Zahyr Siddiqi, architect/urban planner
Hyderabad: With the advent of sarkari writers on the horizon which so often has become a fashion to criticize Hyderabad’s past multicultural societies and to be heard among the corridors of powers, and to leach on the many baits they throw for personal benefits and solaces which is a very unfortunate commentary.
It is my contention that the amount of development during the Kakatiya Golkonda period transcending thru Qutub Shahi and Asifjahi Hyderabad can be judged by its architectural evolutionary characteristic. The sequential architectures identify the three dynasties by the quality of peace prevailed and enjoyed by the subjects during those periods were astounding. The architectures are the only true scales to judge any society which also epitomize its peaceful governance.
The great architectures always are built under the peaceful patronage and coexistence of the societies it serves. There are no short cuts for the great Hyderabad’s architectures also, as the sarkari writers so often despicably enjoy writing contrary stories either to serve their masters or own egocentricities. With due regards to the author of ‘The Lost Hyderabad’ in Charminar Connection Newsletter 466 May 22, 2019, California. I can only say, he tried his best to portray Hyderabad through his angle picked up from YouTube, including some appreciative historical and numerical facts, including anomalies with hidden diatribes. The narrative nearly bordering the sarkari writers’ discourse.
It looks very odd to read too much of divisional theories in that CC 446 write-up percolated through the communal ratios of the Hyderabad state demography. Looking back the medieval and historical Hyderabad’s existentialism nothing of the divisional theories ever existed. Rather it was all peace and togetherness as a Hyderabadi nation irrespective to caste creed and religiosities. Stretching from the Kakatiyas thru Qutub Shahi to the Asifjahi dynasties in the Hyderabad’s region of the Deccan peninsula. The transformation of the Golkonda region transcended gradually under the Kaktiyas rulers through many of their hierarchies to the time of Qutub Shahi dynasties. It was very common during those days to shift the capital base from region to region for security sake and market-town necessities. When the Golkonda fort region came under the Qutub Shahi rule, it was redeveloped progressively including the diamond mining and human resources until it reaches the stage of moving to a newly laid out Hyderabad city on the banks of the river Musi. By that time Hyderabad’s influences out-reach outside of the Deccan peninsula and across the seas.
The Qutub Shahi rule also saw the preservation and conservation aspects for the Kakatiya holy relics and artifacts so reverend by the majority subjects becoming the national assets which continued through Asifjahis as well. Never any historical edifice or relics was destroyed or renamed during the Qutub Shahi or AsifJah’s rules, rather newer buildings were initiated keeping the thought process of yesterday, today and tomorrow alive for the future generations.
In all probability Hyderabad’s Asifjahi’s rule can be pierce thru as the offshoots of the bygone Moghul empire, which the British tried to erase it away from the map of the Indian subcontinent. However, the Asifjah’s stood their ground to reestablish their capital authorities in the Qutub Shahi city of Hyderabad after studying all the geo-political aspects especially deflecting the British EastIndia company’s hegemonies. For certain period, the left-over city of Qutub Shahi Hyderabad was in wilderness after the Moghul conquest of the Golconda.
The Moghul’s Deccan Asifjah subedari was administrating the regional control from the strong Daulatbad fort as its base. However, due to the constant East-India Co and Marathas bickering, the Asifjah rulers declared themselves independent but found Daulatabad fort short of capital requirements and shifted their strategic base to Hyderabad. The city of Hyderabad was found favorable with secured geography, moderate climate, balanced flora and fauna with abundance of water bodies around. That was the second birth for the natural city of Hyderabad back to the civilization.
As the Asifjahs were part of the Moghuls from far of places and across India, their first reforms were to cultivate a system of trust among the majority subjects who were mostly nomads and to train them to the rule of law and citizenry. By this way the human resource development saw scores of majority subjects joining the state bureaucracies, army and other bodies. To keep the spirit of moderatism, Asifjah’s invited outside experts and specialist as well for the sake of unity and diversity in the masses for the quality progress. Likely that was the master stroke of the Asifjahs for making Hyderabad the center of cultural togetherness irrespective to caste creed and religiosity for which makes each Hyderabadi feels very proud.
There were no communal riots or danga-fasaad (so common nowadays) and the socio-cultural bodies used to resolve every issue no matter how trivial or serous they were. Post Qutub Shahi period, the Hyderabad State initiated the nation building programs including human resources and infrastructural development. Hyderabad enjoyed its full independence under the Asif Jahi dynasty befitting a free country with all the modern services like monetary system of currency, railways, airlines, postal, broadcasting and press, judiciary, police and security apparatuses, army, legislation system, educational reforms with world class Osmania University, and diplomatic contacts with the foreign powers including the British etc. Since the Hyderabad was a landlocked country surrounded by many of its hostile neighbors, it was inevitable but to befriend the biggest power which was the British. The Hyderabad made many policy deals with the British and the other smaller powers for the peaceful coexistence and security balance. The deals with the British was very special because thru which the overseas transportation of goods and to counterweight the prying neighboring regions. In most of the time their deals were fruitions allowing the state to concentrate in the national building system and to serve its subject with all peace and security.
This Asifjah’s system of positive deals with all the powers that be was given a wrong meaning by the sarkari writers or cohorts to identify Hyderabad as a sort of lackey of the British is a sarcasm and dishonesty towards Hyderabad history.
Hyderabad state was independent and even provided its army and equipment including all the funds the British may require fighting the two WWs’ at the country’s borders. Protecting the British was also the Hyderabad’s policy interest. The British also knighted Nizam VII OAK to thank for his services as an ally of the British Empire. The Hyderabad House a gem of a project in New Delhi was the embassy of the Hyderabad State Nizam Govt. Its architectural grandeur reflects the real influence the Nizam Govt used to hold over the British Empire. Good many years back, in one of my discourse with a top-ranking former officer of Hyderabad CID, world famous for its investigation and training methods, the narratives were that many a times Hyd CID rejected high level Residence candidates not passing the strictest govt approval criteria. Even many officiating British officers were shown the doors for their anti national and unsocial activities. Such news never came out in public, that there was no corruption when it comes to the national security. During the twilight stage of the Asifjahi Nizam VII era, the state currency was in transition from hali to kaldaar then to naya paisa, the cultured Hyderabadi crowd remain steadfast to maintain its maturity to welcome and become part of the new Indian democratic republic.
If ‘you cannot win them then join them’. Coincidently our age group children in early 50’s, also saw a pleasant change of its own from Montessori/KG of ‘Rosary Convent School’ to ‘All Saints High School’ primary section. Never ever we come across any communal feelings towards our fellow compatriots. It was all fun during our school going era to college studies later to advance studies. Hyderabad’s societies, the elite or otherwise were very progressive minded social groups of deen dunya mindset.
Traditional and western fashions was among the most encouraged and practiced activities by all. The Temple ringing, Church bells, Masjid gathering, Gurdwaras sermons, Parsies prayers etc were very common features in as many neighborhoods throughout the years. It was very common to see people sharing gifts and sweets among themselves during their respective feast and festivals.
And now that we hear and read news of danga fasaad by communal political outfits and writers who spares no efforts to make citizens fight fellow citizens and undermine democratic institutions and their progress around the country.
In most of the dreadful instances happened due to the wrong interpretation or writing of the history for the young masses who are on threshold towards better prosperity. It may not be too hard a request for the sarkary writers also to use their narratives to polarize the good side of the Hyderabad’s history of togetherness to give a message of national integrity of peace and coexistence. I am sure the TS leaders will appreciate the value of the message for eternal peace and prosperity in the state hereafter.
A very high-ranking Hyderabad loving IAS officer and historian Dr VK Bawa once said ‘Musa naddi ka paani mujhae bhi pukka Hyderabadi banadiyaa’. This was the very common narrative of all those who moved to Hyderabad permanently for its peace and cultural tranquilities. I had the good fortune of working with Dr Bawa towards conceptualization and preparation of the first Hyderabad city ‘Master Plan’ after the Nizam VII era. Dr Bawa led from the front towards its implementations, although many tried maybe they could not inject their love of the Hyderabadi culture into their efforts. Long live Hyderabad and its cultural ethos.