What was the name of the irregular militia led by Qasim Razvi in Hyderabad that was disbanded by Indian troops on 14 December 1948?

Introduction / Context:
During the integration of princely states into independent India, Hyderabad posed a special challenge. The Nizam of Hyderabad relied on a private paramilitary force that tried to resist accession and maintain his rule. This force, composed largely of Muslim youth from the aristocracy, became notorious for communal violence and intimidation. Knowing its name is important for understanding Operation Polo and the final annexation of Hyderabad by Indian forces.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The question refers to an irregular army or militia. • It was led by Qasim Razvi in the princely state of Hyderabad. • It was disbanded by Indian troops on 14 December 1948 after military action. • Options include Razakars, Azad Hind Fauj, Khaksars, Moplah rebels, and Telangana Armed Struggle.

Concept / Approach:
Qasim Razvi was the leader of the Razakars, a paramilitary volunteer force that supported the Nizam of Hyderabad and opposed integration with India. The Razakars gained a reputation for violence against those who favoured accession and against Hindu communities. Their activities became one of the key reasons cited by the Government of India for launching Operation Polo in September 1948. After the Indian Army entered Hyderabad and the Nizam surrendered, the Razakar organisation was dismantled, and Qasim Razvi was arrested. Therefore, the irregular army described in the question is the Razakars.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the clues Hyderabad, irregular army, and leader Qasim Razvi. Step 2: Recall from modern Indian history that the private militia active in Hyderabad politics was known as the Razakars. Step 3: Check the options and find Razakars as one of the choices. Step 4: Recall that Azad Hind Fauj was Subhas Chandra Bose's force, separate from Hyderabad events. Step 5: Choose Razakars as the correct answer, since it matches both the leader and the timeline of disbandment.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical summaries and detailed articles on Operation Polo and the annexation of Hyderabad state that Qasim Razvi headed the Razakars, described as a paramilitary or irregular force loyal to the Nizam. They note that after the Indian Army entered Hyderabad in September 1948 and restored order, the Razakars were formally disbanded and Qasim Razvi was imprisoned and later sent to Pakistan. These sources confirm that the irregular army in question was called the Razakars and that Indian troops dismantled this organisation in the final months of 1948.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Azad Hind Fauj, or the Indian National Army, was led by Subhas Chandra Bose and fought alongside Axis powers during the Second World War, not in Hyderabad in 1948. • The Khaksars were a movement and militia based mainly in British India's Punjab and United Provinces, not the princely state of Hyderabad. • Moplah rebels refers to uprisings of Mappila Muslims in Malabar, Kerala, particularly in the 1921 rebellion, and is not linked to Qasim Razvi. • The Telangana Armed Struggle was a peasant movement influenced by communists in the Hyderabad state, not the Nizam sponsored Razakar militia.

Common Pitfalls:
• Confusing the Razakars with broader peasant uprisings in Telangana that had different leadership and ideology. • Mixing up names of various militias and armies from different regions and time periods. • Ignoring the central clue, the name Qasim Razvi, which is almost always associated with the Razakars.

Final Answer:
The irregular militia led by Qasim Razvi in Hyderabad, which was disbanded by Indian troops in December 1948, was called the Razakars.