In the mid-20th century, Hyderabad was a princely state ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad, with a significant Hindu population. The Indian subcontinent was on the brink of independence, and the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was advocating for a separate homeland for Muslims, Pakistan. The Razakar, a militant group formed by the Muslim League, was tasked with intimidating and coercing the Hindu population into leaving Hyderabad or converting to Islam.