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Sir Ali to stay, we both felt that it would hardly
be just to accept his condition, namely that the
member in question should be removed from
office, which would have meant dismissal. I
submitted that the offence was not so serious as
to call for such a severe punishment, and His
Exalted Highness agreed. I had occasion to
explain the matter to the Resident also in the
same way.
Sir Ali Imam's arrival had raised great expecta-
tions and his untimely departure changed the
course of events in Hyderabad, and mucli which
could not then be foreseen, has come out of it.
His presence, suggestive of power wholesomely
exercised, would have kept unscrupulous officials
in awe.
Though he was a little impulsive and hasty
and self-conscious, his nature was not ungene-
rous, and he was not self-seeking. If he had
remained on, he could have done much valuable
work—cleansing and constructive. His great
scheme for bringing under cultivation and popu-
lating vast areas of fallow land in the Dominions,
when completed, would have meant increased
prosperity. He could have rendered useful service
to Hyderabad by recasting the whole system
of departmental work, cutting out unnecessary
accretions and rooting out that despicable form
of selfishness, corruption. He could have helped
to maintain a higher standard of public conduct,
but it was not to be.