translated into English.
As the complete matter was not published, we brought out this in the form of a pamphlet. Another Telugu daily SURYA published this pamphlet.
This article was published on 29th February 2010 in AJ with the title ‘Do not hurt self respect’.
Please find the full version of the article. In this same full version, either the highlighted and underlined matter was deleted or the sentences changed when it was published in Andhra Jyoti.
NIZAM RULER FOR 224 YEARS IF NOT RESPECTED DULY, CAN THE COMMON MUSLIMS EXPECT THAT THEIR SELF RESPECT WILL BE PROTECTED!
In the democratic movements, there is a need to engage every one in broader aspect and act in democratic manner. Whereas, is the approach of involving biggest Minorities i.e. Muslims in the present Telangana movement proper!
Abusing Nizam by the poets, Singers and Intellectuals in their writings has become part and parcel of the Telangana movement. Is it apt to still sing the Telugu song, ‘Banda Enaka Bandi Katti’ and say “Nizam Gori Kat-taam” (we will build grave of Nizam)? Do these people not know that this song was written against the landlord Janna Reddy Pratap Reddy, which was later, altered and used for the cinema “Maa Bhumi”! Why does these people not sing the song written in the past, “Rangu Rangula Nehrayya, Nee Rangu Maarenayya Nehrayya”, (Nehru of Various colours, your colour has itself changed) which means that Socialism has lost its colour. [If Nehru song is not considered as relevant in Telangana movement, then ‘Nizam’ song is also totally irrelevant. Even then, if this song is campaigned and sung then it is just to demoralize Muslim sentiments!]
It is true that Communists fought against Nizam Feudalism. Muslims also took part in that struggle. On one side, while saying no to Feudal Nizam, the communists on the other side bowed down in front of [National bourgeoisie] Nehru, why? Bourgeoisie Nehru himself was against the formation of Andhra Pradesh, but the Communists gave the slogan of ‘peoples rule in Vishaal Andhra’. [The Jagirdars, Deshmukhs, Reddys, Velamas and Brahmins who were in the Nizam’s administration were in large number. To save their properties and to continue their power and rule, Deshmukhs and Jagirdars used Razakars as their shields.] From 1944 onwards Razakar anarchy took place [in which three hundred peasants who participated in armed struggle sacrificed their lives. Whereas from 1948 to 1951, four thousand people died in the attack by Nehru-Patel army. Therefore, the person who killed four thousand people is considered as ‘Hero’ by the communists; and the Nizam who killed/responsible for the death of three hundred people is shown as ‘Vilan’. The problem arises only because a ruler is seen from the religious angle but not as a ruler.] Whatever the communists said about the Nizam from 1944 onwards, only that part became recorded in the history. There are books written in English on Nizam’s religious tolerance and development but the same is not found in Telugu. Number of books have been written by the communists on peasant armed struggle, why is there not a small booklet on Shiekh Bandagi who fought against Deshmukhs? Shoibullah Khan, editor of ‘Imroze’ daily, died in the hands of Razakars in the year 1948. The first and foremost person of India who laid down his life for the freedom of press, [not a single word is written about him. Shoibullah Khan’s life sacrifice is not praised in any textbook. Is this not discrimination?] In the 224 years rule, is only four years rule visible? Why are the Muslims ignored in the history, is this the way to treat them?
The rights and progressive organizations in their pamphlets criticize Nizam and address nizam as cruel ruler (cruel rule of Nizam). However, has any king [ruled] [ ‘ruled’ was change to ‘thought’] this country democratically! [Samakka and Sarakka (Mother and daughter also familiarly known as Godesses) were killed by the Kakatiyas, why is this incident not mentioned while talking of their legacy?] Nizam had both good and bad qualities as any other king; why only bad side of him is visible to these people! Balagopal, a prominent Human Rights Activist had appropriately said, ‘Hinduism works right in our heads without our consciousness’. This statement of his seems to be correct today! Have these people forgotten the sacrifices of Gulam Rasool and Azam Ali? Is this the responsibility of the rights organizations!
During the time of constructing High Court building in the year 1919, a Hindu temple was in the middle of that site, the then engineers asked the Nizam whether to eliminate this temple from that site, Nizam in return questioned them, ‘how can the temple of Justice be built on the base of injustice’ [and thus saved that temple from demolition.] That temple still exists in the premises of High Court. Nizam used to conduct Eid Milap on the festival of Dassera like Ramzan and interact with common people. [There are a number of Masjids and Mandirs side by side with a single wall division in various parts of Telangana. During the Nizam’s period Pingali Venkatram Reddy was the Prime Minister of Nizam state.] Is the Nizam’s religious tolerance not visible!
Nizam was the wealthiest (crorepati) person in the world; there were six thousand acres of sarf-e-khas lands under him. All these became government property after the formation of ‘Vishaal Andhra’. Even the lands given to him as Privy Purse by Nehru were returned back by him to the government. [All the landlords i.e. Reddys, Jagirdars, Velamas, Deshmukhs became political leaders by dressing themselves in Khadi clothes. The lands occupied by the communists during armed struggle, were taken back in their control. They are ruling the people by becoming MPs and MLAs.] All the kings of the country entered into politics, changed their dressing, came into power and protected their wealth. Whereas Nizam never entered politics nor his inheritors. The person who left his wealth and power, how can he be a cruel ruler? The upper caste people who changed their colours [how can they be called as democrats?] this was changed to ‘became democrats’.
All the historical buildings that are seen today were constructed in the period of Nizam itself. Nizam was in the position of Governor as Raj Pramukh of Hyderabad state until 1956. However, this is ignored completely whereas Burgula Ramakrishna Rao’s name is heard as first Chief Minister. [The Britishers who looted this country for two hundred years, Sir Arthur Cotton, its representative in India; because he had built a single dam, the Andhras even today perform rites in honour of him. Whereas the Nawab who dig hundreds of lakes for the people and aspired that the people of Hyderabad also should grow like the fishes in the lakes, is called as cruel ruler. After the construction of Gandipet and Himayatsagar, the officials gave their opinion to Nizam that tax should be collected on water, to that he said, how could we collect tax that too on water? [Hyderabad was the first and foremost state that separated Executive and Judiciary.] This was changed to ‘Executive and Judiciary were separate during Nizam period’. In 1938, Gandhi instructed that there is no need of struggle in Hyderabad State by the Congress, because every thing is all right and proper in Hyderabad.
Formation of Telangana state is the need of time, but how is it possible for the Muslims under the above circumstances to take part in the movement whole-heartedly? The people who lost mostly are the Muslims after the formation of Andhra Pradesh. Earlier forty percent of the Muslims were in the government jobs now reduced to two percent. Thousands of acres of lands are [grabbed and registered on their names by Andhra and Rayalseema leaders.] Our history is misapprehended, prejudice is increasing against us day by day, our language is labeled as religious, and our culture is not respected. Even though the most affected are the Muslims but still they hope that, their lives will change with the formation of Telangana state. Therefore, we will fight with collective strength whole-heartedly.
Even though some people among Muslims are saying that anti secular forces may rise, but we say Modi will not take birth here even though he is born, he cannot live politically because Telangana has the history of Progressive movements. Can the society be democratic which is built on false propaganda? Finally, we the Muslims appeal all the rightists and democrats, poets and singers not to speak in the manner, which may hurt the self-respect of the Muslims. Let us unite and struggle for Telangana movement and move forward shoulder to shoulder.
Dr. Rafat Seema, Kaneez Fathima
Muslim Forum for Telangana
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Kaneez Fathima