More on Moazzam Jah
Well, you might think that yesterday's post was a prelude to this. It didn't occur to me at the time I posted my take on Narendra Luther's book that I have a few recollections of Moazzam Jah myself, and my own little brush with royalty--inconsequential as it may have been.
I had just joined a Master's program in English in the year1980, when a friend's senior cousin, Rashid Qayyum, asked me if I'd be interested in helping Moazzam Jah's son--Shahamat Jah, with some English. In other words, was I willing to be his 'tuition master'? I agreed quite readily, because for one thing, it meant some extra bucks I could do with. For another, and more importantly, I'd be able to catch a glimpse of the legendary Moazzam Jah, the former junior prince of erstwhile Hyderabad. For the next few months I went quite religiously to 'Fern Villa' in Red Hills where I'd sit with Shahamat in his room trying to help him with the odd poem or essay. Once in a few days, Moazzam Jah Bahadur would ask for me and make small talk. He also invited me for dinner once and ensured that some very good vegetarian food was cooked. But, by then he was a shadow of his former self and could not move about freely.
As Hyder Ali Aatish of the Lucknow school tells us:
na gor*-e-Sikandar, na hai qabr-e-Daara
miTay naamiyoN ke nishaaN kaise kaise
*grave
saty
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MiM Backs Congress Decision to set up States Reorganisation Commission
Hyderabad, Jan 11: The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MiM) on Thursday said the issue of granting Statehood to Telangana should be decided only by a State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) . Addressing a press Conference here, MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the Congress’ decision to press for a second SRC on Telangana. The Statehood to Telangana should not be granted unilaterally. The Central government should take views of all parties into account before carving out a new State. The appropriate body to start this process of consultation is only the States Reorganisation Commission.” He said. MP Asaduddin Owaisi said Muslims were a party to the Telangana issue and their views should be taken. We will present our views on the status of Hyderabad as and when the SRC is set up. Mr. Owaisi added. The MiM MP accused the Congress and the previous Telugu Desam governments of neglecting the welfare of Muslims in Telangana. “Telangana is backward so are the Muslims in the region .Telangana is a sensitive issue and it should not be dealt with in a hurry.” Mr. Owaisi suggested. He demanded that the Central government allocate at least Rs 3,000 crores for educational uplift of Muslims in the 11th five year plan he also announced that a Seminar on Sachar Committee report will be held on 13 and 14 of January at jubille hall.
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