Hyderabad, Aug. 15 -- History today is taught to us as a linear account of events. While India celebrates 78 years of independence today, it may be remembered that back in 1947 however things were very different in the erstwhile state of Hyderabad. The state, which was one of the largest then (and not just present day Telangana), was in fact technically not part of the Indian union even after independence from the British.

As the British were gearing up to leave India in 1947, there was a larger issue to deal with for the Indian union under its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru - the merger of the princely states including Hyderabad. While most of the 560-odd states in undivided Indian either chose Indian or Pakistan (based on geogra...