Mosque of the Moors and Granada Glory in Hyderabad's Jama Masjid Iqbal-ul-Dowla at Begumpet

Memoirs of Syed Ali Arif: Jama Masjid Iqbal-ud-Dowla

Although am not biased at judging against a Masjid to another but this particular one has to be mentioned. The Spanish Mosque (Jama Masjid Iqbal-ud-Dowla) on the Paradise-Old Begumpet Airport Road, and very close to my house in Hyderabad, is a striking mosque with unique plan elevation; it was built by Sir Vikhar-ul-Umra Iqbal-ud-Dowla, the Paigah noble, in 1906.

It is believed to be the only one of its kind in India, with pointed arches, a pointed main roof composed of two truncated octagonal pyramids placed one above the other intervened by octagonal domes. The minarets aesthetically placed at corners of the parapet are in the same style, very unusual from those seen in other mosques in the city and elsewhere. And it is difficult to miss them as you climb on (from Paradise side) to the flyover opposite the Airport.

A lot of debate has been done for its semblance to the architectural look and feel of a church!

Note: See more images of the Masjid @ Google Images

On the same shelf:

• The Hindu : Mosque of the Moors by K. VENKATESHWARLU
• The Hindu: Granada Glory, Hugh and Colleen Gantzer
• Masjid Iqbal-ud-dowla, Hyderabad-Deccan, AP ... - Google Map

All in all, they’re auto rajas, Deccan Chronicle

Extract:

"Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t ignore them. To some, they are the bane of society, the scourge of pedestrians and traffic, and the reason why early morning tempers on the road are at an all-time high. To others, they are loyal friends, willing listeners to guide them around the city, and often a source of solace right in the nick of time." continue Reading Deccan Chronicle Aug 21, 2013

On the same shelf:

• Hail This Auto / An autorickshaw with Wi-fi facility. Open Media Network -- An autorickshaw driver in Chennai who offers Wi-Fi facility to his passengers ~ by Gunjeet Sra -- info courtesy: Mohammed Ayub Ali Khan 
• Counter Culture on the Menu
• WiFi @ Mysore Railway Station
• Wi-fi Buses @ Bangalore

Gujarati's in Hyderabad

Info courtesy: Mohammed Ayub Ali Khan
"The story of an old Gujarati family's prosperity in Hyderabad."

On the same shelf:

An overview of various communities living in Hyderabad

The Sikh community
The Parsi community
Malayalees in Hyderabad
News from the Vysya Community

Multicultural Celebrations Around the New Year by Desiz -- We dedicate this post to recognize the Gujarati's in Hyderabad.

Gujaratis in Hyderabad - Blog

Gujarati Restaurants in hyderabad

TELANGANA ZINDABAD: The past and the future of the India's 29th state -- Media monitoring

Post updated Aug 21, 2013

Quo Vadis, Hyderabad? Whatever happens, the Dakhni in their souls will unite the people of this city, by BAKHTIAR K. DADABHOY Outlook India

Analysis: Decoding India's Telangana Conundrum, By Mayurika Reddy / Hyderabad, |INDIA NEWS NETWORK

Mohammed Ayub Ali Khan, The meaning and evolution of the word Telangana

The meaning and origin of the word ‘Telangana’ is subjected to much scholarly dispute. However, there is near consensus that the term (Telangana) was first used by Muslim chronicles of late 14th century. We find the particular use of the term only after the emergence of the powerful prime minister Khan-e-Jahan Malik Maqbul Telangani. Earlier, we find the use of several variations of the term. As Prof. Raychaudhuri writes. “Students are apt to be bewildered not only by the use of alternative names Adnhras and Trilinga but also by the numerous variants of the expressions Trilinga itself.”

Truth vs Hype: Telangana Inc. - The Battle for Hyderabad NDTV

The battle for Telangana has become a battle for Hyderabad. Those demanding a separate state say they want to end the dominance of the contractor - politicians from the rest of Andhra Pradesh who have made crores from India's cyber city, and control the politics of the state.
But given the high stakes involved, there is concern that leaders of the new Telangana are less worried about social justice to a deprived region, and more with getting their share of boomtown Hyderabad.

"The 65-year-old dream has finally become a reality and Telangana is all set to be 29th state of India. The ruling Congress reluctantly agrees to create a new state of Telangana by dividing India's 4th largest state Andhra Pradesh. After years of uncertainty and political maneuvering, Telangana is just a few steps closer to reality." CNN-IBN Jul 30, 2013

Changing states: An animated political map of the Republic of India, Soumyadip Choudhury, IBNLive.com

Hyderabad joint capital as AP to be split into Telangana, Seemandhra Pallavi, Preeti Singh, CNN-IBN

Telangana: The past and the future, D P Satish, CNN-IBN

Telangana: Protests over new state in southern India, BBC

Telangana effect: 5 new States that may come into being, NitiCentral‎

Another film on Telangana - Bollywood Movie News - IndiaGlitz.com - M Sreedhar is directing and producing a film titled ' Telangana Zindabad'

Anantpur burns as Telangana granted statehood - Tv9 (tv9telugu) - YouTube

Muslim politicians of AP welcome Telangana but with skepticism, TwoCircles.net

MIM will work for minorities in AP and Telangana: Asaduddin Owaisi, Deccan Chronicle

Telangana Decision And After – Analysis, Eurasia Review

In Telangana Decision, a Microcosm of India's Geopolitical Challenge | Stratfor

Telangani's Tomb in Nizamuddin Basti is India's first octagonal Tomb. Sadly, it is badly encroached #ForbiddenHeritage pic.twitter.com/SwqdoGCa

"Khan Jahan Telangani" @ Sacred seven The Hindu -- How come the people of Telingana forgot one of the regions prominent sons Khan-e-Jahan Telangani (formerly known as Yugandhar and a minister of Prataparudra), Mohammed Ayub Ali Khan.

A Guide to the Heritage of Hyderabad - Yet another book

Extract from the Publisher's site:

A Guide to the Heritage of Hyderabad, by Madhu Vottery (published 2010)

A Guide to the Heritage of Hyderabad: The Natural and the Built is a comprehensive account of the relationship between the history of Hyderabad and its heritage, explaining the significance, value and architecture behind the heritage structures of the city. Including maps and sketches, this book captures Hyderabad in all its splendour and beauty.
Immensely helpful for students, academics and tourists, A Guide to the Heritage of Hyderabad is a wonderful introduction to the grandeur of a historic city.
Publisher: Rupa Publications, Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

About the author:
Madhu Vottery was born in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. She studied architecture at the Government College of Architecture, Lucknow, and architectural conservation at SPA, Delhi. She briefly worked with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage in Bangalore. A practicing architect, she is also involved in documenting the historic structures of Hyderabad.

On the same shelf:

On the heritage trail, The New Indian Express -- Arts College of Osmania University, Hyderabad

The Heritage of the Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Hyderabad by M.A. Nayeem

Aziz Bagh: The Heritage of Culture, Zaheer Ahmed

The Deodis of Hyderabad a Lost Heritage, Rani Sarma

Scent in the Islamic Garden: A Study of Deccani Urdu Literary Sources by Ali Akbar Husain

American Library Re-opens as 'American Corner' in Hyderabad

American Library (located at Panchsheel Hotel, Behind Ravindra Bharathi) in Hyderabad was closed, in 1960s.  And in 2013 it re-opens at St Francis College for Women, Street Number 6, Uma Nagar, Begumpet  Hyderabad.

What's in a Name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. They called it American Corner, instead of US's Information Center (or USIS), and American Information Centre (AIC) or American Library. Is it simply old wine in a new bottle, or meant to satisfy a new dimension? Will this 'American Corner' succeed in bypassing the American Center--huge library and its resources at the former American Studies Research Centre, now functioning as: Osmania University Centre for International Programmes? Only time can give an answer. See also the link below (on the same shelf).
Anyways, they say, elsewhere what is the name all about:

"We call these libraries “American Corners,” a name chosen for them in Russia where the first such partnerships emerged in the spring of 2000." source: usembassy.gov.  American Corners are dedicated information spaces hosted by different partner institutions in libraries with public access worldwide. These partnerships help introduce visitors to the true story of the United States. By providing a multifunctional platform for public diplomacy programs and offering access to print, multimedia, and other materials. The American Corners help maintain open dialogue, counteract negative preconceptions, and build bridges of understanding. They represent the nation's long-standing commitment to spread the ideas and values of American democracy and civil society.   source: usembassy.gov

 In the news:

Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the US Department of State Wendy Sherman and US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell today unveiled 'American Corner', seventh in India, at St Francis College for Women in Hyderabad.

It would be a collaboration between the US consulate and the college.

American Corners are dedicated information spaces hosted in schools, colleges, libraries, etc. that help introduce visitors to different aspects of the USA.
"The opening of this new American Corner reinforces what people of India and the United State are already doing - bringing our two countries closer together," Sherman said.

Powell said the American Corner will provide a window on life and culture in the USA.-- Press Trust of India | Updated: May 25, 2013

On the same shelf:

 Here today, more tomorrow, Rrishi Raote  |  

November 22, 2013 business-standard.com

American Studies in India: Cross-Dressing, Anyone? Helle Dale, The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation

Indian contribution to American studies : an assessment by Muhammed Burhanuddin, Mohamed Taher.

The South Asian Americans, by Karen Leonard

How to Be South Asian in America, anupama jain

THE GREAT ENCOUNTER, R K Gupta