Page:Hyderabad in 1890 and 1891; comprising all the letters on Hyderabad affairs written to the Madras Hindu by its Hyderabad correspondent during 1890 and 1891 (IA hyderabadin1890100bangrich).pdf/70

 did not flag. He persisted in his cause with the result that his "friends" dropped off one after another. And by accepting a brief from the British officers concerned in the famous Sowar Case, he made himself "thoroughly" obnoxious to all in any way connected with the Government. Then came the declaration of “war.” It was held, by the powers-that-be, a crime deserving of exemplary punishment for any official to be on any good understanding with Mr. Rudra. And it was in accordance with this unwritten order that such of the officials as responded to the invitations issued by Messrs. Rudra. Gribble and Syed All for a pic-nic at Golconda-one of the social events of last year— got what is officially known as the khanji wink and Messrs. Syed Ali and Gribble who were associated with the offender' fared worse at the hands of the "Government". The "sinners" repented and were restored to favour, but Mr. Rudra stood recalcitrant—to suffer. Many methods have since been employed to cow him down and crush him. First in order came his "boycotting," from the Nizam's Club. The incidents connected with this are among the most remarkable in the annals of social life here. A challenge regarding his eligibility to membership of the Club made by a member on the 7th December 1889, and deemed "unfit for notice" at the time—was "entertained against Mr. Rudra on the 11th October, 1890, by the Secretary of the Club—the Nawab Fateh Nawaz Jung. A rule which "refers to certain nationalities and not to the individual religious beliefs of those falling under the nationalities" was misinterpreted so as to operate against him. And he was turned out of the Club. This was followed by attempts to make this place too hot for him. Finding it difficult to get a house to live in, because of the khanji wink, he took shelter under the roof of a friend. Even here he was not left in peace. A distinguished official of the State had sworn to see him out of the friend's house. And the following conversation between the official and the friend reveals what unscrupulous men we have holding sway here now and to what depths they can descend to infuse terror into those who dare to be independent.