HYDERABAD: The Holdout

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The Indian government's biggest objection to the Nizam is that he has elevated the Moslem minority of the population to a position of power and privilege. Of Hyderabad's 17 million, only two million are Moslems. Yet in the army and police, Moslems outnumber Hindus nine to one, and in other government services, six to one. The privileged Moslem minority rules on the principle that Hindus must be kept "in their place." For instance, in Hyderabad railway stations, there are separate refreshment rooms labeled "Moslem Tea Room" and "Hindu Tea Room."

The Nizam authorized the formation of an organization called Majlis Ittehad-ul-Muslimin (Movement for Moslem Unity), which has become Hyderabad's dominant political party, and more. Its private army called Razakars (Volunteers) now numbers 150,000. Head of the Ittehad and field marshal of the Razakars is 46-year-old Kasim Razvi. Razvi is against submission to Indian rule in any degree. "Death with the sword in hand," he tells his followers, "is always preferable to extinction by a mere stroke of the pen." Razvi's position is so strong that the Indian government calls him "the Nizam's Frankenstein monster." "I will, I must defend the rights of the Moslems even against H.E.H. [His Exalted Highness] himself," said Razvi recently. "If India attacks us I can and will create a turmoil throughout India. We will perish but India will perish also."

Stab in the Back? Razvi's threat is no idle one. If the Indian army invaded Hyderabad, Razvi's Razakars would kill Hyderabad Hindus. Throughout India Hindus would retaliate against Moslems. Knowing this, Indian leaders might settle for something short of accession, but insist that Razvi must go and the Razakars must be disbanded. India, still dangerously close to war with Pakistan, could never be comfortable with Razvi's fifth column in its midst. Last week Hyderabad's Prime Minister Mir Laik Ali said: "India thinks that if Pakistan attacks her, Hyderabad will stab her in the back. I am not so sure we would not."

India's main weapon so far has been a tight blockade. Machinery and trucks labeled for Hyderabad have piled up in Bombay. In Hyderabad imported food supplies have dwindled and the price of potatoes has soared to $1 a pound. The airline that connected Hyderabad with Indian cities is suspended. The Nizam's officials admit privately that Hyderabad might not be able to survive another six months.

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