A black-and-white image showing a person bowing down to another man is widely shared on social media. It claims that Maharaja Hari Singh, the last ruler of Kashmir, with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who is considered very important regarding the merger of princely states in India.
The image is shared on Facebook with a caption: “बहुत कम ही लोग जानते होंगे इस तस्वीर के बारे मे…ये कश्मीर के महाराज हरि सिंह है जिन्होंने पाकिस्तान के डर के चलते हमारे सरदार के सामने सर झुकना कबूल किया.. सच मे समय बहुत बलवान होता है , लेकिन उससे भी बलवान सच मे हमारे सरदार थे जिन्होंने उनके दर में आये हरि सिंह की मदद का अपना वादा पूरा किया और पाकिस्तान को दांतों तले चने चबवा दिये” (English translation: Very few people know about this picture… This is the Maharaja of Kashmir Hari Singh who accepted to bow down in front of our Sardar due to fear of Pakistan. Really time is very powerful, but even stronger was our Sardar who fulfilled his promise of helping Hari Singh who came to his door and chewed Pakistan under his teeth)
Here’s the link to the above post.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above claim, and found it to be MISLEADING.
We found a news report by Hindustan Times, dated September 16, 2022, with a caption: “On September 17, 1948, the Nizam (right) surrendered to the Indian government.”
The same image was published in a news report by The Times of India stating that the image shows the surrender of Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, before the Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in 1948.
A similar image from a different angle was also tweeted by a journalist on September 7, 2020, with a caption: “Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan welcoming Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabbhai Patel at #Hakimpet airport in January 1949 #PoliceAction #OperationPolo #Hyderabad.”
Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan welcoming Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabbhai Patel at #Hakimpet airport in January 1949 #PoliceAction #OperationPolo #Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/trUDcckeu3
— Syed Akbar (@SyedAkbarTOI) September 7, 2020
During the partition of India in 1947, the British gave over 550 princely states the choice of joining India or Pakistan or remaining independent. However, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the king of Kashmir, and the princely state of Junagarh were unwilling to make a decision. When diplomatic efforts failed, the Indian Army took action on September 13, 1948, led by Major General JN Chaudhary, to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad into India. This military operation was known as ‘Operation Polo’ and lasted for 108 hours. As a result, Nizam eventually sent a messenger to surrender to the Indian Army, and Hyderabad became a part of India.
As per a BBC report, in February 1949, when Sardar Patel arrived at Hyderabad’s Begumpet airport, the Nizam of Hyderabad was also present. The Nizam approached Patel with a humble gesture, bowing his head and folding his hands, which Patel greeted with a smile. This event was captured in a photograph from that time.
Simultaneously, on October 26, 1947, King Hari Singh of Kashmir accepted the Instrument of Accession, formalising Kashmir’s integration with India. This decision was made amidst a tribal attack on Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan. Subsequently, the Indian Army entered Kashmir to address the situation after the Instrument of Accession was signed.
Thus, it is evident from the above information that the image of Sardar Patel with Mir Osman Ali Khan is shared with misleading claims.
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