08-31-2007, 10:34 PM
Ramana:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->It was these elements that formed the backbone of the Razakar movement and most have left to either TSP or the Gulf areas. There were even African bodyguards from the Muslim regions of Africa called Siddis. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I too have heard of this from a friend originating from Hyderbad. Couple years (90s) back he was doing a tour of some Nizam palaces and strayed into in a restricted area. He was immediately surrounded by some soldiers on horseback with swords. They looked out of place (as in not local to any place in India) and didn't communicate in known Indian languages. They escorted him out on sword-tip while yelling in some foreign language. His tour guide then explained that Nizam's and his queen's closest guards were either Turks or Siddis. I found it strange that even after a few centuries, they relied on 'outside' protection - as if there was no trust amongst local/late converts. Fodder for another thread, had to put it out there since some of you from AP could shed more light.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->It was these elements that formed the backbone of the Razakar movement and most have left to either TSP or the Gulf areas. There were even African bodyguards from the Muslim regions of Africa called Siddis. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I too have heard of this from a friend originating from Hyderbad. Couple years (90s) back he was doing a tour of some Nizam palaces and strayed into in a restricted area. He was immediately surrounded by some soldiers on horseback with swords. They looked out of place (as in not local to any place in India) and didn't communicate in known Indian languages. They escorted him out on sword-tip while yelling in some foreign language. His tour guide then explained that Nizam's and his queen's closest guards were either Turks or Siddis. I found it strange that even after a few centuries, they relied on 'outside' protection - as if there was no trust amongst local/late converts. Fodder for another thread, had to put it out there since some of you from AP could shed more light.