When Nizam-era Hyderabad ensured pilgrimage parity

Nizam’s government in Hyderabad State amended the Service Rules, officially granting Hindu employees six months of leave with advance salary to undertake religious yatras.

In 1934, the Hyderabad State used to grant six months of paid leave to employees of the Nizam’s government to undertake pilgrimages to Islamic holy sites such as Mecca and Medina (in present-day Saudi Arabia), Mashhad (in Iran), and other significant places like Najaf, Karbala, and Baghdad (in present-day Iraq), as well as Jerusalem. This privilege was rooted in the Service Rules, which formally permitted such leave for religious duties.

The policy came under review when Ram Swaroop Tandon, a Hindu employee in the Nizam’s administration, submitted a petition seeking similar leave for a pilgrimage. His request triggered internal deliberations across departments, raising important questions about the existing rules, the need for equitable treatment of employees from different faiths, the religious diversity of Hyderabad State and the geographical realities of pilgrimage in India.

A file preserved at the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute (TSARI) details how the petition was handled. It was first examined by the Law Department and later referred to the Finance Department. The latter noted that, according to the Service Rules, Muslim employees were explicitly permitted to avail leave for pilgrimages to Mecca for Haj, Medina for the Prophet’s Mosque, and Shia holy sites such as Najaf, Karbala, and Baghdad, apart from Jerusalem.

“Given that Jerusalem was mentioned, it was noted that Christians and Jews in the Nizam’s employ could also make use of this concession. When Tandon’s request came, the government took up his case and decided to grant leave to Hindus on similar lines. It was noted that pilgrimage locations within India — Badrinath, Puri Jagannath, Rameshwaram, Dwarkanath, Prayag, Kashi and Gaya, were tough to reach,” Zareena Parveen of TSARI, who studied the file, said. The file shows that Gangotri and Yamunotri were also considered as pilgrimage sites.

The deliberations, recorded in the file, dwelt upon modes of transport, and connectivity by means of railways, to reach these pilgrimage sites. For, the railway line took one only up to Haridwar. At best, a person could walk 10 miles a day. This, from a total journey of around 835 miles, the file notes.

“The six-month leave was made available for all personnel of para military forces for a very long time,” Ms.Parveen says. “However, the rule was not made available for other government servants in civilian roles. The time taken to walk over the difficult and hilly terrain was also spoken about in detail.”

At that time, the Prime Minister was Maharaja Kishen Pershad, a Punjabi Khatri. A council, including Pershad, convened and resolved to bring about the legislation which would allow Hindu employees to make yatras.