Chapter 6: Meeting with Uncle
The sun was setting over the city of Hyderabad, casting a golden glow on the majestic Charminar. A carriage pulled by two horses made its way through the crowded streets, carrying a young man dressed in fine clothes and a turban. He was Prince Raj, the illegitimate son of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the ruler of the largest and richest princely state in India. He had a secret mission: to meet the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Sir Salar Jung, and persuade him to arrange a meeting with the kings of Indore, the Holkars.
Prince Raj had a bold plan: to form an alliance with the Holkars and other princely states against the British, who had been steadily encroaching on their sovereignty and imposing their laws and taxes. He also wants their help in claiming Hyderabad for himself from legitimate heirs. He believed that the only way to preserve the dignity and independence of the Indian princes was to unite and resist the foreign invaders. He had been inspired by the stories of, Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, who had fought valiantly against the British until his death in 1799.
The carriage stopped at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, a grand mansion surrounded by gardens and fountains. Prince Raj was ushered in by a servant and led to a spacious hall, where Sir Salar Jung was waiting for him. The Prime Minister was a tall and handsome old man, with a long beard and a piercing gaze. He was one of the most influential and respected men in India, known for his administrative skills and diplomatic acumen. He had served the Nizam for over three decades, and had maintained cordial relations with the British, while safeguarding the interests of Hyderabad.
"Welcome, Prince Raj," Uncle Salar greeted him warmly. "I am honoured by your visit. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you, Uncle Salar," Prince Raj replied, bowing slightly. "I appreciate your time and hospitality."
Sir Salar was very pleased and happy as Prince Raj called him Uncle, as he respected him even after all this time. They sat down on opposite sides of a low table, where tea and snacks were served. They exchanged pleasantries and discussed the affairs of the state, avoiding any sensitive topics. Prince Raj waited for the right moment to bring up his proposal.
"Uncle Salar, I have come to you with a request," he said finally, lowering his voice. "A request that may sound audacious, but I hope you will hear me out."
"Go on, Prince Raj," Uncle Salar said, leaning forward. "I am listening."
"Sir, you are well aware of the situation in India. The British are becoming more and more oppressive and arrogant. They treat us as their subjects, not as their allies. They interfere in our internal matters, they impose their laws and taxes, they exploit our resources and people, they disrespect our culture and religion. They have annexed many of our neighboring states, and they are eyeing ours. How long will we tolerate this injustice? How long will we remain silent and submissive? How will father counter them? Does he even want to oppose them?"
"Prince Raj, I share your sentiments," Uncle Salar said. "But what can we do? The British are too powerful and too cunning. They have a large and well-equipped army, they have a network of spies and informers, they have the support of some of the princes who are loyal to them or afraid of them. We cannot afford to antagonize them, or we will face their wrath. We have to be careful and prudent and try to preserve our autonomy and dignity as much as possible."
"Sir, I respect your wisdom and experience, but I disagree with your approach," Prince Raj said. "We cannot be careful and prudent forever. We have to be brave and bold, and take a stand for our rights and honour. We have to follow the example of our ancestors, who fought for their freedom and glory. We have to unite and rebel against the British and drive them out of our land."
"Prince Raj, you are young and idealistic, but you are also naive and reckless," Uncle Salar said. "You do not understand the reality and the consequences of your proposal. Do you think the British will let us unite and rebel? Do you think they will not crush us with their superior force and might? Do you think they will not punish us with their vengeance and cruelty? Do you remember what happened to the last rebellion, the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857? Do you remember how many lives were lost, how many cities were burned, how many leaders were hanged, how many states were annexed? Do you want to repeat that tragedy?"
"Sir, I do remember the Sepoy Mutiny, and I do not want to repeat it," Prince Raj said. "But I also remember that it was not a complete failure. It was a spark that ignited the flame of nationalism and resistance in the hearts of millions of Indians. It was a sign that the British were not invincible and infallible. It was a lesson that we have to fight for our freedom and dignity, not beg for it. It was a legacy that we have to honour and continue, not forget and abandon."
"Prince Raj, you are passionate and eloquent, but you are also unrealistic and impractical," Uncle Salar said. "You are talking about a dream that is impossible to achieve. You are talking about a war that is doomed to fail. You are talking about a risk that is not worth taking. You are talking about a cause that is not supported by the majority of the princes, who are either content or fearful of the British. You are talking about a plan that is not feasible or viable. How do you propose to unite and rebel against the British? How do you propose to overcome their strength and strategy? How do you propose to win their respect and recognition?"
"Sir, I have a plan, and I need your help to execute it," Prince Raj said. "I have a plan to form an alliance with the Holkars of Indore, one of the most powerful and prestigious princely states in India. The Holkars have a history of resisting the British, and they have a strong and loyal army. They also have influence and connections with other princely states, especially in Central India. If we can persuade the Holkars to join us, we can create a formidable force that can challenge the British. We can also inspire and attract other princes to our cause and create a united front that can demand our rights and dignity. We can also seek the support and sympathy of other countries, especially the Ottoman Empire and Russia, who are rivals and enemies of the British. We can also appeal to the masses, the peasants and the workers, who are suffering under the British rule, and who are eager for a change and a leader. We can also use the advantage of our geography and climate, and launch a surprise and swift attack on the British, before they can react and mobilize. We can also use the element of faith and destiny, and invoke the prophecy of the Mahdi, the Messiah, who is expected to appear and liberate the Muslims from the oppression of the infidels. We can also use the spirit of courage and sacrifice, and follow the motto of our grandfather, Tipu Sultan: 'Better to live one day as a lion than a hundred years as a sheep.' This is my plan, Sir Salar Jung, and this is why I have come to you. I need you to arrange a meeting with the Holkars, and convince them to join us. I need you to use your authority and influence, and persuade the Nizam to support us. I need you to use your wisdom and skill, and guide us in this noble and historic endeavor. Will you help me, Uncle Salar? Will you help me to fulfill my dream, and the dream of millions of Indians? Will you help me to make history, and change the destiny of India?"
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