Hyderabadiz 2.0.

Happy 2012 - Have Fun with Hyderabadi Melody of Pandit Vithal Rao

2012-01-02T01:10:00.003+05:30

Phir Maang - Phir Maang (Hamd) - Pandit Vithal Rao. A Hyderabadi Ghazal and naat singer. Among his notable disciples is Kiran Ahluwalia.
Phir Maang - Phir Maang (Hamd), is by a Hyderabadi lyrics writer Syed Ahmed Hussain Amjad (1888-1965) [source: Charminar Connection]; Hyderabadi artists: Pandit Viththal Rao & AZIZ WARSI HYDERABAD (info courtesy: SUMAJIGUDA); lyrics translated: here, Charminar Connection www.hindigeetmala.com.

On the same shelf:

Happy 2007 - Have Fun with Hyderabad ka Paya Paya

Glimpses of the Nizam’s Dominion – Cluade Campbell

2011-11-12T20:49:00.006+05:30

The book is in news again. While the English edition is just a reprint, the Urdu translation is the actual news maker.

Glimpses of the Nizam’s Dominion – Cluade Campbell: (Reprinted by Mohammed Safiullah and the Deccan Heritage Trust.), A rare 112-year-old book gets a reprint, The Hindu / Metro Plus Hyderabad, 14 Jan 2010

The comprehensive history of Hyderabad is depicted in the book “Glimpses of Nizam’s Dominion”. It gives the details of the industrial, mineral and historical developments since 1897. It contains the details of the nobles of Hyderabad.

Urdu version of the book titled Tarikh Qalamrau Nizam that was published in 1899

NEW: Urdu edition of ‘Glimpses of Nizam’s Dominion’ (republished, by Allama Aejaz Farukh and Mr. Zahid Ali Khan), Siasat November 10, 2011

An extract (from this book) by a blogger: 'Hyderabada visual tribute to the city i live in: Lakshmi Prabhala'

Library of Congress Record for this book:

LC control no.: 46040955
LCCN permalink: http://lccn.loc.gov/46040955
Type of material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.)
Personal name: Campbell, A. Claude.
Main title: Glimpses of the Nizam’s dominions,
Published/Created: Bobmay and London, C. B. Burrows [1898]
Description: 525 p. illus. (incl. ports.) 41 cm.
Subjects: Hyderabad (India : State) --Pictorial works.
LC classification: DS485.H3 C3

British Library Record

Fake resumes; Hyderabad leads

2011-07-02T20:45:00.000+05:30

Extract:

According to Employee verifications firms, recruitment companies and HR heads in the IT sector feel the number of fake resumes floating around have increased fourfold since 2007. Fake resumes have transformed and turned out to be a fine art nowadays. Most IT companies revealed that professionals from Hyderabad faked the most in their resumes.

...It is not only the fake resumes which has brought Hyderabad into the spotlight, during the Tri-valley university, the city drew a lot of attention as the scam claimed that as many as 1,555 students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh enrolled at the Pleasanton School were using fake visas. In a complaint filed Jan 19 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, the U.S. Attorney's Office alleges that the owner of Tri Valley University used the school to help foreigners illegally obtain student visas that allow them to stay in the U.S. Continue reading: Fake resumes; Hyderabad leads, By SiliconIndia

See on the same shelf:

Andhra seeks help for students stuck in US's Tri-Valley University

Accuracy in your resume is a must - And a Golden Rule Too

The Worst Resume Mistake EVER! @ Monster.ca

Dirty soda fountains are sources of harmful germs - NGRI-CSIR

2011-05-16T02:10:00.002+05:30

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/dirty-soda-fountains-are-sources-harmful-germs-844

It's Pahelwans who call the shots in Old City

2011-05-09T04:50:00.001+05:30

source: The Times of India: / Siasat

HYDERABAD: Amjed Ullah Khan, the Azampura division corporator is unusually net-savvy, his emails on all things big and small dropping into the inboxes of many denizens, or Hyderabadis who he thinks matter. So the latest email from the corporator shows an immaculately dressed Akbaruddin Owaisi at a wedding function in 2006, sharing the stage with Mohammad Pahelwan, the alleged mastermind behind the attack on Owaisi last week

In the picture, Pahelwan, dressed in the trademark lungi and a full-sleeve shirt has a half smile and so does Owaisi. What is significant in the picture is not the changed equation of the two parties but the social and political importance that Pahelwan enjoyed then.

... Old-timers recall that it was in the 70s when local pahelwans were first promoted politically, when Arab `pahelwans' Syeed Bin Ali (known as Syeed Pahelwan) and Syeed Baam were used to provide protection to partymen by a senior Congress leader. In the days to come, other `pahelwans' such as Chand Pahelwan also came into picture for settling land disputes. And by the 80s, they had moved from their `kachcha' houses to a `pucca' residence.

Their importance grew with almost all parties patronising them or using their services. If earlier they collected `mamools' from locals, now they allegedly give the same to the police so that they turn a blind eye to their deeds.

Locals say, politicians in the Old City owe their growth, both financially and politically, to the pahelwans. Clearly, political leaders have played a crucial role in making `pahelwans' bigger, stronger. And their spirited political backing continues even now.

On the same shelf:

Akbaruddin shot at in clash with rivals over land dispute - Times of India

Jashn-e-Charminar festival Deccan Chronicle

Illegal guns rule the roost in city, Times of India

'Pedestrian' touch for Charminar, Times of India - Sudipta Sengupta
‎

If it’s bad, it’s Hydera‘bad’ Deccan Chronicle

Mehfil-e-Hyderabad in Mississauga, Canada

2011-04-20T01:39:00.000+05:30

Third Annual Mehfil-e-Hyderabad in Mississauga on June 18th, 2011

MISSISSAUGA, ON—Hyderabad Deccan Foundation of Canada (HDFC) is pleased to announce that the third annual Mehfil-e-Hyderabad, premiere event of all Hyderabadis in Canada & beyond, will be held on June 18, 2011 at the Versailles Convention Centre in Mississauga.

For tickets to the event and more information please contact Rafat Alam at 416-857-9322 or Zaheer Kaiser at 905-712-1900.

See the details here: Charminar Connection

Statues On Tank Bund Demolished

2011-03-14T00:38:00.004+05:30

Tankbund road on 12th march in hyd

In a stunning act of vandalism, the "Million March" in Hyderabad resulted in Telangana activists demolishing the statues of Telugu icons on Tank Bund.

Statues On Tank Bund Demolished - Hyderabad News on fullhyd.com,10th Mar, 2011:

The 12 statues damaged were those of of Krishnadevaraya, Sir Arthur Cotton, Tallapaka Annamacharya, Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu, Gurajada Appa Rao, Yerrapragada, Raghupati Venkatratnam Naidu, Siddhendrayogi, Brahma Naidu, Mutnuri Krishna Rao, Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Chaudhari and Bellary Raghava. Other statues desecrated were those of Shalivahana, Nannaya Bhattaraka, Vemana, Kshetrayya, Sri Sri, Jashua and C R Reddy.

On the same shelf:

A.P. Assembly adjourned over violence by Telangana supporters

Telangana issue: ‘Million march' cripples city life

Chiru wants to rebuild Tank Bund statues

Tv9 - Statue destruction represents the death of our self-respect - Lagadapati

March 10 ‘dark day' in history

Row over re-installation of demolished statues of Telugu icons

Poets protest statue attacks

Mohammed Abdul Muqeet (alias Arif) Passes Away

2011-01-30T03:38:00.010+05:30

Mir Mohsin Ali, Yahind News, January 29, 2011

Riyadh- Mohammed Abdul Muqeet (Arif) son of Mohammed Abdul Khader and Shareefunissa Begum died of brain hamrage at his residence at 10:30 am on 26th Jan 2011. He was nearly 50 years.

According to his brother in law Mohammed Akram Imtiyaz said news came to Riyadh at noon.

Muqeet worked in King Abdulaziz City for science and technology (KACST) for 28 years last two weeks before he left Riyadh on his final exit.

He is survived by wife, 4 sons and a daughter.

The funeral prayer is being offered on 26th Jan after Isha Prayer at Mosque Thaki Jail. He will be buried in the graveyard near Thaki Jail, Chadar Ghat, Hyderabad.

Friends visited his brother in law home in Hai Al-Wazarat to offer their condolences.

For more information contact : Mohammed Akram Imtiyaz : 0501938028.

In Hyderabad his Son Adil : 0091-7799337542.

"Allah. there is no God but He! To Him belong the most Beautiful Names".(Qur'an 20:8) -- al-Muqeet (The Controller of Things ) is a name of Allah

Khuda bakshe bahut si khoobiyan thi marne wale mein
[Daag Dehalvi ] Ameen, Thumma Ameen.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun. Allahumma ajirni fi musibati, wa akhlif li khayran minha

To Allah we belong, and to Him will we return – O Allah, reward me for my affliction and replace it for me with that which is better.
Umm Salamah keeps repeating this dear du’a, with faith as firm as a fist. She doesn’t deny her condition for she does ask “who could be a better husband than Abu Salamah?” continue reading the meaning of this dua

May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdous and give his family and friends sabr. InshAllah Aameen. A great loss to all who knew him; We cannot forget his kind and nice behavior with everyone, with no exceptions he was a very good Muslim.
Massalam, Dua jo and dua go

See also Muqeet's forward:

GULF KI ZINDEGI: HYDERABADI KI ZUBAANI

KACST colleagues bids farewell to Kazim Zakir

Indian Community in Riyadh | Facebook

Muqeet @ Linkedin

Andhra seeks help for students stuck in US's Tri-Valley University

2011-01-29T05:28:00.007+05:30

India protests trackers, January 30th, 2011 Deccan Chronicle

Radio-tagging 'sham' university students excessive: India to US, NDTV Correspondent, Updated: January 29, 2011

Andhra seeks help for students stuck in US

Hyderabad, Jan 28 (IANS) With many students from Andhra Pradesh facing the possibility of being deported from the United States following the closure of Tri-Valley University, the state government Friday urged the Indian government to take up the issue with the US authorities.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has requested the ministry of external affairs to pursue the matter with the US government for giving all possible assistance to the students affected by the closure of the SanFrancisco-based university.

Reddy also wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to render all possible assistance through the diplomatic missions in Washington and San Francisco in issuing visas to the affected students, who approach them.

The closure of the university has reportedly affected 1,600 Indian students and 500 are from Andhra Pradesh.

On the same shelf:

America's herd mentality, Hindustan Times, January 31, 2011

Are Indian Students Enrolled At Tri-Valley University (TVU) Really Innocent? Shiksha on 3 Feb 2011

Extract:

Defense of Indian Students

Some of the Hyderabad students, who got their I-20 forms from TVU, allege that both the Hyderabad US Consulate and the Chennai US Consulate failed to detect the fraud and processed their F-1 visa forms, giving them no reason to doubt the university.

Others, who have moved from other universities to TVU, say that TVU allowed them to work for 20 to 40 hours per week from Day 1 as Curricular Practical Training, and they thought it was legal.

The Indian student community also says that since the Tri-Valley University has been recognized and accredited for accepting foreign students, Indian students should not be blamed for seeking admission there.

IAEC Consultancy, which has been named as the Tri-valley's representatives for South Asia region in the varsity's website, denies any links with the university and says that it has not sent even a single student to the institution.

What Tri-Valley University Has To Say
Founder and President of the Tri-Valley University, Ms Susan Su, was born in China. Most of the faculty too belongs to Chinese origin. They remain defiant in the face of all the charges and maintain that TVU has not broken any law. Su blames her two staff members of Indian origin for the blatant misuse of I20 forms.
Su insists that Tri-Valley University's growth pace has been so fast that they might have slipped on some protocol issues.

The staff members that have been fired by TVU for the fraud are: Anji Reddy - a student assistant who worked in TVU administrative office, and another TVU student called Ram Krista Karra, who also has a consultant company. The students, duped by these two individuals, paid their tuition fee in the personal account of Ram Krista Karra to get their student I-20 forms and CPT approvals.

Sri Krishna panel gives six options on Telangana statehood - Siasat

2011-01-10T04:18:00.000+05:30

Source: Siasat.com

New Delhi, January 06: The Justice Srikrishna committee is understood to have recommended six options to deal with the Telangana statehood demand on which the government may take a call in about six weeks.

See on the same shelf:

Why HYD can be a Union Territory Siasat.com

Dr. Omar Khalidi - Noted scholar from city dies in US

2010-12-01T10:40:00.001+05:30

TNN, Nov 30, 2010, 11.40pm IST, The Times of India

HYDERABAD: Noted Indian-American scholar Omar Khalidi was killed in a freak train accident near Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, on Monday, according to reports reaching here.

According to Khalidi's wife Nigar, the writer, who was suffering from diabetics and insomnia, fainted and fell before a train that was approaching at the MIT railway station. The body was shifted to a hospital and the namaz-e-janaja (funeral prayers) is expected to be performed later in the day, Nigar told TOI over phone.

Omar Khalidi, 54, was an expert on India's socio-political affairs. He wrote several books and articles. Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Khalidi finished his MA from the US and PhD from the University of Wales, UK. He worked as an associate professor at the MIT's Aga Khan Porframme for Islamic Architecture.

See the details of his life and contributions:
Dr. Omar Khalidi - A Rare Scholar-Cum-Librarian - Obituary

His other books include 'Khaki and Ethnic Violence in India: Army, Police, and Paramilitary Forces During Communal Riots' and 'Muslims in Indian Economy'. See all the books at Amazon.com

Hyderabad in the Social Networking Sphere

2010-08-29T03:49:00.010+05:30

Image courtesy: www.narga.net

All in one Google's new Realtime Search Results for Social Networking Sphere Hyderabad:

More search results:

On the same shelf:

‘Social networking sites can be dangerous too' Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad The Hindu

Experience at Social Media Day Meet – Hyderabad | Social Networking

A Friendship and Social Networking Site for Hyderabad | Hyderabad Community

Hyderabad Survey on Urdu newspaper readers Most readers buy their copy

2010-06-20T21:57:00.000+05:30

Extract:

By A Staff Writer Islamic Voice, June 2010

Hyderabad:
A survey of reading habits of Urdu newspaper readers here reveals that 90 per cent of these readers buy Urdu dailies and read it within the confines of their homes. The survey disproves that most Urdu newspapers are read in the tea houses or restaurants, as was though so far.

The survey was carried out by the students of the Department of Journalism and Mass communication of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, a central university, recently among 500 respondents. The survey found only 5.6 per cent readers looking at newspapers in restaurants, tea houses or hair cutting saloons.

The findings are significant as Hyderabad is premier centre of Urdu journalism in India and several leading Urdu dailies are published from the city which include Daily Siasat, Rashtriya Sahara, Rahnuma e Deccan, Munsiff, Itimaad, Milap etc. Thirty two per cent of the respondents said they read English newspapers along with Urdu dailies in order to get a comparative outlook of news and events. 12.48 per cent of the respondents complained about paucity of news related to overseas, education, science and technology and research and development in Urdu newspapers. Thirty per cent respondents did not see any significant difference between stuff provided by the English and Urdu newspapers. The survey reveals that only 3.36 per cent of these respondents wanted to read newspapers free of cost. A little over 46 per cent of the respondents wanted the newspapers to be priced at Rs. 2 while 22 per cent respondents liked the price of the Urdu dailies to be pegged at one rupee.

28.32 per cent of the respondents said they liked reading news from the Muslim world and Muslim communities around the world. Nearly 17 per cent said they preferred reading more of political news. Nearly five per cent readers said they read the sport news with preference. Nearly 46 per cent of the respondents said they would like better stuff from the Urdu dailies.

A Considerable section of the Urdu newspaper readers comprises rickshaw pullers, auto rickshaw drivers, beedi makers, push cart vendors and petty merchants. 7.6 per cent of those covered by the survey said the news about minorities is not highlighted properly in the Urdu newspapers.

Asked whether they would like the Urdu newspapers to carry the photographs of the editors in their daily, a little over 57 per cent of the respondents said they disliked the appearance of the photographs of their editors and would instead prefer the space to be devoted to some useful news items. Nearly 37 per cent said they would tolerate such pictures. Nearly 72 per cent of the respondents said they did not like the intense tug of war between editors of various Urdu dailies and 21.44 per cent favoured a truce between the editors. Over five per cent said they would stop subscribing the Urdu newspapers if they carried on the coverage of such items. A good number of Urdu readers voted for Amin Jaferi as the best columnist whose pieces appeared regularly in the Urdu dailies.

They questionnaire carried 19 queries from the Urdu newspaper readers.

State fixes uniform fee structure for post-graduate (PG) courses

2010-06-06T03:00:00.000+05:30

June 6th, 2010, Deccan Chronicle

The state government fixed a uniform fee structure for all post-graduate (PG) courses in state-run universities on Saturday. Even though the universities are at liberty to charge more than the prescribed amount, the government will only reimburse the amount that has been fixed. If any university charges less than the prescribed amount, it will reimburse the lesser amount.

The fees for self-financing courses are as follows:

* MA (all languages and social sciences) courses: Rs 7,000 per annum.
* MSW and MHRM: Rs 15,000
* BLiSC, MLiSC, BCJ and MCJ: Rs 9,100
* M.Com and other commerce related PG programmes: Rs 8,620,
* M.Sc (maths, applied maths, statistics, geography): Rs 12,940
* M.Sc (botany, zoology, physics, computer science, electronics, geology, geophysics and others): Rs 21,970
* M.Sc (chemistry, biochemistry): Rs 26,780
* M.Sc (genetics, microbiology, biotech, bioinformatics, nano-science, nano-technology): Rs 37,470.
In addition, the fees for regular programmes such as the MA (all languages and social sciences) is fixed at Rs 2,600 per annum, and the fees for BLiSC, MLiSc, BCJ and MCJ is Rs 3,400. M.Com and other commerce related PG courses will cost Rs 2,900 and for M.Sc (all subjects) the fee is Rs 4,000. This does not include exam and refundable fees.

“The new fees structure will be the basis for reimbursment of fees by the government from the ensuing academic year,” said Prof. K.C. Reddy, chairman, AP State Council of Higher Education.

Confusing tests stump drivers - SAB CHALTA HAI BHAI

2010-05-10T04:15:00.000+05:30

Hyderabad traffic is an epic in itself — spoken of in fearful tones by outsiders but a fun, video-game-arcade experience for the natives. With zooming cars, zipping bikes, horns blaring, you’d be no Sherlock Holmes to deduce that getting a driver’s licence isn’t too hard.

Scratch the surface and alarming stories come forth. A ‘proxy’ taking the driver’s test instead of the applicant, experienced drivers flunking the test because of redundant questions and a list of grouses. continue reading

More on the same shelf:

Traffic Lights - Hyderabad Traffic Police
"Traffic lights, also known as traffic signals or stop light, is a signaling device that is positioned at a road intersection, pedestrian crossing, or other location to indicate when it is safe to drive, ride, or walk using a universal color code."

City changes signal:
GSM technology to send instant alert for repair, timers to blink as per red/ green light ... This, incidentally, is also the first time that a traffic signal has been ...

In Hyderabadi auto there are no free rides or funny rides!!!

2010-02-28T10:23:00.015+05:30

Auto ranis’ day out, Deccan Chronicle

"Although Billo Rani from the movie Goal is a popular character, very few have heard about Auto Rani. No, she isn’t an item dancer but chooses to live life on her own terms. Although she would have preferred a chauffeur driven car, she is now settling for chauffeur driven autos. Yes, you have heard right! These ladies have hired auto drivers who drop and pick them up from work every day. Meet the ‘auto ranis’ who travel in their hired autos and pay their drivers on a daily or monthly basis.

...
Remember
* Carry a pepper spray with you
* Do not sleep in the auto, pay attention to the route he takes
* Don’t divulge details like your husband’s office timings or members residing in your house to the driver.
* SMS your family members while getting into an auto."

Auto menace in Hyderabad Says a blog post @ Lifeztough

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Deccan.com

2009-12-16T07:59:00.017+05:30

www.deccan.com is the Web address (URL) of Deccan Chronicle - Indian Regional News & World news. This site in 1998:

This site in 2008:

Note: You may be surprised to see this note: deccan.com expired on 12/09/2009 and is pending renewal or deletion, here:

This is what appears, courtesy networksolutions.

PS. see the archive

This site today:
http://deccanchronicle.com/:

BASICALLY HYDERABADI @ The ICONART Gallery by Syed Rayees Ahmed

2009-11-09T03:14:00.020+05:30

Essence of Hyderabad
November 9th, 2009 Deccan Chronicle

"Basically Hyderabadi at first glance, is a trip down memory lane for most of us who have lived in the city. The scenes and profiles are bound to evoke images of experiences that one has had in Hyderabad."
"Quintessentially Hyderabadi, the paintings depict the leisurely pace of the old city, of women clad in burkhas strolling in an unhurried manner through bazaars, a group of bearded men clustered together and a charcoal sketch of an old fakir with a flowing beard."

"The artist, Syed Rayees Ahmed, has resorted to the cubis style, the provenance of renowned artist Pablo Picasso, for his paintings. Crisp geometric lines with bright colours bring out the colourful attire of the Hyderabadis beautifully. In sharp contrast to the gaiety in their attire, their expressions remain somber and unassuming, born of a simple and unquestioning faith in their way of life. This is a style that has been inspired by famous artist, Laxma Goud, whose artwork has similar flashes of colourful raiment in marked contrast with charcoal-grey poker-faced expressions."

... In short, the collection makes for an interesting viewing. Basically Hyderabadi — Chronicles of Old City is on view at the Iconart Gallery till November 20.

continue reading the full story

On the same shelf:

Hyderabadi Humour and Hyderabadi Slang - Revisited

2009-11-07T07:43:00.022+05:30

Information courtesy: KnowAP

Hyderabadi Humour Still Alive & Kicking
Written by Biligiri Ranga, Thursday, 15 January 2009 (abrdiged version @ Charminar Connection)

Contents: SOME HYDERABADI PUNCH, DAILY, FOOD, NEW GENERATION (MALES), NEW GENERATION (FEMALES), FINDING A MATCH (LADKE WAALE), FINDING A MATCH (LADKI WAALE), FINALLY SHAADI KE DIN, HYDERABADIS IN GULF, Brace up for more rib-ticklers from the Hyderabadi, FINAL TAKE!

“Ah! Hyderabad” exclaimed a smart IT professional Shekhar. “To me it conjures up images of Charminar, Golconda Fort, and then of course, its famous Biryani, Haleem and last, but not the least, its famous humour. Hyderabadis are for as long as I can remember, famous for their unique style of humour and can come up with rib ticklers that will make you rock back with laughter for days put together.” That unique humour is still intact, still flourishing and still alive and kicking despite the influx of IT BPOs, Tollywood, Hitec City and of course, the chaotic traffic.

Like everybody else across the world, in today’s times of meltdown and terrorism, the people of Hyderabad have their own set of troubles. But all of these have not deterred their sense of humour and their ability to come up with wisecracks. As Dhurv Shankar, who works for Google India, puts it, “With the stupendous growth of our city, there are a lot of non-Hyderabadis in the city, today and core Hyderabadis such as myself are now faced with the task of converting them. Hyderabadi humour has a way of growing on you and I've seen many people adopting it and loving it. It’s still very much there, but it’s just more active on weekends.” Raman Kumar, a long-time Hyderabadi resident and a marketing professional working for a reputed MNC echoes Dhurv Shankar’s views, “The times we live in are a whole lot different, life has become too fast-paced and more importantly people are caught up in the vortex of their lives bogged down by high cost of living and other fracas. That old style of humour may have got rusted with the passage of time, yet now and then it comes alive particularly during festivals and celebrations.”

When it comes to laughing at themselves and cutting jokes, Hyderabadis have always been a class apart and come second to none. In their inbuilt merriment armory, they have a big heart that throbs with cutting-edge deprecation, the unique lingo to boot and yes, tongues that come laced with the gift of the gab. As city-born filmmaker Kuntaa Nikkil, with stints in Hollywood films in Los Angeles and a celluloid venture called ‘The Angrez’ that has loads of Hyderabadi humour, to his credit, says, “Hyderabadi humour is distinct and earthy. The quintessential accent makes it all the more lovable. For an outsider, it can be a side-splitting experience.” continue reading

On the same shelf:

YaHind.Com - Articles - Shugoofa's Abid Moiz Number

View forum - طنزو مژاح

MUJTABA HUSSAIN AT SIASAT | Siasat

The Passing of Patrimonialism: Politics and Political Culture in Hyderabad, 1911-1948; by Margrit Pernau

2009-10-01T02:36:00.015+05:30

Info courtesy: Usama Khalidi

The Passing of Patrimonialism: Politics and Political Culture in Hyderabad, 1911-1948; by Margrit Pernau; New Delhi: Manohar, 2000 (earlier version published in German as Verfassung und politische Kultur im Wandel : der indische Fürstenstaat Hyderabad 1911-48; Stuttgart: F. Steiner, 1992)

Product Details:
* Pub. Date: June 2000
* Publisher: Manohar
* Format: Hardcover, 395pp
* ISBN-13: 9788173043628
* ISBN: 8173043620

Synopsis:
The political life of India's princely states has often been described by their fly-in-amber quality. A closer look, however reveals that behind the 'oriental' facade, tremendous changes took place in the 20th century. This book follows up these changes in the princely state of Hyderabad during the time of its last ruler, Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. The study concentrates on the changes brought about by enforced administrative reforms, by the transformation of the system of external relations in the wake of the round table conferences and by the political mobilisation of large sections of the population.

About the Author
Margit Pernau has studied Indian and European history as well as public law at the University of Heidelberg (Germany). She is affiliated to the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg, as a research fellow.

Review
" The book under review is certainly one of the most scholarly works on the subject of passing of patrimonialism in an indian princely state at the beginning of the second half of the last century." Siasat Daily, Hyderabad.

More Reviews

Hie Passing of Patrimonialfs

Qalandar: Book Review: THE PASSING OF PATRIMONIALISM

The tragedy of Hyderabad, A. G. NOORANI

Hyderabadi Ramadan in Saudi Arabia

2009-09-28T03:20:00.006+05:30

Mohammed Sadullah Khan. For the Yemen Times

Like many Hyderabadis, I had the opportunity to live and work in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has become a home away from home. Ramadan is the blessed month for Muslims and a time to earn great rewards. It is spiritually and physically the best month for Muslims. As Muslims follow the Hijrah (Lunar) calendar, which is shorter by 11 days as compared to Gregorian (Solar) Calendar. This allows the sliding of the Ramadan each year by 11 days and it comes in different seasons over a long period. This gives Muslims an opportunity to fast in different weather conditions. Saudi Arabia provides a conducive and congenial atmosphere for fasting and it is one of the best places for fasting.continue reading

Mohammed Sadullah Khan, is a Faculty Member and a Freelance writer based in Saudi Arabia and can be contacted at

mosakhan40@gmail.com.

On the same shelf:
Ramadan special: Iftar at Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad!

Kunal Vijayakar has 'Iftar' at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad in this edition of 'The Foodie'.

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: greaterhyderabad.com

2009-09-01T09:36:00.001+05:30

Greater Hyderabad - Information About Greater Hyderabad Development, Hyderabad News, Topics, Yellowpages, Life Style greater hyderabad

SnapShot of Web Analytics: (incl. greaterhyderabad.com)
Alexa: GreaterHyderabad.co.in
Google PageRank: 2 DETAILS
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: N/A DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 6,928 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabadi Social Networking Site of the Month: Hyderabad Masti

2009-08-15T23:56:00.000+05:30

Description: "A nice place for people to chill out. Make friends, share their experience and feel top of the world. We talk about the current issues, technologies, vacanvcies, fun and forwards- all in a lighter way, in Hyderabai way "Dil pe nahi lene ka....tension hua to...mamu...haath mein lene ka...kya:)" (2890 members) source

see also:

Note: Each month, we will select a site that demonstrates exemplary popularity, quality, flexibility, and accommodation of the Hyderabadi culture--with no room for intolerance, ignominious and insult to anyone. If you are a Hyderabadi and want your site to be considered, email us.

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Mahbubia Alumni Association

2009-08-01T00:52:00.000+05:30

"Mahbubians always cherish and celebrate their Girls School in Hyderabad, for being one of the most renowned educational institutions of India. Mahbubia has played a dominant role in creating and nurturing a unique Hyderabadi Society that is distinguished all over the world for its cosmopolitan culture, generosity, openness, hospitality, and tolerance." Zehra Rahman Khan

Membership for this Alumni Association is open to all Mahbubians and also to anyone involved or interested in Girls Education, and is free.

To become a member, please send an email to: mahbubians@yahoo.com.

Our school really flourished in his son, His Exalted Highness Mir Osman Ali Khan, The Nizam VII 's patronage of Higher Education in Arts and Sciences. He had truly earned his title "Sultan-ul-Uloom" (Emperor of The Sciences) by establishing Osmania University where Urdu as the medium of instruction for all subjects was successfully employed for the first time.
SnapShot of Web Analytics
Google click to view
MSN click to view
Yahoo click to view
view traffic rank @ http://www.alexa.com/
view Sites Linking in
Wayback Machine: see how mahbubia.com looked in the past
Site URL: http://www.mahbubia.com/

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: iluvhyderabad.com

2009-07-01T08:41:00.010+05:30

The team of iluvhyderabad.com welcomes you to our website. We are a bunch of interesting guys from diverse backgrounds, with different skills and professions yet bonded together by the true aura of Friendship. This endeavor is our dream; a dream transformed into an idea. To better put in the words of George Bernard Shaw "You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'”

SnapShot of Web Analytics:

Google PageRank: 0 DETAILS
Alexa Rank: N/A
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 17 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: hyderabadi.com

2009-06-01T02:34:00.006+05:30

Hyderabad is the only place where you get authentic hyderabadi biryani however all over the world other then Hyderabad the biryani which is served as hyderabadi bryani is cooked with the help of hyderabadi recipe books or readymade hyderabadi biryani masala but some of the hyderabadi recipe book authors themselves don’t know much about the real hyderabadi biryani

SnapShot of Web Analytics:

Alexa rank: Hyderabadi.com

Google PageRank: 0 DETAILS
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 3 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: HyderabadRadio.com

2009-05-01T01:55:00.001+05:30

Hyderabad Radio from the most comprehensive global news network on the internet. International News and analysis on current events, business, finance, economy, sports and more. Searchable news in 20 languages from WorldNews Network and Archive

SnapShot of Web Analytics:
Alexa: HyderabadRadio.com
Google PageRank: 0 DETAILS
Alexa Rank: N/A
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 1,774 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Hyderabadis.info

2009-04-01T00:18:00.007+05:30

Hyderabadis.info - An Authentic and Reliable Resource on Hyderabad and Hyderabadis.

SnapShot of Web Analytics:
Alexa: HyderabadIs.info
Google PageRank: 1 DETAILS
Alexa Rank: N/A
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: N/A DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 805 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: hyderabad.co.uk

2009-03-01T07:12:00.005+05:30

This site endeavors to present the rich heritage and culture of Hyderabad, along with an insight into Hyderabad today.

SnapShot of Web Analytics:
Google PageRank: 5 DETAILS
Alexa Rank: N/A
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: N/A DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 788 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 2 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Think Global, Eat Local: But, Where Is Genuine Hyderabadi Biryani

2009-02-26T01:18:00.003+05:30

No where in Hyderabad, says Vir Sanghvi, published in Hindustan Times, February 21, 2009:

Extract: "I had gone to Hyderabad imagining that anybody could eat great biryani
on the street. But the truth is that the local biryani is not very different
from the stuff you get in the streets of Bombay or Delhi. To eat the real thing,
you have to have rich friends with a noble lineage." continue reading the Hyderabad
Diary

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Hyderabad House

2009-02-01T22:06:00.011+05:30

Hyderabad House offers traditional dishes cooked to perfection and served in a well decorated and soothing atmosphere. We are dedicated to providing our customers with a mix of North and Hyderabadi Cuisine.

Location: 444 Gilbert Ave
Menlo Park CA 94025 US

SnapShot of Web Analytics:
Alexa rank: HyderabadiHouse.com
Google PageRank: 2 DETAILS
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: N/A DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 47 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: reachouthyderabad.com

2009-01-15T09:02:00.000+05:30

ReachoutHyderabad.com - "The Cyber Address of Hyderabad"

Started about 5yrs back, ReachoutHyderabad.com is an infotainment plus business site on the city of Hyderabad. This site has got rave reviews from the press for its interesting contents and popularity.

It has sub-sections on Business, IT, Students, Movies, News and much more. The prominent among them are 'IT Hyderabad' which is a vortal section on all that's IT and Hyderabad. 'BizHyderabad' is also a vortal kind of a section on all the Businesses pertaining to the city of Hyderabad while 'Students Den' is a one stop page for the learners.
A unique feature of our site is that its 99% Hyderabad specific site to the core. ReachoutHyderabad.com attracts on an average around 4 Lakhs hits every month (Confirmed statistics available).

SnapShot of Web Analytics:

Alexa: ReachOutHyderabad.com

Google PageRank: 6 DETAILS
Compete Rank: 469,268 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: 137 DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 4,099 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

‘Hyderabad still brings a rush of emotions’- Hindustan Times

2008-12-28T04:58:00.008+05:30

Shyam Benegal
"Like everyone else, I have many identities. But there is one that I love to flaunt. Of being a Chitrapur Saraswat. I cannot advance a single convincing reason why, except that it gives me the somewhat harmless and naïve pleasure of seeming exclusive. The census of the community taken in 2001 says that we are all of 22,000 in the whole wide world, i.e. much less than the Parsis. We are, I have been assured, not quite as endangered as the Veddas, Jarawas or the Todas. Nevertheless, a micro minority in a country of considerably more than a billion. The very idea of being part of such a tiny and exclusive community gives me a great high. They have their own home language; one of the many dialects of Konkani. To make the Konkani we speak specially exclusive, we dispense with the term Konkani and call it ‘our language’ or ‘our tongue’. Nothing could be more exclusive than that." continue reading

More about Shyam Benegal @ Telugu Street

Hyderabadi Yahoo Updates

2008-12-14T22:38:00.008+05:30

@ Yahoo! OurCity - Hyderabad

KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR CITY

Inside Hyderabad

HOME
NEWS
EVENTS
BOOKMARKS
MAPS
TRAVEL
BLOGS
VIDEOS
TELUGU WORLD
PODCASTS
WEATHER
ABOUT THE CITY
OUR CITIES
FORUM

See also Google Hyderabad Maps much more...

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: fullhyderabad.com

2008-12-01T00:27:00.012+05:30

fullhyd.com: Hyderabad and Secunderabad local guide and community
The Complete Hyderabad Guide
New to town? Visiting? fullhyd.com presents the most mammoth ever guide for Hyderabad. And the easiest. Let us help you plan your trip, your stay, your life.
URL: http://www.fullhyderabad.com/

SnapShot of Web Analytics:
Google PageRank: 3 DETAILS
Compete Rank: 311,122 DETAILS
Google BackLinks: 382 DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 56,416 DETAILS
View Alexa rank
What others say: http://urdupages.com/showthread.php?t=30092

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Roads in Banjara Hills are oddly numbered, not named

2008-11-18T01:17:00.002+05:30

Banjara Hills
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

10 Nov 2008, Sonia Krishna Kurup , TNN, Times of India
HYDERABAD: What is there in a name ? If Shakespeare could ask this brilliant question so must have those who named the roads of Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills. For if they did not find anything in the names they had definitely found something in the numbers.

... As Road No 1 heads left and Road No 2 right, one is left wondering why are these roads named like numbered-convicts or could there be more?

... Reacting to the claims of the history lecturer that Banjara Hills had no event or personality to remember, V K Bawa, city historian and the first vicechairman of Huda says, "Nonsense . Banjara Hills was founded by Mehdi Nawaz Jung," thus proving that there was indeed a personality the roads could have been named after.

...However, city historian and former chief secretary of state, Narendra Luther says that roads in Banjara Hills could have been numbered sometime in 1933 during the Nizam's time. He too thinks that there could be no possible record to decode this number puzzle.

In the booklet on 'House Numbering ,' the list of main roads shows the roads in Banjara Hills as Avenue No 1, Avenue No 2 and so on till Avenue No 8. How these names came about would be yet another mystery. much more

See also: A History behind Street Names of Hyderabad & Secunderabad

Charminar beautification project 'shelved'

2008-11-12T00:59:00.004+05:30

10 Nov 2008, 0315 hrs IST, Mahesh Koride, TNN, The Times of India
HYDERABAD: Eight years after lofty plans were drawn up to beautify the area around the historical structure which, in a way, defines Hyderabad , the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP) has come to a grinding halt. What's more there is no sign that the plan will move forward in the near future. "There are far too many agencies involved. It is not easy to coordinate with so many for a project which is low in priority . The project is as good as shelved," says a senior official involved in the implementation of CPP.

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: BESTHYDERABAD.COM

2008-11-10T05:30:00.002+05:30

We are giving you all about hyderabad (the state capital of Andhra Pradesh) information, it gives you history and culture with monuments in hyderabad, it gives you hyderabad business, automobile, realestate, information technology (IT), shopping, Hyderabad lifestyle, banking and others.

SnapShot of Web Analytics:
Google PageRank: 1 DETAILS
Alexa Rank: N/A
Compete Rank: 0 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: N/A DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 173 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Pingali Venkayya, Designer of the India's National Flag

2008-10-30T13:00:00.002+05:30

NB. Info courtesy: Jay Bee + History Of The Indian Flag & Detailed descriptions of each flag areVijay For Victory

Pingali Venkayya (Telugu:పింగళి వెంకయ్య) (August 2, 1876 - July 4, 1963) was the designer of the Indian national flag. He was born in Bhatlapenumarru, near Masulipatnam or the present day Machilipatnam of Andhra Pradesh. After high school at Masulipatnam, he went to Colombo to complete his Senior Cambridge. On returning to India, he worked as a railway guard, then as a government employee at Bellary, and later moved to Lahore to join the Anglo-Vedic college to study Urdu and Japanese. More @ Telugupedia

See also:

NEED TO COMMEMORATE MEMORY OF SHRI PINGALI VENKAYYA, DESIGNER OF INDIAN NATIONAL FLAG @ Rajya Sabha Debates, 2002

Celebrating Diwali the Telugu way Round-the-world

2008-10-25T20:59:00.035+05:30

Telugu Cultural Association of Greater Toronto's Greetings For the Deepavali

Diwali the Telugu way @ Malaysia By DERRICK VINESH
FOR the Telugu Hindu community, Deepavali or the Festival of Light is the most important celebration after Ugadi, which is the Telegu New Year, and Makar Sakranthri, also known as Ponggal in Tamil Nadu. More...

Diwali in Trafalgar Square In London Diwali is enthusiastically celebrated by people of all nationalities and religions.

When is diwali this year? - October 28: Trinidad News and Tobago News
Diwali is observed by 3 religions, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism. It has a strong significance for Indians, both religiously (Rama returned to Ayodhya, Shakti joined Shiva, etc.) and culturally (as the Indian New Year).
The Divali Nagar (Village of Lights) is the flagship project of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC). It is a nine day festival that is held annually during the nine days preceding Divali. More..

Vaaranam Aayiram, Not To Be Released This Diwali

Diwali Dhamaka on TV!

Diwali Celebrations Gerrard India Bazaar, Toronto

Albion Islington Square - Diwali Extravaganza -TABIA - Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas -From Sunday, 19 October 2008 - 8:00amTo Friday, 31 October 2008 - 8:00pm

Difference between Diwali in North India and Deepavali in South India

Deepavali, or Divali, (Markiscarali) @ Wiki

Diwali, also called Deepavali @ Telugupedia

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Charminar Connection

2008-10-12T02:38:00.008+05:30

HYDERABADIAN CYBERSPACE MEY, BAIT KE KUCH BATAN KARINGE
"Rushke firdous chaman hai apna Hyderabad watan hai apna"
"It is a mistake to think that the past is dead. Nothing that has ever happened is quite without influence at this moment. The present is merely the past rolled up and concentrated in this second of time. You, too, are your past; often your face is your autobiography; you are what you are because of what you have been; because of your heredity stretching back into forgotten generations; because of every element of environment that has affected you, every man or woman that has met you, every book that you have read, every experience that you have had; all these are accumulated in your memory, your body, your character, your soul. So with a city, a country, and a race; it is its past, and cannot be understood without it." WILL DURANT
CharminarConnection Is a place where Hyderabadies from all over the world gather and discuss the events of the past and present. Original Web site (now inactive)

This is a Yahoo Group:
Members: 1430
Category: Issues and Causes
Founded: May 10, 2002
Language: English
Subscribe to CharminarConnection
SnapShot of Web Analytics:
Google PageRank: 8 DETAILS
Alexa Rank: N/A
Compete Rank: 2 DETAILS
Quantcast Rank: N/A
Google BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Yahoo BackLinks: 44,431,382 DETAILS
Live Search BackLinks: 0 DETAILS
Technorati Links: N/A
del.icio.us Bookmarks: N/A
Bloglines subscribers: 0 DETAILS

N.B. Inquiries or for detailed Web Analytics contact

Hyderabad goes global with Haleem-e-Khas

2008-10-01T22:31:00.005+05:30

FE THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS SUNDAY STORY
BV Mahalakshmi: Sep 28, 2008
Be it an off-season or mid-season, the traditional haleem from Hyderabad is going places. Gati, the express distribution and supply-chain management company, will soon be shipping about 600 kg of haleem worth Rs 6 lakhs to middle-east for a confirmed order. continue reading

In The Bazaars of Hyderabad, Revisited

2008-09-19T01:09:00.003+05:30

Madhumita Gopalan's visualizations of the Lad Bazar and Charminar area during Ramadan (click here for other pictures):

"...I'll leave you with this poem by Sarojini Naidu called "In The Bazaars of Hyderabad", that beautifully describes the Charminar experience :)
What do you sell, O ye merchants ?
Richly your wares are displayed.
Turbans of crimson and silver,
Tunics of purple brocade,
Mirror with panels of amber,
Daggers with handles of jade.
What do you weigh, O ye vendors?
Saffron and lentil and rice.
What do you grind, O ye maidens?
Sandalwood, henna, and spice.
What do you call , O ye pedlars?
Chessman and ivory dice.
What do you make, O ye goldsmiths?
Wristlets and ankles and ring,
Bells for the feet of blue pigeons
Frail as a dragonfly's wing,
Girdles of gold for dancers,
Scabbards of gold for the king.
What do you cry, O ye fruitmen?
Citron, pomegranate, and plum.
What do you play, O ye magicians?
Spells for aeons to come.
What do you weave, O ye flowergirls
With tassels of azure and red?
Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom,
Chaplets to garland his bed,
Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered
To perfume the sleep of the dead."
--Sarojini Naidu

Another Blogger, Gautam Valluri's comment on the above poem:
"In The Bazaars of Hyderabad is a classic poem by Sarojini Naidu which I first read in school. Coincidentally, Sarojini Naidu was also a student of my school- St.George’s Grammar School, Hyderabad."

Pictures from Mirrors in Hyderabad -- Mirrors Salon and SPA

2008-09-16T22:51:00.023+05:30

Pictures from Mirrors in Hyderabad by Posted by Sukku: "I hope you enjoy these photo's taken at Mirrors as I certainly did. I liked the small pool or pond if you like to call it with a water lily. Do let me know what you think." ***

See also directory of Beauty Salons @ Hyderabad and Secunderabad Blog [PS: All the information has been sourced from the Internet unless specified otherwise.]

***More by Sukku on Hyderabadi culture:

Mera Bharat Mahan - Food Map & Tour Map of India

2008-09-06T10:33:00.018+05:30

Taste, flavor, Site, Sight & Essence of India:

Map info courtesy: Yasir Sait and rakshith

Best Hyderabadiz Blog 2008: Shadruchulu

2008-08-15T07:28:00.006+05:30

ImageChef.com Poetry Blender

Best Hyderabadi Blog 2008 ---- Countdown Begins...

2008-08-03T04:27:00.003+05:30

Time Is UP.

Best Hyderabadi Blog 2008 -- Your Vote Please

2008-07-11T19:45:00.003+05:30

Welcome to the world of the Hyderabadi diaspora. Wherever you are, we keep you posted on and connected to Hyderabad. Tell us what you think about us and some of the other blogs on Hyderabad. Your vote means everything to us and all the others. We'll know where we stand and more importantly, what you want.

The World in Pictures -- Colors of Hyderabad

2008-06-16T08:56:00.004+05:30

Experience the world without having to leave your desk. View daily gallery of striking images from our the globe.
INDIA - A child plays among sarees out for drying at a cotton saree factory in the outskirts of the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. Back to: The World in Pictures - Photo gallery of images from around the world - MSN UK News - news & weather

H for Hyderabad: Alphabetical Index of Hyderabad in Pictures

2008-06-11T07:30:00.025+05:30

Art-wise:

C for CHAR - MINAR

H for Hyderabad @
A for Arts College;
B for Birla Mandir;
G for Golconda;
Q for Qutub Shahi Tombs;
F for Falaknuma;
M for Mecca Masjid,
and more @ 7wondersofhyderabad.com

NB. For more alphabetical visuals and details, enter your info in the comment section and submit your email, too. The Blogmaster will respond in one business day.

House buyers flock to Hyderabad

2008-05-21T02:12:00.009+05:30

Thats what this image tells you. Hau kya, sachi bhi, nakko poocho:

Info courtesy: Posted by Srini's Weblog HyDeRaBaDi bLoGs.

see also: Hyderabad: A Haven for Real Estate Investors + Much more

Theme Song composed by A R Rahman @ Hyderabad International Airport

2008-03-15T22:35:00.027+05:30

Aasmaaan!!!!!!
That's the latest ARR song that's been released - It's not from any movie/pop album... I'm in loue with this one track already - starting off with slow whispers, and then moving on to "aasmaan" at a high pitch, with wonderful string arrangements which is typical of ARR - he has created magic again!!! says A.M. Aravind @ Rahmaniac's Reflections
This theme song composed by maestro A R Rahman playing in the background, welcome the guests. Congress president Sonia Gandhi inaugurated India’s most modern Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad. Much more specialities of this Airport, AR Rahman Biography
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi, Singer: Naresh Iyer, Composition: A.R.Rahman
Watch Video, Audio
GMR Airport song lyrics
Aasmaan….ho zaraa raaste palat ke hum taiyaar hain
Baadalon karo zaraa dhoop ko azaad hum taiyaar hain
Dekho udd chalaKhwabon ka shahar
Lo hum aa gayeNeeli si dagar
Hawaaein chod doHum taiyaar hain
Dishaaein mod do mod do mod do... [Lyrics courtesy: N S murthy]

The plan to build the Airport, Posted by Pradeep Sadanapalli Youtube / News updates on the Airport

Fun Aur Masti is another sequel of Hyderabadi Angrez

2008-03-02T07:48:00.005+05:30

Fun Aur Masti Trailor

See more trailors: FM 1 and FM 2

NB. Download the complete movie, FM = Fun aur Masti (2008)- Original-VCD Rip

Note @ U R In stuffdrive:
Language: Hyderabadi
Rating: 3.25/5
Cast: RK, Payal Sarkar, Monica Nouva, Satya and Others
Costumes: Ashok
Story-Dialogue: RK
Co-Director: Nanda Gopal
Editing: Nandamuri Hari
Producer: RK, Sorai Swamy
Director: Sekhar Surya
Released On: 16th Nov 2007

It's again a treat from Hyderabad Nawabs' team. The fun dose is good but not on par with their earlier films.

Story:
Johnny is the street smart guy who sells fake-medicines and quacks on streets. His friend Hussain is a painter who is a bit innocent and carries away by a good looking girl. David is a police officer who is hen-pecked at home. Johnny loves David?s sister. On the other hand Lallu Bhai is a street dada who assumes him to be a bhai on par with mafia dons. With this set of characters a story is narrated. It?s all screenplay based fun and masti on screen and there is no big story to write here.

Hyderabad: Break traffic rule, be constable for a day

2008-02-27T22:48:00.003+05:30

Hyderabad: Shwetal Rai / CNN-IBN Published on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, in nation section

You won't be fined for breaking a traffic rule during non-peak hours in Hyderabad. You'll instead be given a role to play: of a traffic cop. That’s city traffic police's way to make people follow the rules.

Read the details, CLICK here.

What Mysore can learn from Hyderabad...

2008-02-26T09:52:00.008+05:30

[Original title: What namma Mysore can learn from Hyderabad; namma=our]

Dr. K. JAVEED NAYEEM, A Mysorean writes: Although I know that Mysore does have its own charm, I have still often wondered why people compliment us so much over our luck in being in such a nice City. But it is only when we compare Mysore with other ... Continue reading [info courtesy: churumuri swalpa sihi, swalpa spicy / Star of Mysore]

Readers' comments are interesting:

9 Responses to “What namma Mysore can learn from Hyderabad”

chetan krishnaswamy Says: 4 November 2007 at 10:29 pm
Let me focus on the most pertinent point in your story…our Biryani is better

Anonymous Guy Says: 5 November 2007 at 8:14 am
Agree with Dr. Nayeem 100%

Kadana Kuthuhala Says: 5 November 2007 at 8:19 am
I think the writer should’nt worry about mysore so much as it’s the people of mysore that actually hinders progress. So if the ‘deve gowdas’ of mysore contribute in their own way, the progress will be definitely slow which obviously means slow growth.
BTW, what does ‘Namma’ mean???

thisisananth Says: 5 November 2007 at 11:16 am
I stay in Hyderabad and experience the traffic problems that you have said. It s really lack of planning on part of GHMC. Even though there are flyovers at every junction, they ease the traffic only at the junction. The traffic at peak time is very slow moving that 13 km distance is taking 45-50 mins. An efficient public transport system can alone solve this. But the buses are few and infrequent. Even the hyped MMTS( multi modal transport system) didnt yield the expected results, the reason being that it just goes around the city and doesn’t touch the main junctions at all. An efficient underground or any other fast railway system can only solve the problem. Hope successive govts who are dodging this issue will realise its importance and take up project without any further delay and be committed towards its completion and make Hyderabad a really enjoyable place.

Dinesh Says: 5 November 2007 at 8:31 pm
[flyovers] are the only solution to any city’s growing traffic needs? On the contrary, I believe transportation engineers have a saying, “You cannot build your way out of congestion”. And thisasananth’s comment seems bears this out, as indeed our experience in Bangalore. And as he says, an efficient public transport system alone can solve this. That and severe restrictions on usage of private vehicles.

ERR Says: 5 November 2007 at 9:43 pm
Let us hope and Pray Mysore will not have a single flyover, if thta’s possible…

Doddi Buddi Says: 7 November 2007 at 4:16 am
Thank you Dr. Nayeem for the update on Hyderabad. I last visited the city in 1988 and I was not impressed at all. But the newspapers made me believe that Hyderabad was doing very well when compared to Bangalore. I am sad it is not true–more hype than reality it now seems to appear.
Bangalore would have done well if only the likes of Dirty Devegowda had not stuck his nose into every development project that could have lifted the city out of its problems. Systematically DDG has rogered the city projects like the transit rail, Kheni’s road to Mysore, the new airport (delayed by many years), roads and other projects. I was in Hassan recently and even the approach road to the city’s industrial park has become a two-lane road from a four-lane road. The reason–the contractors hired by HD Revanna gave us a disposable road–an innovative concept in road making!
Coming to Mysore, I love the ring roads around Mysore. Looks like that is the only thing our town planning authorities have got it right.

Harshith_mysore Says: 21 December 2007 at 4:38 pm
@ ERRI do hope we dont get any flyovers in Mysore.
I always wish Mysore retains its old charm which i used to see in my childhood days.

shanker Says: 3 January 2008 at 8:09 pm
what development have seen in chandra babu naidu and not in ysr, may be you have read development of chandra babu in newspaper and media, if so he developed hyderabad why is lost in election and even he didn’t get single MLA and MP seats . may be i even accpect that he bought IT to hyderabad. with no proper infrastructre

Hyderabadi bakra is a sequel of Angrezy

2008-02-16T09:45:00.016+05:30

Oops: Angrez (not Angrezy)!!!
Short introduction, 3 min:Click to activate
'Hyderabadi Bakra' in Mumbai (www.lehren.tv) Bollywood

Longer version: 38 min Click to activate

NB. To download the complete movie, Click here @ Groovy Corner: Hyderabadi Bakra - Hungama In Dubai (2008) - Original DVDRip

Digital entertainment city in Hyderabad

2008-01-22T09:29:00.000+05:30

AP govt to set up entertainment city
BS Reporter / Hyderabad January 20, 2008
The Andhra Pradesh government, in collaboration with FXLabs, DQ Entertainment, Suresh Productions and Sun Network’s Telugu channel Gemini TV, is planning to establish the country’s first ‘Digital Entertainment City’ in Hyderabad.

Proposed to be set up on the lines of the Dubai Entertainment City, the project will house animationand game companies, film production houses, music and TV studios, training academies, a regulation support office and an entertainment complex.

The project will be managed and promoted by the Digital Entertainment City Task Force (DECTF), a consortium comprising industry leaders including Sashi Reddi, founder and chairman of FXLabs, Suresh Babu, CEO of Suresh Productions, P Kiran, director, Gemini TV, Tapaas Chakravarthy, chairman and CEO, DQ Entertainment, JA Chowdhary, chairman, Nvidia and Sudhir R, CEO, Colorchips, along with the state government. continue reading Business Standard.

Unlike the conventional model of the government developing the entire infrastructure and managing it, the proposed project will be managed and promoted by a Digital Entertainment City Task Force (DECTF). This consortium will have industry leaders including Sashi Reddi (FXLabs), Suresh Babu (Suresh Productions), P Kiran (Gemini TV), Tapaas Chakravarty (DQ Entertainment), J A Chowdary (nVidia), Sudhish R (Colorchips) and state government representatives. [
Hyderabad to be first Digital Entertainment City, Saturday - Jan 19, 2008, Televisionpoint.com Correspondent ]

An overview of various communities living in Hyderabad

2008-01-11T07:08:00.000+05:30

The Sikh community

The Parsi community

Malayalees in Hyderabad

News from the Vysya Community

The Twin-cities Expatriates Association read much more @ ReachoutHyderabad.com Society, Culture and People of Hyderabad

Mr. Hyderabadi biryani eater

2007-11-22T04:05:00.001+05:30

1.75 kg biryani in 10 minutes!
Staff Reporter, The Hindu
23 musclemen from 16 States take part in ‘biryani eating contest’

Hyderabad: The city of nawabs and kababs witnessed a unique event the other day. A biryani challenge to be precise. Well, biryani may be the dish to die for. But how much of it can you eat? continue reading

Chowmahalla set to regain grandeur

2007-11-09T06:45:00.000+05:30

J.S. Ifthekhar, The Hindu,
Effort to recapture the ambience of the palace which was venue for official banquets of the Nizams

HYDERABAD: Breathtaking and awe-inspiring. That about forms a word picture of the famed Chowmahalla palace. But the renovated palace is even more enticing. With the restoration of Afzal Mahal, the grandest of the four palaces, nearing completion, Chowmahalla is all set to regain its past grandeur.

Conservation architects Rahul Mehrotra and Raja Martand Singh are doing a meticulous job to recapture the ambience of the palace which served as a venue for official banquets and receptions of the Nizams. By November-end Afzal Mahal is expected to be thrown open for visitors.
See also: Chowmahalla Palace to play host to celebrity banquets

Iranians find home in Hyderabad

2007-11-05T06:41:00.000+05:30

Nov 2007, 0221 hrs IST, SAPNA KAUSHIK, The Times of India News

HYDERABAD: It is a warm, sunny afternoon as the middle-aged gentleman sips his cup of Irani chai with a calm, peaceful demeanour. Listening to Md Yavari’s conversation, one would never guess that he is a migrant from Iran. Reiterating the fact that Hyderabad is truly one of the few cities that is a real melting pot of cultures and peoples, he insists "Hyderabad is where I belong to." And other Iranians settled in the city eagerly endorse his sentiment. "I always feel I am a part of this land," Yavari smiles as he reminisces about how his family came to Hyderabad just a year after India’s independence. There has been no looking back for him ever since. continue reading

On the same shelf and aisle:

The Nectar of Survival
JAVED KHAN lists the best places in the city to drink the famed Irani tea. How many have you been to?
Iran to help restore Hyderabad's architectural treasures
posted by Sandeep at 2:17 AM on February 14, 2007

Halloween party in Hyderabad

2007-11-03T06:36:00.000+05:30

2 Nov 2007, 0000 hrs IST,TNN
It was Halloween night and folks at this nightclub got down to some real spooky affairs! Dead men walking, dark spirits and devils rising - the evening had an eerie aura of the other world. Everyone let their hair down and the sights, were well, hair raising, what else! Actor and model Deepika Padukone was flown down for this party and although she wasn't dressed for the occasion, she cast a spell anyway! Srikala Reddy seemed to be leading from the front, dressed in a stylised sorceress' dress. Actor Navdeep was here looking every bit a Halloween freak, while Nitin and Bharti sported scary masks through the evening. Others seen enjoying themselves were Dhisha Girglani, Priya, Meer Aga, Meera and more. OVERHEARD: "It's alright if the skeletons from the closet come out today!"

Hyderabad on the web

2007-10-28T09:04:00.000+05:30

Our city has quite a presence on the web. Be it news, culture, music, or politics, there are any number of sites looking at Hyderabad from one perspective or the other. Of course, this is true of other cities across the world, as well. Hyderabad on the web is more appealing than the city in reality. Let's hope reality will catch up at some point with the picture that the eye of a camera, or the click of a mouse would reveal.

See below for details of one dimension of the Hyderabad on the Web: Video blogs come in handy for discussions, by Abhijit Dev Kumar

29 video blogs on recent developments in the city are posted on ‘YouTube’
These kind of sites encourage youth to take a stand
Sites like ’YouTube’ connect Indians staying abroad

Hard times and tall tales

2007-10-18T16:05:00.000+05:30

All is definitely not well with the world. Hyderabad's most prominent landmark, the four-minared architectural marvel that has defined it for more than 4 centuries, is not in great shape. While hi-tech cities in low-tech surroundings bloom, plush gated communities mushroom, skyscrapers sprout and all the cars, autos, bikes and buses of Bharat that is mahaan, converge at Punjagutta or Paradise, depending on where you are and regardless of where you wanted to go in the first place, the collective, incremental effect of idlers, lovers, tourists and vandals, not to speak of the "vagaries of nature" to use a popular cliche, is taking its toll. Of course, there is the obvious, but the unmentionable--sheer neglect by government agencies, paid to keep it alive and going. Tell them this and they'll blind you with statistics--so don't even think of getting into that!

On another note, who's pulling a fast one here--a Hyderabadi or a Bangalorean? Hard to tell, eh?

PS. info courtesy: Thadakamalla Sujatha Rao (New Zealand); and Yahoo! 360° - Pavan's Blog, "Hyderabad IT World ~ July 01, 2006"
"…….in near future
The mind itself is of the form of all"

See also:

With reference to the above Tall Tale Bangalore or Hyderabad - Which is real and which is imagined?

Vision of Hyderabad in The Technology Chronicles

Hyderabad Skyscrapers

Hyderabad's Charminar 'crying' for preservation

Eid and Dasara

2007-10-14T09:59:00.000+05:30

Dasara, Dussehra a.k.a. Dusharah--The Navaratri festival is called Desara in Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh, and Kali Puja in Bengal. Ramazan is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, and Navaratri Dasara means nine nights in the Hindu Calendar.

Hyderabad celebrates Eid ul Fitr today. There's a heavy security blanket all over the town, but the festive mood is there for all to see.Newspapers wrote about the hectic, last-minute shopping of Eid shoppers, while the Dasara festivities and celebrations have also begun. Let's hope and pray that everything passes off smoothly and those who think that a country or city can be shaken by a few blasts, taught a lesson by the togetherness and composure of the rest of us. Eid Mubarak to all our friends!

Vision of Hyderabad in The Technology Chronicles

2007-10-08T03:22:00.000+05:30

A forwarded email (by Brothers Abdul Hai Patel and Malik Khan) brought to me the following text and visuals (Author unkown)!!!

Subject: Beautiful Hyderabad Pictures
Message:
Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to share these beautiful pictures of Hyderabad with all of you.
Enjoy.

[NB. The following text that came with the pictures, is originally posted by VALLABHA in response to Alan Saracevic's article: Visions of India: Next stop Hyderabad]
Tell me how many people in INDIA know that Hyderabad has:

1) The IMAX Theatre with Worlds Largest screen and the only true 3D screen in INDIA

2) Asia 's biggest and one of the Worlds' biggest and best Convention centres 'HICC'

3) World's biggest Film Studio complex ' Ramoji Film City '

4) Country's best Animation and art work studios

5) Country's best and biggest Exhibition centre so far 'HITEX'

6) Country's biggest single real estate venture at the cost of US $2.2Billion by ICICI Ventures and Tishman of New York !

7) Hyderabad is leading in Hospital Tourism, now trying to lead also in Echo Tourism

8) Hyderabad is the best place to start any new retail business or Mall: This was from a study on how Malls are fuelling sales in India and the max amount of Sales happened in the Malls in Hyderabad despite the huge number of very big malls in Delhi and Mumbai.. Many biggest of the kind malls are being constructed here. You can also see, Reliance group, Tata's, Heritage group and many more venturing their first retail units starting from Hyderabad !

9) Hyderabad is the only place where complete restructuring is happening by even demolishing lot of buildings within the city! Delhi is the other only City, which followed this model.

10) In fact Infosys has planned its world's Largest Campus near to Shamshabad Airport in an area of 500acres of land! However its pending.. it may take of soon. Else some other campus would come up there.

11) Fab City would be the Ultimate answer for the Electronic and chip making industry from India !

12) How many know about ISB

13) IIT is being setup now in Hyderabad .

14) Birla has already setup Bits in Hyderabad

15) Country's largest number of Colleges for Engineering Medicines and largest number of Universities are in AP!

16) Just the colleges in and around Hyderabad produce much more Engineering graduates than any other city in INDIA !

17) Country's most expensive Residential Only venture has started in Hyderabad , with 250 villas where each Villa will be in 1 Acre of land and at the cost of Rs.14crores each! Why only in Hyderabad ? Because people are ready to buy and live there :-)

18) The most connected city in INDIA with highest Teledensity
.....and lot more like this!

Can you expect Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, The 2 Google Champions, CSC, GE and all these people pour huge investments and expand their campuses just based on Hype?
Hyderabad is now a tri-city: CYBERABAD-HYDERABAD-SECUNDERABAD!

You must be knowing the Fact: US has chosen Hyderabad over Bangalore for setting up its New Consulate and it is already in process! This is because there are more VISA applicants from AP hitting Chennai Consulate! For that matter, always the biggest number of Travellers to US is from AP

A visual treat ..… [info courtesy: The Great Hyderabad (Deccan - Telangana) - Andhraguyz Community]

Birla temple:

Budha statue at Hussain Sagar:

Charminar:

Falaknuma palace:

Chowmahalla palace:

Khilwat: Palace

Purani haveli:

Mummy in Archeological Museum:

Ashur khana:

Durgam Cheruvu:

Golconda: Fort

High Court:

Himayat Sagar:

NTR Gardens:

Osmania Hospital:

OsmaniaUniversity:

Ramoji Film city:

Salarjung Museum: Museum

Shilpa Ramam:

Toyland:

And Finally the One and Only
Hyderabadi biryani:

See also:

Hyderabad (Deccan - Telangana): A visual treat ..…

Visions of India: Next stop Hyderabad

Deccani lithographs bring back Hyd of yore

Cricket fever in Hyderabad

2007-10-03T08:31:00.000+05:30

Cricket fever grips Hyderabad, Indo-Asian News Service, Hyderabad, October 04, 2007

The third ODI between Australia and the home team is scheduled to be played at the Uppal stadium here, on Friday, October 5. Tickets have already been sold out as all the newspapers have reported this morning. In fact, the police have had to use their 'lathis' is some places, to 'persuade' cricket fans to leave.

One only hopes that the match will be an enjoyable day out for all the enthusiasts, minus the taste of 'lathis' and other signs of general disorder associated with crowds.
One wishes though, that the HCA--if wishes were horses--had sold more tickets and cut down on their 'complimentaries'. Well, well, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

See also:
Hyderabadi Cricket news updates @ hyderabadi bloggers and @ Google news:

The Hyderabadi diaspora!

2007-09-28T10:47:00.000+05:30

They're all over the place now. Yes, dear ole Hyderbadiz. Everywhere in the world. Across continents, countries, prairies, deserts, great lakes, green forests, islands. Everywhere. The Hyderabadi diaspora continues to expand just as the city stretches from Shamshabad to Bhongir today. A long way from where it started. But, as we here never tire of reminding the rest of the world and ourselves--once a Hyderabadi, always a Hyderabadi. So, they keep coming back to find old haunts gone, buildings pulled down and turned into malls and multiplexes, homes razed and converted into three-hundred and fifty flats on five hundred yards and being sold at 5000 a sq foot. Well, well, times-they are achanging. And if you're a Hyderabadi young and rearing to go that's what you would do too--flap your wings and get set to fly.....

countdown of another kind

2007-09-27T09:08:00.000+05:30

The alarm bells are going off. The Deccan Chronicle reported today that Microsoft sounded it to the state government to get its act together (translated into plain words) on the security and traffic fronts. This is seen as an example of a rising sense of insecurity and unease in corporate houses on Hyderabad. The report has it that Bangalore is now the preferred destination--not that it's any better, in terms of traffic, but it's probably seen as a safer place these days.
As for us Hyderabadiz, we're back to chewing our nails and scratching our heads. And if you ask someone from the State government--he'll tell you things were never better. Sure. Speak for yourself, mate.
To end on a positive note--the bazaars are crowded, Charminar is all lit up and Haleem is giving everything else a run for its money.

Hyderabad breathes easy!

2007-09-26T08:23:00.001+05:30

Yes, the Ganesh immersion passed off peacefully and Hyderabad breathes easy again. Yesterday, people were off the streets, traffic was the thinnest ever in the whole year and the police were busy policing. But give them due credit. Our policemen did a great job--keeping a 'virtual' eye on the massive procession and monitoring it at every point. tv channels covered the procession 'live' late into the night and that was that. Finally, all's well that ends well. The T-20 victory cast its joyous shadow on the procession, according to this morning's newspapers. The processionists had an extra reason to celebrate and a good many of them celebrated the T-20 victory with gusto.
And so, after taking a day off, we get right back into our daily lives : buses, bikes, cars, autos, pan-shops, multiplexes, restaurants, wine-shops and all.....

Hyderabad in the 60s

2007-09-23T08:55:00.000+05:30

Back then in the early 60s, there was just one (upmarket) shopping area--Abids. Secunderabad's M.G. Road was a distant cousin, less frequented by Hyderabadiz. The Old City bazaars were very much there, mainly for bangles and pearls.
A dozen double-deckers plied merrily along on a couple of routes. There was hardly any traffic worth the name--buses, bicycles, a few two-wheelers and the odd car or jeep. We didn't know the word 'pollution' existed or what it meant. In contrast, a 5 year-old will enlighten you on the causes and effects of pollution.
Back then, Osmania Hospital took care of Hyderabad's health concerns and Gandhi of Secunderabad. There was Niloufer Hospital (where I was born in the year of grace, 1957) for kids.
It was a small contented, laid-back city, with the remains of its past Nawabi era very much in place--the Bashir Bagh palace was very much there, but was gone soon! The Begumpet Palace 'Aiwaan-e-Begumpet' was intact, as were the other palaces and larger houses. The slums of the city, inevitably, were just getting established and middle-class colonies were sprouting here and there. There was nothing of the real-estate frenzy now driving Hyderabad.
In January and up until the tenth of Feb. you had the All India Industrial Exhibition, as the prime source of entertainment. The rest of the time, the movies took over. One waited with bated breath for Wednesday nights and for Binaca Geetmala on Radio Ceylon. Cinema Posters occupied the place that hoardings do, and NTR's and ANR's fan clubs tried overdo each other--in endless bouts of tit for tat each would plaster the other's idol, just before the release of a new movie with dung-cakes!
Good times they were, when one could drink Gandipet's water and importantly, it was sufficient for the city's needs. This was the time when we forgot to plan for the future and the amnesia continues after nearly half a century! Good luck!

Hyderabad--another nightmare metropolis

2007-09-21T08:33:00.000+05:30

It's turning out to be another nightmare metropolis, thanks to its most chaotic roads. Hyderabad is hardly destination tomorrow anymore. It's a get out of there today if you can sort of place.
Added to everything else, the city's under the grip of conjunctivitis right now, making life even more miserable for Hyderabadiz. And it shows no signs of abatement. The 'pink eye' is all over the place.
Equally pervasive is the presence of securitymen everywhere, because of Ramadan. The cops don't want to be caught unawares and intensive security is in place. Now you would expect citizens to be thankful to the police for this elaborate security cover. Yes, many of us cross our hearts and thank them for it. But then there are these habitual cribbers who grumble about too much 'security'. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Public places--parks, museums, malls and multiplexes aren't attracting the crowds they used to, till very recently. Let's only hope that the Ganesh immersion passes off peacefully.

Will Hyderabad ever get past square one?

2007-09-19T09:29:00.000+05:30

That's the big question. officialdom, being officaldom will tell you that Hyderabad is the most happening city (without defining 'happening'), that it's ready to take on Singapore and Shanghai--after a peg ot two, an official might even tell you that it's already giving Shanghai a run for its money! A businessman told us an anecdote about a meeting with some officials in which some NRIs, interested in investing in a new project here, had also participated. One NRI asked this official how the traffic mess would ever get resolved, because no plan seems to be in place. He glibly replied that the ring road would soon take care of all the traffic problems and for effect, added that 'self-sufficient' satellite townships were going to come up all around soon. Now isn't that a perfectly 'Alice in Wonderland' situation!

This is much like a play that was staged at a city hotel recently where Shah Jahan calls for tenders to build the Taj, assigns the work to his Chief Engineer, who passes it on contractors with hefty cuts of the pie distributed all over the place. The Taj doesn't get built and Shah Jahan dies after an endless wait. We, Hyderabadis, are a bunch of Shah Jahans who will never see our Taj Mahals (in our case, good roads, accountable governance and a responsive administration), cynical as it may sound. As the great Meer Taqui 'Meer' said nearly 200 years ago:
jab se jahaN hai tab se Kharaabi yahi hai 'meer'
tum dekh kar zamaane ko Hairaan kya rahe
(This world has always been a rotten place ai 'meer'
why are you astonished to see it so?)

see also:

Travails for the Taj
Marathi play ‘Tender taj mahalache’ was a depiction of corruption in society

Rangadhara theatre stream presented their 94th play in Hyderabad , with a Marathi play titled Tender Taj mahalache, an adaptation of the original Hindi play Tajmahal Ka Tender, written by Ajay Shukla. The show wa s held recently at the Maharashtra mandal auditorium, Ramkote, Hyderabad.

The play in Marathi was translated by Bhaskar Kulkarni, who also co directed the play along with Prof. Bhaskar Shewalker.

'Prince' from Hyderabad claims Taj

Hyderabadiz--the best thing about Hyderabad!

2007-09-16T15:46:00.000+05:30

Hindus and Muslims hold a
prayer meet in blast-hit Hyderabad

Yes, all credit to the people. In spite of what happened at Mecca Masjid in May and at Gokul Chaat and Lumbini Park a few days ago, the city's cosmopolitan character has remained intact. Never mind cynical sms messages--they're meant to be funny, of course--that tell you to try and stay alive after visiting Mecca Masjid and Lumbini Park, eating at Gokul Chaat and going under or past the Panjagutta flyover. Never mind what the government tells you--if you want to sample some nuggets, here they are (please don't laugh): "Our police is doing the best it can to fight terrorism." Or, "In two years there won't be a homeless person in Andhra Pradesh."
The citizenry remained composed and mature through these trying times.

As those who celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi yesterday digest their payasam, udumulu and vada, among other things, on the one side, the ubiquitous bhatti (furnace) in which haleem is stewed is burning as fiercely as ever, all over the city. That's as good an example as any. Pista House announced the other day that it's tied up with Gati to deliver its lip-smacking haleem anywhere in the world in 48 hours. Perhaps, it's worth a try wherever you are--if you aren't a veggie, that is. Doff your hat to the citizens of this city.

HyderaBAD to worse

2007-09-13T08:47:00.000+05:30

Don't read this morning's newspapers--all of them of them are full of the woes of being a HyderaBADi. Bad traffic, bad planning, bad governance and of course, bad excuses to cover them up.
Moving on to other things, the month of Ramadan will begin on Friday and for a month all roads leading to Charminar will be buzzing with activity, teeming with shoppers, mosques and shops lit up all over the old city in particular, while movement of traffic on our streets will remain as chaotic as ever, or even get a trifle more crowded at times.
Saturday's Ganesh Chaturthi is another major festival that is round the corner.
All that Hyderabadiz now hope is that the two--the ten-day festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi leading up to the 'visarjan' or immersion, and the month of praying and fasting, end peacefully.
Yes, getting home will still be a problem--the bikes, cars, buses and autos will take forever to move, but c'est la vie, if you're talking about Hyderabad, especially!
Ramadan mubarak and happy Ganesh Chaturthi to Hyderabadiz.

GHMC--An Alice in Hyderabad's Wonderland

2007-09-12T08:00:00.000+05:30

Hyderabad is suddenly being seen as the city of disasters by some of our prophets of doom. Yes, there have been tragic bomb blasts at Mecca Masjid on May 18 and at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chaat, three months later. Both the Mecca Masjid blast and the Lumbini Park blast could possibly have been averted with some vigilance, screening and precautionary measures. But, as always, we seem to be growing wise after the event. Public places now are more sensitive to security, which is a good thing.

The other tragedy that shook us up was the collapse of a section of the flyover near Panjagutta for which there are simply no excuses. The contractor, the consultant, GHMC and all the other government agencies are equally responsible for the death of Ankit Aurora, young techie whose life has been rudely cut short, and that of Ramu, a supporter of a politician, from Armoor. Disaster management is an expression our officials have not heard of. There is no nodal disaster management agency it appears, equipped with gas cutters and other emergency relief equipment. Of course, the officials were there to give sound 'bites' to tv cameras, sounding more like politicians than men on the job responsible for both the disaster and its relief operations. How else can one explain their irresponsibility in blaming 'the unprecended rain' for the flyover collapse? It rained for an hour dammit--I live about a mile away from the blessed flyover: I should know. Of course, a 'wizened' GHMC Commissioner clarified the next day that by 'unprecedented' rain was meant 'the quantum of rain in an hour, a single hour, that is.' Oh really! Give us a break Mr. Sarma! Like millions of other Hyderabadiz I was born in this city and have lived here all my life and have seen enough of 'unprecedented rain'. The GHMC and everybody else told the citizens of Hyderabad that this flyover and others being built along with this elsewhere in the city, were 'quake-proof' and 'terror-proof'. They're telling us now that they aren't even 'shower-proof'! GHMC is the new Alice in Hyderabad's Wonderland. Welcome to 'Greater' Hyderabad!

Hyd flyover collapse: 30 feared killed

2007-09-10T06:47:00.000+05:30

Murder or Suicide?
After the bombs in Hyderabad, we all might have talked about the fear of terrorist attacks and unsafe home one more time. This was followed by the collapse of an under-construction flyover due to heavy rains. continue reading
Digging by Water Board led to collapse of scaffolding?
SAFETY CONCERNS: The spans of the Punjagutta flyover under construction that collapsed on Sunday after heavy rain. continue reading

Hyderabad Flyover Collapse Slide show

Accountability and governance

2007-09-03T09:21:00.000+05:30

What is perhaps most striking in Hyderabad over the last few years, is the utter apathy of officialdom and the complete absence of accountability. Be it the bomb blasts, day to day civic problems or any form of interaction with the bureaucracy, this indifference, smugness and complacency, is all too obvious. The impact of this on the life of the city is evident--chaos passes for order and one doesn't require the IQ of an Edison or Einstein to see this. From a much sought-after destination and happening city some years ago, Hyderabad is fast losing its pre-eminence. If some semblance of governance is not restored soon, we'll slip back to the anarchic past in fast track.

The spirit of Hyderabad

2007-08-30T20:53:00.000+05:30

‘No matter what we will stand together’ Citizens Take
"One thing that is important to know about Hyderabad is the spirit of the city. Initially people were disturbed by the two events but then Hyderabadis are known for their cool kind of perspective to life. The evening after the blasts, people returned.... The Hindu, Aug 30, 2007
Ram-Rahim fight terror after blasts

If disrupting the life of the city was what our 'friends' across the border wanted, they failed miserably in achieving their aim.

Hyderabad is certainly more resilient than they thought it was. It's back on its feet, mourning for the dead, but dealing with the complexities of daily life.
Gone are the days when a single incident could rip the social fabric of the city apart. Hyderabad is stronger than some of our 'brothers' across the border think. It has emerged stronger than before from the recent series of blasts.
'dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil meiN hai'......

Life after the blasts....

2007-08-28T11:27:00.000+05:30

Will Terror Threaten India's Economy?, Aug. 27, 2007 By MADHUR SINGH, Time Magazine

Hyderabad expatriates shrug off role of external forces
By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
Published: August 26, 2007, 23:40

Terror 'outsourced' in India, By Siddharth Srivastava, Asia Times

India finds unity in terror, By Sreeram Chaulia, Asia Times

Hyderabad has bounced back, as our news channels and papers remind us. But, the eerie sense of unease that follows a tragedy of this scale, hangs over the city like a dark cloud. Public places are best avoided feel most people, telling their children not to frequent local hotspots. How could the police not screen visitors at the Lumbini Park after a warning from central Intelligence that another round of blasts could take place? Why was the security of the park given to a private agency, which had no screening mechanism in place? These are questions Hyderabadis are asking, knowing what answers to expect from politicians.
We have a low-key raksha bandhan today, marred by the grim background of death and suffering of innocent victims.

Hyderabad mourns again!

2007-08-25T22:46:00.000+05:30

Barely 3 months after the Mecca Masjid blast, the city has been rocked by serial blasts killing many more this time, in 2 crowded places--the Gokul Chaat Bhandar in Koti and Lumbini Park. Hyderabad mourns the dead and the injured yet again. Another black day. Another mindless act. Another trail of grief, destruction, loss, suspicion and blame.

See more details:

Hyderabad—time for accountability

36 killed, 40 hurt as 2 blasts hit Hyderabad

Google News: image version

HYDERABAD BOMB BLAST AT LUMBINI PARK Video Google

Bottomline: Ishwar Allah Tere Jahan Mein Nafrat Kyoon Hai - 1947 Earth - [Azgar Khan]

Ishwar Allah Tere Jahan Mein
Nafrat Kyoon Hai, Jung Hai Kyoon
Tera Dil To, Itna Bada Hai
Insaan Ka Dil Tang Hai Kyoon

Ishwar Allah, Tere Jahan Mein
Nafrat Kyoon Hai, Jung Hai Kyoon
Tera Dil To, Itna Bada Hai
Insaan Ka Dil Tang Hai Kyoon

Kadam Kadam Par Sarhad Kyoon Hai
Saari Zameen Jo Teri Hai
Suraj Ke Pherey Karti Hai
Phir Kyoon Itni Andheri Hai
Is Duniya Ke Daaman Par
Insaan Ke Lahoo Ka Rang Hai Kyoon source: Ibibo

Ishwar Allah Tere Jahan Mein
Singer: Chorus - 1947 Earth
Brought to you by: Azgar Khan

Shabana Azmi's Voice: 250 years of the British empire ended in 1947, but whats there to show for it? except the country divided, the massacres and kidnappings, vendettas and more violence, was it all worth it?

50 years have gone by since I betrayed my Aaya, some say she married Ice Candy Wala, some say they saw her in a brothel in Lahore, others that they saw her in Amritsar. But I never saw her again.

That day 1947 when I lost Aaya, I lost a large part of myself.

Heera, moti......

2007-08-21T10:51:00.000+05:30

Watch this video: HYDERABAD - The Pearl City of India - {Azgar Khan}

For generations, Hyderabad has been known as the last stop for good pearls. A news channel reported yesterday that the 'City of 'Pearls' was fast turning into a centre for diamonds, as well. Hyderabadiz can pride themselves on the fact that there has been a 40% rise in the sale of diamonds, according to the report. Lightweight diamonds are light on the purse too and a cluster diamond is so exquisitely cut that it resembles a solitaire! Apparently, traditional Hyderabadi designs of jewelry are gaining increasing popularity among the younger folks. 'aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya'!

see Golconda Fort's neighbourhood

See also:

The Pearl City Hyderabad, by Random Southerner

Pearls of Hyderabad, by travelchacha

PEARLS by Sultan

Hyderabad - The city of pearls

Hyderabad Pearls by Pradeep Sadanapalli

LEGACY OF THE CITY OF PEARLS

Hyderabad's diaspora--vibrant overseas communities

2007-08-19T14:45:00.000+05:30

Hyderabadiz started moving out ages ago. The migration to distant lands gathered momentum in the 80s, picked up further in the 90s and is at an all-time high now, thanks to the IT boom. Many of the early settlers be they in the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia or elsewhere in the world have their own little Indian communities and within that a community of Hyderabadiz that they move in.

London, Chicago and Toronto among dozens of other cities across the globe are clear examples of little Hyderabads that get built abroad. The second and third generation immigrants can barely relate to their roots, in the way their parents and grandparents want them to. But then, it's unfair to transplant them on alien shores and expect them to behave as though they live in Dabeerpura or Dilsukhnagar. It's only right that they are romans in Rome.

See also:

HYDERABADIS, by SHEHLA BURNEY [in Multicultural Canada]

An ode to Hyderabad, By SANGEETHA DEVI K [in a review of the film Dead Body, by Kaz Rehman, the Canadian film maker]--Kaz is a son of a Hyderabadi, late Mohammed F. Rahman, settled in Canada.

Far and away... Locating Home: India's Hyderabadis Abroad, by Karen Isaksen Leonard

Emerging lifestyles

2007-08-12T08:47:00.000+05:30

The one thing that's changing rapidly in Hyderabad, is the lifestyle of the average middleclass citizen. In tune with the changing skyline and towers that mark this change. The malls are a huge attraction and there are quite a few of them. The pubs are a big draw as are a host of new restaurants, and some resorts. The one refrain that's heard all the time is about the 'wretched traffic'. Not much can be done say some Hyderabadiz. There's nothing that can't be regulated say others. The rains are not making it any easier for us here. What are the silver linings then? We need some Hyderabadiz to respond to this query. Is it that it still has the most laidback lifestyle in the country? Or that it gives you the sort of cuisine that few regions offer? We need some Hyderabadiz to give us their take on this.......

protests and strikes

2007-07-28T22:48:00.000+05:30

We've had more than our fair of share of protests to put up with. Yet, our politicians simply don't seem to grow up. Who gets killed or even injured in police firing? The poor and the innocent. Hyderabadis are sick and tired of political parties doing this to the citizens--picking up a cause or latching on to it, as may be the case and going berserk in the name of 'protest'. For the past few days it's been the Leftists, with the Telugu Desam merrily jumping on their bandwagon.
What do we Hyderabadis have to say? Who's asking?

Leaders and activists of Left parties for relay hunger strike

Hyderabad takes lead in protests

Bandh today: TDP extends support to Left parties

CPI-M demands action against cops for Andhra firing

'smart' city....what about citizens?

2007-07-25T07:10:00.000+05:30

Hyderabad is all geared up to introduce multi-application smart cards soon.
These cards, which will double as driving licence and vehicle registration documents will also bring up--thanks to hand-held readers, the history of previous traffic offences, tax and insurance data and and related information on the driver.
The city's turning 'smart' if this bit of news is to be believed, but what about the worthy citizenry? Thereby hangs a litany of woes, which I'll save for another day. The only thing I'll whine about today is what our political parties are doing to Hyderabad--in terms of worsening things. They paralyze traffic for the flimsiest of reasons, creating hopeless snarls. The Left parties say they're doing it to get land for the landless. Others have other reasons. What do our 'netas' think of pressing in their cadre as traffic volunteers to show their protest, instead of getting them caned and fired upon by the police and paralyzing traffic? Idea worth publicizing? What say folks?

see also:

Hyderabad opts for smart system

Smart cards for motorists by October, The Times of India

Biometric tracking gives a tamper proof identity to villagers
Biometric tracking gives a tamper proof identity to villagers, Jaya Menon - Chennai

Pay but don’t touch – Security, Satisfaction, and Expectation
Arby’s rolls out ‘contactless’ payment cards

Hyderabadi roads

2007-07-18T09:07:00.000+05:30

We're back with the same refrain--Hyderabadi roads and the attendant chaos that goes in the name of traffic. A longtime Mumbaikar (Deepak DeSouza) wrote to the DC yesterday complaining of the utter absence of pedestrians' rights in Hyderabad. His grievance is spot on.

Where are the 'footpaths', one may ask? In no other city does such chaotic traffic go unregulated, as Deepak rightly points out. That's sadly true. One simply has no place to walk--if one doesn't depend on any mode of transport, that is, such as a car/bike/auto/pushcart/bus/truck etc. The sidewalks have been taken over by 'nature's callers' and hawkers or more often, simply don't exist. Hyderabad's traffic police continues to wink blissfully at the anarchic movement of all and sundry on the streets. One would have expected an aggressive, pro-active campaign from the traffic authorities to bring some sanity on to the streets, but the big question is--where are they, Hyderabad's traffic police, I mean?
On a different note, if you're web-savvy, there are enough tools to navigate you. No longer do you need to ask in the local lingo-"yeh rastaa kaaN jaata?" And get the tongue-in-cheek retort--"kaiiN naiiN jaata bhai, bachpan se dekhruN... aap jaareN jaaN kaiiN jaareN." There are web-tools to help you get there--"jaaN kaiiN aap jaareN", that is.....be it Charminar, Gachhi Bowli or Nacharam!

Ganesh Chaturthi in Hyderabad

2007-07-14T08:30:00.000+05:30

Ganesh Visarjana in Hyderabad

Hyderabad for over nearly three decades now, has emerged as a major centre for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. There's a large community of artisans in Dhoolpet and adjoining areas that depends for its livelihood, on making idols of Lord Ganesh for the festival and start making them months ahead.

This year, they seem to be unsure whether to use synthetic colours in making the idols, as they have doing traditionally or comply with the State Government's directives and use herbal colours, intead. The demand, as always is huge--at least 15,000 Ganesha idols have to be made for the festival in September, if not more. The State Government's directive on using herbal colours is meant to prevent water bodies from getting polluted. Artisans say herbal colours are not easy to get and what is available is of inferior quality. Artisans apparently have no problem using herbal colours, but do face a problem when it comes to procuring them. The truth, as all of us do know, is that water bodies do get polluted to indescribable extent on account of the immersion of thousands of idols. All of us need to do our little bit to make the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi more eco-friendly and 'organic'. The least the government can do is make organic, non-toxic colours available to the artisans through organizations like the National Green Corps.

See also:

Hyderabad artisans mull over use of herbal colours on Ganesha idols

A lingo of our own....

2007-06-30T10:57:00.000+05:30

'Deccani' or our very own Hyderabadi lingo has been ridiculed, praised, loved and looked down upon and yet remains very much in place. It has changed considerably, as dialects do, as they evolve and new phrases and expressions have enriched our local 'Hyderabadi'. From its early days, Telugu, Marathi and Kannada have contributed to the natural, earthy feel of the dialect--where else (but in Hyderabad) can you come across an expression like "gol phiraistunDu or pareshaan chestundi" or "zara darwaaza band cheyi beTa"? Bollywood, I'm not much in the know of Tollywood, had stock situations and standard Mehmood jokes based on Hyderabadi, including songs like "humeiN kaale haiN tau kya huwa dilwaale haiN', from 'Gumnaam' way back in the sixties. Not that we were amused.
One feels it would help to have an online glossary of Hyderabadi/Deccani and some of our friends have done just that. There's a need though to expand the database, incorporate some missing ones and include some of the quaint, old phrases that are getting extinct.

Wah Hyderabad!

2007-06-25T10:49:00.000+05:30

Taking the same thought forward, from last time--is Hyderabad ready for the big league of metropolises or is the pretence getting to it? On the one hand, there are islands of relative prosperity like Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, parts of Madhapur, Begumpet and other areas. We have 'service apartments' in and around Hi-tech City to cater to the inflow of MNC personnel, the hospitality industry says things are looking up like never before, all hotels are notching up high occupancy rates and real estate prices are going through the roof. On the other, a half-hour thundershower is enough to throw the city out of gear, kill a few people and disrupt thousands of lives for a few hours. And, in terms of infrastructure, the city's bursting at the seams--the roads can't take the traffic, new roads and fly-overs are a long way off from nearing completion and as for our City authorities, the MCH ducks for cover, when it is needed the most.

No one spares a thought for large swathes of the city's population living in sprawling slums from Uppal to Rajendranagar and Kukatpally to areas beyond Vanasthalipuram, sans government facilities in terms of civic amenities, not to speak of two of the most critical areas--health and school education. Don't mention government facilities like the Osmania Hospital, Gandhi or Niloufer Hospital, which were known to be the best in town at one time (when we were growing up in the sixties and seventies). Many schools run by the government do not have roofs, boards, desks and benches, leave alone enough teachers.
And yet, we claim Hyderabad is the most happening place. We need to shake ourselves out of this delusional state and get real.

Monsoon showers in Hyd......

2007-06-21T08:37:00.000+05:30

"Monsoon arrives in Hyderabad in June and lasts four months" Institutional Greening through water harvesting, MANAGE - The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad
The rains are here and the infrastructure of the city, as always, is unprepared and under severe stress. The streets are beginning to overflow. Potholes make life interesting for motorists and bikers and there's more to come. Traffic, already at a snail's pace on most of the city's busy roads has waterlogged roads to contend with. Let's only hope that the Public Health folks are more prepared, because monsoon showers lead to largescale outbreaks of disease. And that's the last thing Hyderabad can deal with. That's the plain and simple truth folks. China can build a road right up to the base camp of Mount Everest in four months, but we take ten years to build half a fly-over!
Hyderabad can be the new Shanghai:
And they say Hyderabad is as happening as Shanghai. 'They', in case this needs any explanation, happen to be politicians and bureaucrats--who between them have reduced Hyderabad to its current state.

Georgia Tech in Hyderabad

2007-06-15T17:47:00.000+05:30

It's just a matter of time before all the big guns of higher education with a global reputation hit India. And one hopes that will happen sooner rather than later. Hyderabad notched up a first of sorts, in that Georgia Tech will have a major presence here. If you ask me, as a college teacher I would say that this is just what the doctor ordered for higher education in India. It is time we woke from our complacent, smug state, learned to compete with 'good' colleges and universities, stopped shouting from rooftops that we're 'as good as the best', let in some competition to shake us out of this delusional state and hold a mirror up to us. We're already way behind where we should have been, in terms of quality collegiate education and if we let the marxists prescribe what is good for us in this realm, education will take on Groucho Marx-ist overtones, with due apologies to the great comedy star.....In this instance, the A.P. Government deserves a generous pat on the back.

see also:

Georgia Institute Inks MoU To Set Up Campuses At Hyderabad And Vizag By Pradeep Sadanapalli | June 6, 2007

Govt for Georgia Tech campus in city 17 Nov, 2006 l 0203 hrs ISTlGanesh S. Lakshman/TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Georgia Tech : Why Hyderabad? Source: The New Indian Express @

Georgia Tech to set up its intl campus in Andhra, BS Reporter / Hyderabad June 5, 2007

Pressure cooker schools and colleges

2007-06-04T07:54:00.000+05:30

HYDERABAD: "If you got 90 per cent or more in class X and haven't yet decided what to do with your life after school, count yourself lucky. Most other high scorers have had their decision made for them — not necessarily by their parents."
Cram schools hunt & trap students, 2 Jun, 2007 l 0220 hrs ISTlMRIDULA CHUNDURI, TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Come examination time and results, it's cramming all the way for millions of students. Board exams are a nightmare in our system with percentages determining everything and 1 mark slipping a student down by 10,000 ranks, especially in the Board of Intermediate and Eamcet examinations. One can well imagine the amount of stress an average student is subjected to, in such a scenario. High School and intermediate education (plus two or grades XI AND XII) badly need reforms. The emphasis, for the past several years, has been mainly on cramming and more cramming, regardless of any understanding of concepts.

From the time that the Intermediate results have been out, the newspapers have been flooded with full-page advertisements with each junior college flaunting its own list of 'toppers'. Most of these 'colleges' are pressure cookers where students are made to grind away, by cramming for hours on stretch. These colleges thrive on a system that glorifies and has institutionalized memory-based modes of learning that leave no space for individuality or creativity. Also, they're geared to 'bring the best' out of the 'creme de la creme' of students. Kids who are either average performers in terms of their grades (as reflected in their marks) or are backbenchers, as some inevitably are, can take a hike under the existing system. The colleges in question are essentially money-spinners with an ever-expanding network and enjoy such clout that it is widely believed that they determine just about everything from syllabus structuring to the pattern of exam papers and the continuance of the EAMCET exam....When will things ever change in India that is Bharat, or nearer home for Hyderabadiz and Andhra Pradeshis.....

See also:

'Pressure cooker' schools warning

Far and away......

2007-05-27T09:14:00.000+05:30

Locating Home: India's Hyderabadis Abroad, by Karen Isaksen Leonard

Review from Saty's desktop:
Karen Isaksen Leonard's 'Locating Home' is a brilliant, comparative study of the Hyderabadi diaspora across the world-- Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Canada, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

Quite evidently, Karen has spent a lot of time over painstaking research, fieldwork and conducting interviews. 'Locating Home' looks at Hyderabadi culture and institutions, transplanted in alien shores. She demonstrates how memories of old Hyderabad, in terms of cultural values and institutions still find a place in the lives of these expats, or get transmuted and even discarded, depending on several factors, which include generation, gender, social strata, and other associations with what used to be the state of Hyderabad. Interestingly, Karen's previous publications include a book on the Kayasth community. 'Locating Home' is a must read for Hyderabadis--be they a part of the diaspora or 'locals'.

Review @ Amazon:
“This is research on a grand scale. Karen Leonard questions prevailing notions of diaspora, transnationalism, and globalization not by adding yet another layer to the cake of theory on these topics, but by providing a rich, incredibly diverse engagement with Hyderabadis around the world. As a multisite ethnographer, Leonard practices what most anthropologists are content merely to preach.”—Andrew Shryock, University of Michigan

oh Hyderabad!

2007-05-19T19:28:00.000+05:30

Hyderabad Blast, May 18, 2007

Added to the miseries of day to day living, we have amidst us a network of lunatics, committed to making life in this city even more difficult. The bomb blast at Mecca Masjid is a case in point. Friday marked another sad day in the annals of our beloved city. But, we need to pick ourselves up and get on with our lives and show the loony bunch and the rest of the world that bombs kill people--they cannot touch the spirit and soul of a city.
Moving on to other things, traffic continues to be as chaotic as ever in this crazy city of ours, with most roads leading nowhere, at the end of the day. If you want to be enlightened on the rules of the road--here's some advice you could do with.

See also:

Hyderabad in Mourning?

Friday Bomb Blast in Hyderabad – Amusing Incidents and Disturbing Aspects. by Ashish Naredi

Misdirected Hyderabad Bomb Blast Investigations, By Adv. Irfan Engineer, 31 May, 2007, Countercurrents.org

The changing metropolis

2007-05-17T09:52:00.000+05:30

That Hyderabad is not what it used to be, is something not worth repeating any more. Besides, isn't that true of every other city? But the pace at which change has overtaken the twin cities, is something no one, least of all our MCH and other civic bodies, had anticipated. A large, consumerist middle-class, and huge swathes of migrants seem to have sprouted from nowhere--thanks mainly to the IT sector. In turn, a related chain of service businesses burgeoned and boomed, making the city look like a happening city--you simply need to visit one of the many high-end malls or local pubs to see what I mean. But, scratch the surface and what do you find? A city that is fast losing the green cover it had, obsolete sewerage systems, municipal authorities who couldn't care less about roads, streets, parks or parking spaces, and who would merrily look the other way if you happen to be a builder or a contractor, regardless of what you are doing. Be it traffic management, civic problems, mass transport--things that are of basic importance in everyday life, Hyderabad is far from a happening place. Somebody needs to remind our city's denizens and authorities that ' a few MNCs do not a metropolis make', no matter what the real estate prices may say.

One recalls the tree planting campaign taken up by the MCH (in Mr. Narendra Luther's time) during the Emergency years in the mid-seventies, when it was widely being perceived that the city's rising temperatures could be ascribed to the widespread of denudation of trees. Those saplings had grown into sturdy trees only to be chopped down mercilessly by the same civic body, over the last few years. Who says we evolve with time?

Hyderabad iz hot!

2007-05-12T10:51:00.000+05:30

The heat is getting to the Hyderabadiz and they're running for cover. As temperatures rise, most roads that have been dug up stay that way--with workers becoming scarce during the day. The traffic snarls are at their worst and when all of the city decides to congregate on the necklace road or NTR Gardens in the evenings, you've had it. This also happens to be the wedding season and not infrequently the 'muhurtam' is somewhere close to the hottest point of the day--you can well imagine what a time the guests have!
With the SSC results out, parents are busy hunting for a seat in the 'right' place for the plus two kids, if you will.
For Hyderabadiz, May has always been the cruellest month and not April, (with due apologies to T.S.Eliot).

See also:

Rules for survivin hyd summer's
posted by Deepthi Tanikella at 11:24 AM on May 09, 2007
The heat is on...

See also:

Heat and Traffic

Hyderabadi roads

Hyderabad Live - Welcome to Another Streaming Hyderabadi Media

2007-05-03T21:14:00.000+05:30

..Hyderabad Goes Online: Courtesy Sify
..Sify launches broadband portal for Hyderabad
..Sify launches website for Hyd
..More news and views @ Google

Sify.com has launched one more city broadband portal - http://www.hyderabadlive.in/. Hyderabad is the third city portal of Sify, which already has Mumbailive.in and bangalorelive.in. The content is mainly related to Telugu movies, music, the city’s hottest clubs, gossip, and so on in video. The company plans to launch more city portals. Next could be Delhi. [source ]

Also bookmark our own Media Hyderabad Blog:

Heat and chaos = Hyderabad....lest we forget!

2007-05-03T08:34:00.000+05:30

The heat's beginning to get us now, and who knows what lies ahead? Added to all this the 'inmates' of this city have to deal with (as one knows the rest of the country does) an apathetic bureaucracy reflected in a zillion little everyday things. One of the results of chaos or the complete absence of planning, if you will, is the denial of free, open spaces to children to cut loose. Where do kids in our metropolis play? In streets and lanes--when and where they can, that is--on the odd rooftop of an apartment cluster or in front of a tv set. In a sense, this is denying them childhood. As kids growing up in the sixties, we simply had to cycle beyond Mehdipatnam or Masab Tank (in days when there were a few buses and not many cars on the roads) to find large expanses of wilderness. There was simply no dearth of playgrounds--very often we had to choose between this place or that, where we could cut loose till the cows came home.

Cut to circa 2007 and what do we see--shrinking parks, shrivelled up lakes conveniently passed on to 'builders', and a bureacracy that has in sixty years of Independence only learnt to wink and nod.......

Oh beloved land--waah re watan-e-azeez!

SATY

The faster we run, the more we stay in the same spot

2007-04-23T12:20:00.000+05:30

Well, well....it does seem true--a blogroll of Hyderabadiz is something of a contradiction in terms--we're too laidback as a community to blog as much as we might want to. And if we choose to, our attempts are no different than our desperate efforts to negotiate Hyderabadi traffic--in tune with the chaos that adds up to life in this undefinably insane, 'paradise on earth'.

WYSIWYG: Hyderabadiz Flickr Badge is picked by 3 Bloggers
Thank you guys for going an extra mile

It's not always that blogs get noticed....we've been a shade lucky in that some of our 'virtual' friends have posted our flickr badge on their sites. We doff our hats in grateful acknowledgment to them.The truth is that life (virtual and real) at least elsewhere in the world, is whizzing by at breakneckspeed and things seem to be changing faster than the click of a mouse.

see also: 5 Reasons to Update Your Blog

Hyderabadiz 2.0.

Happy 2012 - Have Fun with Hyderabadi Melody of Pandit Vithal Rao

Glimpses of the Nizam’s Dominion – Cluade Campbell

Fake resumes; Hyderabad leads

Dirty soda fountains are sources of harmful germs - NGRI-CSIR

It's Pahelwans who call the shots in Old City

Mehfil-e-Hyderabad in Mississauga, Canada

Statues On Tank Bund Demolished

In a stunning act of vandalism, the "Million March" in Hyderabad resulted in Telangana activists demolishing the statues of Telugu icons on Tank Bund.

Mohammed Abdul Muqeet (alias Arif) Passes Away

Andhra seeks help for students stuck in US's Tri-Valley University

Sri Krishna panel gives six options on Telangana statehood - Siasat

Dr. Omar Khalidi - Noted scholar from city dies in US

Hyderabad in the Social Networking Sphere

Hyderabad Survey on Urdu newspaper readers Most readers buy their copy

State fixes uniform fee structure for post-graduate (PG) courses

Confusing tests stump drivers - SAB CHALTA HAI BHAI

In Hyderabadi auto there are no free rides or funny rides!!!

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Deccan.com

BASICALLY HYDERABADI @ The ICONART Gallery by Syed Rayees Ahmed

footloose: the essence of hyderabad

Hyderabadi Humour and Hyderabadi Slang - Revisited

The Passing of Patrimonialism: Politics and Political Culture in Hyderabad, 1911-1948; by Margrit Pernau

Hyderabadi Ramadan in Saudi Arabia

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: greaterhyderabad.com

Hyderabadi Social Networking Site of the Month: Hyderabad Masti

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Mahbubia Alumni Association

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: iluvhyderabad.com

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: hyderabadi.com

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: HyderabadRadio.com

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Hyderabadis.info

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: hyderabad.co.uk

Think Global, Eat Local: But, Where Is Genuine Hyderabadi Biryani

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Hyderabad House

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: reachouthyderabad.com

‘Hyderabad still brings a rush of emotions’- Hindustan Times

Hyderabadi Yahoo Updates

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: fullhyderabad.com

Roads in Banjara Hills are oddly numbered, not named

Charminar beautification project 'shelved'

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: BESTHYDERABAD.COM

Pingali Venkayya, Designer of the India's National Flag

Celebrating Diwali the Telugu way Round-the-world

Hyderabadi Website of the Month: Charminar Connection

Hyderabad goes global with Haleem-e-Khas

In The Bazaars of Hyderabad, Revisited

Pictures from Mirrors in Hyderabad -- Mirrors Salon and SPA

Mera Bharat Mahan - Food Map & Tour Map of India

Best Hyderabadiz Blog 2008: Shadruchulu

Best Hyderabadi Blog 2008 ---- Countdown Begins...

Best Hyderabadi Blog 2008 -- Your Vote Please

The World in Pictures -- Colors of Hyderabad

H for Hyderabad: Alphabetical Index of Hyderabad in Pictures

C for CHAR - MINAR

H for Hyderabad @

House buyers flock to Hyderabad

Theme Song composed by A R Rahman @ Hyderabad International Airport

Fun Aur Masti is another sequel of Hyderabadi Angrez

Hyderabad: Break traffic rule, be constable for a day

What Mysore can learn from Hyderabad...

Hyderabadi bakra is a sequel of Angrezy

Digital entertainment city in Hyderabad

An overview of various communities living in Hyderabad

Mr. Hyderabadi biryani eater

Chowmahalla set to regain grandeur

Iranians find home in Hyderabad

Halloween party in Hyderabad

Hyderabad on the web

Hard times and tall tales

Eid and Dasara

Vision of Hyderabad in The Technology Chronicles

Cricket fever in Hyderabad

The Hyderabadi diaspora!

countdown of another kind

Hyderabad breathes easy!

Hyderabad in the 60s

Hyderabad--another nightmare metropolis

Will Hyderabad ever get past square one?

Hyderabadiz--the best thing about Hyderabad!

HyderaBAD to worse

WYSIWYG: Hyderabadiz Flickr Badge is picked by 3 Bloggers
Thank you guys for going an extra mile