Sunday, November 29, 2009
Dr. Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy PERSONAL SKETCH
Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is acclaimed - both by the National and the International figures that ever visited the State- as the best blend of an able administrator and the most loved leader of the masses. A family man to the core, Dr.YSR, rates the spirit of togetherness as the greatest cementing agent of Indian familial and social life.
Back ground
Dr. Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy hails from Pulivendula, a small town in Kadapa district of the backward Rayala Seema region. He comes from a family which stood for the cause of the downtrodden masses for generations daring the wrath of feudal lords of Kadapa district. His father Late Shree Y.S.Raja Reddy was known for his daredevilish temperament and mercurial
dynamism as a leader of the forlorn masses. Dr.YSR inherited these qualities from his father to emerge as a darling of the deprived in our State. Shree Y.S.Vivekananda Reddy, younger brother of Dr.YSR, also his “Man Friday”, got elected as a Samithi President, twice as MLA, twice as Member of Parliament from Kadapa Loksabha constituency who forms the main source of strength for Dr. YSR in and around the District.
Legacy
Second son of Sri Raja Reddy, YSR - born on Eighth of July 1949 - was a natural heir to his father’s legacy. His father had always been a source of inspiration for YSR since his childhood. It was none other than Sri Raja Reddy who led YSR into active politics. If YSR had any role model in his earlier days it was his father. His brutal murder in 1998 inflicted a deep injury and left a dark scar on YSR’s heart. Graduated in medical science from M.R. College of Gulbarga, Dr. YSR practised medicine for sometime in the District. The hospital his father built for him at Pulivendula is still running. The YS family has also built and ran a degree college and a Polytechnic College at Pulivendula, for a few years which was later
handed over to the Loyola Group of Educational Instituitions.Another junior college at Simhadripuram, a small town in the vicinity of Pulivendula, is being run by YS family.
Disciplinarian
YSR, a disciplinarian to the core, gets up in the early hours and prepares himself for the grueling long day stretching for 16-17 hours. A health and hygiene conscious person he is, YSR is very particular about physical culture, yoga and meditation. A weightifter in his student days, his strong conviction is “A sound soul in a sound body”. YSR keeps on to his appointments on the dot while he never spared any one for complacence in this regard. Not many people know that YSR is keenly interested in reading fiction in English. He has a particular liking for light-reading material. He complains to his friends against his being deprived of the pleasure of reading. But, everything has its place in the disciplinarian’s world.
Family
YSR is married to Smt. Vijayalakshmi in 1971 and is blessed with a son and a daughter. A proud-dad he is, YSR enjoys the company of his grand children to the brim- needless to mention here that he rarely finds any time to spare for his family members. His busy schedule hardly allows him to steal a few moments for his family. YSR’s son emerged a successful entrepreneur to the utmost pleasure of his father. Son Jagan Mohana Reddy, daughter Sharmila, and their children enjoy a very special place in YSR’s world.
YSR Profile
POLITICAL GRAPH
Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is acclaimed, both by the National and the International figures that ever visited the State, as the best blend of an able administrator and the most loved leader of the masses. A go-getter to the core, Dr. YSR is known for his unflinching grit, steadfast determination and never wavering boldness in translating his vision into reality.
A PERFECT BALANCE
Having a clear vision is something and striving to make it a veracity is yet anotherthing. Dr. YSR has both the things in him. His policies of accentuated significance of agriculture on one side and making a provision for appropriate importance for the industrial sector on the other, stand as a proof of these two things in him. While allocating Lion’s share of the State’s funds for the Irrigation sector. Dr. YSR also endeavored his best to rope in the key industrial activity by offering a number of bounties to investors.
By doing so Dr. YSR could successfully relieve the State reeling under the economic drought situation caused by the earlier regime in the name of a disinvestment process. This posture alone speaks volumes of his way of getting things done. For the last two years, as CM of Andhra Pradesh,Dr. YSR has been successfully pushing forth the priorities of multi pronged economic strategy with a thrust on rural sector. Free power to the mute millions of the State - comprising almost 80 per cent of the State’s population - that have been surviving on agriculture, testifes his commitment to his own promises. The greatest achievement of Dr. YSR, that any biographer to come could never miss to highlight, is providing a human angle to the heartless mechanism of the state. The confidence his government could induce into the marrows of the farming community makes every Telugu man proud. Today, if the Congress rule in A.P. is known as ‘The Farmers’ regime’ all over the world, it is but for this very reason. Another feather on Dr.YSR’s cap is winning the hearts of the hardcore advocates against the Free Power Supply to the favour of farmers of our State by presenting before them an invincible brief. The Prime Minister of India Dr.Manmohan Singh recently showered the choicest encomiums on Dr. YSR, the Chief Minister, for his “balanced approach toward the development of industry and agriculture in the State”. It stands doubly relevant here as Dr. Singh happens to be an internationally renowned Economist too. It is everyone’s knowledge that such a stance is rather mandatory and imperative for the accelerated growth of a dynamic and kicking economy like ours. Planners in India and abroad were at tandem in acknowledging Dr.YSR’s “exceptional discretion as a policy maker” in contributing his best for the healthy growth of the key and vital sectors of our economy; namely the Agriculture and the Industry.
A RAITHU BIDDA
Agriculture forms the core of Dr.YSR’s world of thinking. Although a Physician by profession,Dr.YSR is basically a son of the soil; a RAITHU BIDDA in its true sense. Hailing from a drought hit region - the Rayala Seema - he knows the real value of every drop of water. This is the very reason for his taking up the cause of farmers as a young legislator. He has always been in the forefront of leading several struggles for irrigation projects. After essaying the role of a policy maker Dr.YSR has been translating his dream of providing water for the thirsty fields into a reality.In pursuing his wish of transforming our state into a greener one - the dream of a HARITHANDHRAPRADESH - Dr.YSR allocated in the first Two years of his rule a sum of Rs.16000 Crore for building irrigation projects. Providing Houses for the homeless is yet another area which occupies a crucial importance in Dr.YSR’s priorities. He allocated morethan 500 crores of Rupees for this sector alone.
Basing on his personal interaction with the old and the aged people of the rural areas during the Prajaprasthanam Padayatra,Dr.YSR enhanced Old age pensions for the needy. This is a rare stance found in the age of political consumerism where the leaders bury their past experience as soon as they get elected to plum positions. Distributing Government lands admeasuring morethan 300000 acres to landless poor is another welfare measure that stands as a sound proof of the humane face of Dr.YSR’s Ministry. A conscientious congressman, Dr.YSR has won the accolades from his friends and foes alike as a warm blooded and cool-headed man of masses. Honesty is not a virtue that was cultivated by him for years; it is rather his second nature. The way in which Dr. YSR stood loyal to his election manifesto stands as a testimony for this statement. Of late Dr. YSR, the fresh ‘Role Model’ in demand, evolved himself into national proportions if not international.
Dr. YSR is into active politics since a quarter of a century and has been representing his party on
different fora. He was elected to Loksabha from Kadapa constituency for four times and got elected to A.P. Assembly for four times from Pulivendula constituency. Dr.YSR, the legislator, fought many a battle on the floor of Assembly and outsmarted his rivals on every account. His Five year stint as the leader of the opposition in the State’s Assembly has brought out the best of his oratorical art and arguementative skills. He remains one of those very few politicians around who never lost an election. Dr. YSR’s role as an MLA in getting Tungabhadra water for Pulivendula Branch Canal (PBC) and fighting for projects like RTPP (Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant) at Muddanur, and Proddatur Milk Foods and its ancilaries, Milk chilling plants at various locations in always remembered.
As the president of PCC for twice, Dr. YSR rendered yeomen services to the party in regaining the faith and trust of the masses. This in turn made him the most acceptable leader of the people from every corner of the State.
As the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy stands as an example for
the down-to-earth administrative capacities while efficiently serving the interests of the people at large.
THE PROMISE
“Tell me what you did yester day, I’ll tell what you would be doing tomorrow”, said a wiseman of
the West. If one goes thro’ the eventful track record of Dr.YSR, it won’t be of any difficulty for him to assess the brighter future waiting on the wings of time. Dr.YSR, the Chief Minister, continues to provide the very same “Pint of confidence”, that he relayed during his PRAJAPRASTHANAM PADA YATRA to the losing hearts of the farming community. This promise is taking definit shape in the 30 irrigation projects under construction in different parts of the State. All the irrigation sources in the State hitherto were able to provide water for an extent of Seven Million acres only, while the 26+4 irrigation projects initiated by Dr.YSR’s Ministry will be providing water for another Seven Millions of acres. This single fact stands as an evidence to the bright future to be unfurled by Dr.YSR, the CHIEF MINISTER with a difference.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
About All India Congress Committee
The history of the Indian National Congress is also known as the history of the Indian freedom struggle.
The Indian National Congress was established on the 28 th of December 1885. Its first President was Womesh Chandra Banerji and the Congress first met in Mumbai. Leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendra Nath Banerji, Madan Mohan Malviya and many others helped lay a strong foundation for the party. Therefore it can be said that Congress is the first largest Democratic Party. Since its inception the party has been the platform for leaders to serve their motherland and also served as an inspiration to thousands during the freedom struggle and it is because of the great sacrifices made by these selfless leaders that India is today free from being a colony. One can rightly say that the history of the Indian National Congress is not only the history of the Indian Freedom struggle but also the history of India’s development as a nation on the whole.
Chandrababu Naidu in new Avatar
Source: Eenadu
In the meeting, he spoke passionately about the route map, his desire to serve poor and to give Telugu Desam a different look. He wants to introduce reforms in the party organisation by including young leaders. Chandrababu declared 40% of seats to young leaders in the 2009 assembly elections. If he will stand on his talk, we will be going to see 1983 TDP and new Chandrababu Naidu.
Are we going to see a socialist Babu in place of capitalist?
Highlights from the Silver Jubilee meeting:
1. Chandrababu Naidu speech.
2. Devender Goud speech on caste system.
3. Nannapaneni Rajakumari comments on peace and Rajasekhar Reddy’s rule.
4. Exhibition on NTR and Telugudesam Party.
5. Graphical speech of NT Ramarao prepared by Muralimohan.
Minus Points in the meeting:
1. Absence of NTR family members.
2. Too many leaders on the stage.
Immediate actions required to revive Telugu Desam:
1. Include more youth leaders into party organisation.
2. Imbibe communist (fighting spirit) culture into party cadre.
3. Chandrababu should meet party activists as frequently as possible.
Motto behind the formation of the Flag:
People of the Andhra treats the yellow color as holy in nature. So N.T.Ramarao [N.T.R], the founder president of the party, wished to have that color to the party flag.
The hut in the flag is the symbol that stands for the poor.
The wheel in the flag is the symbol for the workers.
The plough is for the farmers.
He wished to express that his party stands to serve for these three groups of the people who form a major chunk in the society.
2. CYCLE: Party symbol of the Telugu Desam party.
When Alluru formed as new election constituency in the Nellore district, Sri Bezawada Papireddy contested as MLA and won the election in 1967 as an independent candidate against the congress candidate. His election symbol was the ‘Bicycle’. Later Papireddy joined the Telugudesam party.
One day N.T.R. was holding party meeting with the workers to discuss about the election symbol for the party. Papireddy suggested the cycle as the symbol of the party. First of all N.T.R did not show much interest, but after a while he announced that he is going to request the election commission to allot the ‘Bicycle’ as the election symbol of his party.
In the ensuing 1983 assembly elections, this announcement made everybody into astonishment. Thus the bicycle has become election symbol of the Telugudesam party officially.
Slogans of the Telugudesam party during 1983 elections:
1. 1 Kg of rice for two rupees only
2. preserving the self respect of the Telugu people (Andhra Pride).
3. No dominance of Delhi politics over Andhras.
4. Politics should be pure and corruption free.
5. We should not live at the charity of others.
NT Ramarao won in the 1983 assembly elections and sworn in as chief minister on 9th January, 1983.
About TDP Party
Telugu Desam Party (Party for Telugu Land and people) or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N.T. Rama Rao on March 29, 1982. Rama Rao wanted an alternative to the ruling Congress Party in the state. After establishing his party, he embraced Sanyasa (or renunciation) and vowed to dedicate himself to the Telugu people and to rejuvenate Telugu pride.
In the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004), it was the fourth largest party with 29 members.
NTR's Time:
Rama Rao toured Andhra extensively in what was called Chaitanya Ratham (literally - a Chariot which spreads energy), his "election vehicle", and made use of the immense popularity of his on-screen movie image to win the next election. The party was voted to power in a record nine months after its establishment. TDP also won more than 35 (out of 42) Lok Sabha seats in the 1984 Indian elections. This made TDP the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha as Congress won more than 400 (out of about 500) seats in that election.
The TDP was voted out of power in the state in 1988. During his first tenure, Rama Rao introduced many populist measures like selling a kilogram of rice for Rs.2.
Between 1988 and 1994, N.T. Rama Rao gave up his sanyasa and married a part-time journalist and student of political history, Lakshmi Parvati. In this period he also played a significant role in national politics by pledging support to the then prime Ministers V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar (who formed coalition governments in the absence of absolute majority for their respective parties).
TDP returned to power in 1994. Rama Rao was elected to be the Chief Minister for the second time. But his governing cabinet and his family suffered from what many political observers saw, as "unconstitutional interference in affairs" by his new wife. In 1995, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, finance minister and the son-in-law of NTR (who is married to NTR's daughter through his first wife) overthrew Rama Rao's government by gathering a majority of the MLAs. The overwhelming consensus against his party led the Election Commission to recognize a break-away faction under the party's original name. NTR, the founder of the party, had to rename what was left of the party as "NTR TDP". He vowed to go to the people, seeking a fresh mandate after this humiliation. However, within a year, he died of natural causes.
Naidu's Time:
After the demise of N.T. Rama Rao in 1996, his widow split the minority party again in the face of other opponents who were claiming to inherit his legacy. However, the infighting, fragmentation and the lack of a charismatic leader, led them to political oblivion in the subsequent elections. Chandrababu Naidu remained the leader of the majority faction, now recognised as the official Telugu Desam. Naidu has expressed a goal of establishing Hyderabad and the state as a center for information technology. He wants to make Andhra Pradesh what he calls Swarnaandhra Pradesh (literally Golden Andhra Pradesh). Naidu was the longest serving chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Naidu's Time:
After the demise of N.T. Rama Rao in 1996, his widow split the minority party again in the face of other opponents who were claiming to inherit his legacy. However, the infighting, fragmentation and the lack of a charismatic leader, led them to political oblivion in the subsequent elections. Chandrababu Naidu remained the leader of the majority faction, now recognised as the official Telugu Desam. Naidu has expressed a goal of establishing Hyderabad and the state as a center for information technology. He wants to make Andhra Pradesh what he calls Swarnaandhra Pradesh (literally Golden Andhra Pradesh). Naidu was the longest serving chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Naidu's Time:
After the demise of N.T. Rama Rao in 1996, his widow split the minority party again in the face of other opponents who were claiming to inherit his legacy. However, the infighting, fragmentation and the lack of a charismatic leader, led them to political oblivion in the subsequent elections. Chandrababu Naidu remained the leader of the majority faction, now recognised as the official Telugu Desam. Naidu has expressed a goal of establishing Hyderabad and the state as a center for information technology. He wants to make Andhra Pradesh what he calls Swarnaandhra Pradesh (literally Golden Andhra Pradesh). Naidu was the longest serving chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
History of Street Names in Hyderabad and Secunderabad
The street names of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have a history and an architectural individuality of their own, which lend them the fragrance of romance. The history, here, like elsewhere, is etched on its walls and monuments, the deluge of heritage, which India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described as the `Microcosm of Indian culture'.
Another peculiarity of these names, unlike the names of places in any other city, is the addition of suffixes such as gudas, bads, baghs, kuntas, metlas, nagars and pallys.
The city which has an incredible and diverse culture draws many names form the legends as well as the unsung heroes of yesteryears. One scratch at these street names and out comes about 400 years history of this great shahar. Starting from 1497 AD till date, this place of Qutb Shahis, Asaf Jahis, Moghuls, and the Nizams has had its share of glory and gory. The names listed here have been painstakingly compiled from many sources, pieces of historical information, memory of bujurgs and from the modest effort of this author.
Hyderabad, the present name of our city was once called as Bhagnagar which stands for `city of gardens'. There appears to have been a number of gardens in and around the city of Hyderabad, such as Bashir Bagh, Amin Bagh, Bir Ban Bagh, Hardikar Bagh, Bagh Lingampally and Jam Bagh etc. Hence it was called as Bhagnagar. But, according to `Mahanama', compiled by Ghulam Hussian Khan Jauhar around 1810 AD, the city of Bhagnagar was named after the lady Bhagirati, who was the queen of Ibrahim Qutb Shah, who married her during his exile at Vijayanagar. Bhagirathi, as narrated in Mahanama, had purchased seven villages and laid the foundation of the city of Bhagnagar. Hence, the city was named after Bhagirathi, the mother of Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, who decreed that his capital city should be `a replica of heaven on earth'.
Some of the Telugu contemporary works have different story to offer. Poet Sarangu Rammayya named the city as Bhagyanagaramu or Bhagyanagara of Bhagirathi Pattanam (city of good fortune)... There is one more theory that suggests that Sultan Quli Qutb Shah, the son of Ibrahim Qutb Shah and the founder of the city, named it after his beloved Bhagmati. However, one thing remains certain, whether he named it after his lover or mother, local inhabitants popularly used to call it Bhagnagar.. And continued to call it so till the end of 17th century.
Later, probably it changed to Hyderabad, after the name of Hazarat Ali, a well known Shia Imam. Yet another name in circulation around that time was Farkhunda Buniyad, which meant `the city of good fortune', the literal Persian translation of the earlier Bhagnagar. And the same was also found inscribed on the Asaf Jahi coins. While local people called it Bhagnagar, Khafi Khan a writer in 1687 informed that the city was re-named as Hyderabad only after the death of Bhagmati. Persians called it Aiderabad and Muslim nobility named it Hyderabad.
Secunderabad, part of twin city, was formerly known as Lashkar to many old generation people in the city. Lashkar meaning 'cantonment' was renamed as Secunderabad after Sikander Jah Bahadur Nizam III in 1806. Secunderabad was also called the Residency Bazaar at the end of the 19th century. It was also developed to house British soldiers. In the early decade of the 19th century, the East India Company had declared Secunderabad as an important military base and a trading centre. Secunderabad is the abode for Secunderabad Railway Station, Head Quarters for South Central Railways, Parade Grounds and many churches. Kings Way, now known as Rashtrapathi Road (laid out in 1936 to relieve congestion), James Street (only existing thoroughfare before 1936 AD), now called the Mahatma Gandhi Road are part of this great locality.
Charminar, synonymous of Hyderabad, is the edifice of the four minarets. The awesome rectangular structure built upon four grand arches by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in1590-91 is the legendary masterpiece in the city. Because of this historical monument Char (means four) minar (means minaret) the area around it gets its name from this great landmark.Originally it was called Mankal. Mohammed Shah Bahmani of Gulbarga named the fort Mohamadnagar. Golconda, one of the most impressive fortresses in ruins in India, is probably 2000 years old. It was a picturesque city with big gardens, broad thoroughfares and shops. That was the reason why the famous historian Farishta observed Golconda as an International marketplace where merchants converged from Turkestan, Arabia and Persia. Two of the world renowned diamonds the Koh-i-noor (weighed 787 carats, now 106 carats, it was valued at one million sterling at that time, is now found its place in the Imperial Regalia of British) and the so called Nizam's Diamond, both trace their origin to this place.
Sitting smack in the centre of the city is Abids also called Abid Road. It is one of the busiest business localities in the city and undisputedly the heart of the twin cities today. Bustling with activity, it is quite simply the major shopping mall in the twin cities. St George's Church, the 130 years old church and one of the oldest in the twin cities was built in a land donated by the Nizam in appreciation of the services of European community settled in the city in 1860's during the tenure of the Resident, Sir George Yule. Built upon the patronage of the families of domiciled Europeans in the city, it accommodates 500 people.
With major establishments becoming important landmarks like Haji Kurban Husain @ Sons, Chermas, Big Shot, the famous Taj Mahal Hotel, Deccan Pen Stores, General Post of the Nightingale of India, Sarojini Naidu, it accommodates a part of the Hyderabad Central University. Owned by Sarojini Naidu's husband Dr. Muthyala Govind Rajulu Naidu, who after completing his higher studies in London took a commission in the Nizam's Army as Major. The adjoining building which presently houses the Mysore Cafe was his clinic. Even the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, during one of his visits to the city, stayed here. The building was later donated by Sarojini Naidu's heirs, for the establishment of the Central University), it is the hub of business activity as well as a place to visit. Around the early 19th century, a modern shopping centre was developed in this place. The origin of this street name is quite interesting.
Abid was the name of the owner of the first shop, Albert Abid, Valet and Steward, a Jewish merchant in the area. He was also a in charge to Nizam IV. Hence the place is so called. According to another version, Abids derives its name from the first departmental store of Hyderabad, owned by Abid Evans. Such was the popularity of this shop that the whole place comprising business centres got this name. However, the old, particularly hailing from the Old City, still refer to it as Abid Shop and Abid Ki Shop. Before getting christened as Abid Road, the place was known as Mustafa Bazaar. Mahboob Ali Pasha, the sixth Nizam, on a visit to Calcutta met Abid Evans, an American Jewish businessman. Impressed by him, he had brought Mr. Abid to Hyderabad in a royal train. Abid set up a departmental store off the main intersection in a building which is presently known as Palace Talkies. Soon, the departmental store, offering all and sundry merchandise caught the imagination of the Hyderabadis and was turned into a major shopping centre, Not only the Abid Store, but the whole place was dotted with shops. Later, the main market was shifted from the vicinity of Charminar to Abids.
F D Khan's, which is one of the clothes stores at Abids, had weathered the test of time to remain in the reckoning. Popular for its uniform dress material, F D Khan's is synonymous with quality. The shop was also the official supplier for the staff of the palace during the days of the Nizam. During the World War-II, when rationing on clothing material was imposed, F D Khan's was appointed as official agents..
On Sundays and other holidays, book lovers drop in here from all parts of the city to get a good pick at bargain prices. In front of the closed shutters of shops lay heaps of books, periodicals, magazines and novels which attract people of all ages. Hence it is also called as Abids Book Bazaar. A treasure for the connoisseur of books!
Near Abids is Gunfoundry or Tope ka sancha which was built by a French General – Monsieur Raymond. The entire lane opposite to Mahboobia Girls School is known as Gunfoundry. It was one of the several cannon and cannonball factories set up in 1786. So the locality is called Gundoundry. The locality houses headquarters of famous State Bank of Hyderabad, inaugurated on April 5, 1942 by Nawab Sir Aqeel Jung Bahadur, the then Member of Commerce and Industries, Nizam's Executive Council, it was known as Hyderabad State Bank, which later changed to State Bank of Hyderabad, which brought name and fame to the city.
A couple of kilometers away from Gunfoundry is Saifabad, the abode of the State Government Secretariat, the Legislative Assembly (A blend of Indo-Sarcenic architecture, this completed its construction in 1913 to mark the 40th birthday of Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan in 1905. One of the most amazing features about this monument is that it had costed only Rs. 19 lakh. The Public Gardens where it is housed, one of the As largest city gardens in India, was thrown open to public in 1864 AD. The site for the Public Gardens was acquired by the Nizam's Government in 1864 from Raja Balakrishna on the advice of Salar Jung I. Nizam VII used to be bestowed with Nazarana (tributes in cash and kind) on his birthday. Iron Bungalow, the oldest building in the Public Gardens, is adjacent to a very beautiful mosque, where the late Nizam used to offer his Jumme ka Namaz (Friday prayers). Before the opening of the Nehru Zoological Park, the Zoo was located inside the Public Gardens and it was here that the first Industrial Exhibition was held in 1939 and which even today is an important annual feature. The adjacent hill is called as Naubat Pahad. It takes its name from Naubat (drum), beaten vigorously to announce the royal Farmans (orders) during the Qutb Shahi and Mughal days.
Overlooking Gunfoundry, this is an epitome of a culture that is progressive yet steeped in religion. The pahad is also known as Drum Beat Rock. Adjoining the Hussain Sagar Lake, the office of our elected representatives – the Secretariat formed the residence of Nizam VII. Once a palace, it was built by Zafar-ud-Doula Saif Jung, the Peshkar or Deputy of the Nizam VII. Hence the place came to be known after him..
Intruding into Saifabad is Basheerbagh, the commercial nerve centre, the locality famous for Nizam College (110 years old, one of the most coveted and prestigious colleges of the twin cities, was established in 1887. Dr. Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, father of Sarojini Naidu was its founder Principal. The present building, a summer palace of Nawab Mulk Fakrul Bahadur, was a gift from him to the college). Feteh Maidan, a saucer shaped play ground, the field of victory, is also referred to as Lal Bhadur Stadium in present times. This is where Aurangazeb pitched his first camp on his victorious campaign against Golconda. In fact he is the one who coined the name Fateh meaning victory, after his triumph over Qutub Shah. From 1853 onwards Hyderabad's rulers reviewed military parades or played polo here. Now it is the venue of cricket matches and political rallies. (It has a seating capacity of 30,00 people), lady Hyder Club – the testimony to the pivotal roleplayed by women in Hyderabadi society then.
Gandhi Medical College, Mor Medical Hall (The pharmacy store where the rarest of the rare medicines are always available. If a particular medicine is not available in this store, means it won't be available in any other shop in the city) and rooftop of the city – Babukhan Estate (this 17 storied glass colossal is known for its neat maintenance and houses 699 offices plus the modest office of the author, Solus Media!). Basheerbagh acquired the name after Sir Asman Jah Bashir-Uddoula Bahadur, a Paigah noble, a proud owner of a garden located there.
The present site where Nizam College is located was earlier called Asad Bagh which meant Lions Garden. It was also known as Moti Bagh, the garden of Jasmine, and even today the main college building wears its pristine look with the crest of Unicorn.
Within close proximity to Basheerbagh is Hyderaguda, which houses MLAs (Old MLA quarters), Apollo Diagnostic Centre, CDR Hospital and a horde of schools. The name Hyderguda originated after Hyder Ali, the Taluqdar collector who owned the land, formerly owned by Waheeda Unnisa Begum, wife of Nizam V.
A little ahead of Hyderguda is Himayatnagar which was baptized after Prince of Berar and the eldest son of Nizam VI – Nawab Himayat Ali Khan. This street is famous for Hyderabad Stock Exchange, Telugu Academy, Dr. P. Shiva Reddy's Eye Hospital (the famous Ophthalmologic surgeon, who has Guinness Book of Record and Limca Book of Record to his credit).
Couple of kilometers from Himayatnagar is Bagh Lingampally, known for LIG, MIG, HIG quarters and Ambedkar College, Sundaraiah Park, Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram and library. The old people in the locality inform that the area used to be full of fruit garden belonging to the Nawab, that is why the prefix `Bagh'. The place was a small village called Lingampally which had a tank where queens used to have their bath.
population exploded, city grew vertically and horizontally. The greenery vanished over a period of time and concrete structures replaced them. The migrants started occupying every inch of available place. The people lived on the bank (kunta) of a big tank or lake. So the place was called as Nallakunta.
Like Lingampally village there was one more village called Chikkadpally. The present Musheerabad, known as Central Jail, was formerly a part of Chikkadpally village, presently nerve centre of shopping and cultural activity (Tyagaraja Gana Sabha is situated in this locality). Musheerabad was a part of the jagir presented by Nizam II to Nawab Arastu Jah Mushir-Ul-Mulk, who constructed a palace and a garden in 1785 and named them after himself. Azamabad, the oldest industrial area in the city (whereas the other industrial clusters such as Balanagar, Sanathnagar, Kukatpally are quite recent) is located near to this place.
A locality that came up around the Residency (Kothi) is Chaderghat, one of the principal suburbs of the city. The locality was so-called after an anicut across the river which formed a `Chaddar' or a `sheet of water'. Chaderghat bridge or Oliphant bridge was built by Col. Oliphant during the reign of Nizam Nasir-ud-Daulah. It was mainly a European/Eurasian colony dominated by European style of architecture, including the Christian churches and missionary schools.
Close to the southern bank of the Musi, off the highway to Vijayawada is the 100 years old Malakpet Race Course. It has been regarded as one of the finest race courses in the country. Named after Malik Yakoot, loyal servant of Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shahi, the first races were held here way back in the winter of 1879. The Nizam VI and his nobles were frequent visitors to this place. With a swimming pool for racing horses, a training school for jockeys, it is the most modern race course in India.
Further down is Saidabad named after Syed Mir Mommin, the Prime Minister of Golconda in 1591. A few kilometers away from it is Saroornagar – the land that was granted to Suroor Afza Bai, the wife of Hyderabad Prime Minister – Nawab Arastu Jah Bahadur. He built a palace, a tank and called it Suroornagar, which means a `city of happiness'. The intitial `Suroor' over generations became Saroor, thus you have Saroornagar.
Barkas is yet another rich colony situated south of Hyderabad of Arabic speaking businessmen. With fruit vendors, gulf money and mosques, this area full of thick forest in the beginning of 17th century is today flushed with dinars, dirhams. Most of the residents in the locality have pucca RCC buildings, electronic household gadgets and other phirang appliances. During 1724-1948, it became a focal point for the Nizam's
The area around the Ashoor Khana became famous as Hussain Alam. Raza Ali Khan, the Dewan of Hyderabad in 1670 was given the title Nekh-Nam-Khan. After his death, a village named Nekh-Nam-Khampally has now become famous as Nampally..
Moazzam Jahi Market, one of the largest markets of retail trade in fresh fruits and vegetables till recently, was named after Nawab Jah Bahadur, the son of Mir Osman Ali Kham Nizam VII and the President of the City Improvement Board. The market building which completed its construction in 1935 was inaugurated by Mir Osman Ali Khan Nizam VII. The other big wholesale market for vegetables is Mir Alam Mundi, which was christened after Nawab Mir Alam, Prime Minister of Sikander Jah Bahadur Nizam III.
The city of Hyderabad has a number of bazaars and mohallas. The biggest mohalla Dabeerpura is called after Abdul Sannad Dabirio-UI-Mlk, a scholar and noble man. Begum Bazaar famous for wholesale grain and other business was the piece of land gifted to public to conduct trade by Humala Begum, wife of Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur. So it is called Begum Bazaar. Every Thursday there used to be a special market called `Jumme Raat Ki Bazaar', a tradition that is continued even today.
A lot of markets mushroomed around Begum Bazaar like Moazzam Jahi, Siddi Amber, etc.. Area near the British residency was called as `Residency Bazaar' but after 1933, the land was restored to Nizam VII, who named it as Sultan Bazaar. Nizam V donated some land to the grain merchants to store and sell their grains. This area came to be known as Afzalgunj.
Siddiamber Bazaar is called after Siddis -the Afro-Arabs who sold amber or perfumes. They also served as cooks and palanquin bearers. Noor Khan Bazaar was called so after Noor Khan, the ablest administrator in the country who on the request of the Nizam II came to Hyderabad from Lucknow. There was a knight, who was honoured by a land grant by Nizam I, for his role in suppressing a revolt. The place came to be called after him, Ghansitmian Bazaar. Esamia Bazaar is named after a British loyalist Inidan Esamaiah, who stayed near the area. Over a period of time Esamaiah Bazaar had gradually become Esamia Bazaar, Hotel Haridwar situated in this locality is synonymous to the name of its place.
Troop Bazaar was a market place for a British regiment after 1857 attack. It is a corrupted form of Troop Bazaar. Chappal Bazaar, near Kothi, is a word derived from Telugu chapal or fish. The fish caught from river musi was sold here. There is one bazaar in Hyderabad, which no visitor can ever miss. That is Lad Bazaar. Historians have various versions about it. One version records that the doors in this bazaar were painted in a shade of red. Another says that it is a corrupted version of `Lary' from Abdur Razzack Lary, the General, who valiantly defended Golconda on the eve of Moghul invasion. Hence it is so called as Lad Bazaar. The bazaar is famous for its bangles and bridal ware.
Somajiguda with the spacious Raj Bhavan is named after a pandit called Sonaji, employed in the Revenue Department, who resided in this area. Slowly, Sonaji became Somaji. Khairatabad, the thickly populated area is named after Princess Kahiratunnisa, daughter of Sultan Ibrahim Qutub Shah. The area which is on south western shore of Hussian Sagar was chosen as a location to construct the residence of the Princess who was not keeping good health. The ruler in the fond hope that the greenery and climate of the lake shore would restore the normal health of the Princess and asked his son-in-law, Hazrat Hussian Shah Wali, an eminent engineer to construct a residential palace, a mosque and a tank which is now called after him as Hussain Sagar (or the Tank Bund) as it is commonly called was built on a tributary of the Musi during the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1562.
After the Nizam captured Golconda in 1724 from the Moghuls he camped near the fort in a village, which was renamed Asifnagar. Abdul Hassan Tana Sha on one of his visits to his Prime Minister's house, was attracted to a landscape and its proximity to Mir Jumla .
Pathergutti is so named because the entire area was made of granite stone. Lallaguda, also known as `Little England' (like a street – Little India in Singapore, where there is concentration of Indian settlers) with majority Catholics living there was fortified village development by Thaniat Unnisa Begum alias Bibi Sahaba, favourite queen of Nizam II. He constructed a palace and a garden near Moula Ali, under the supervision of Lalla, one of the best architects of Hyderabad. Originally called Tahniat Nagar or Bibinagar, it came to be called Lallaguda after her death.
Then there are places named after communities like Banjara Hills, Baider Wadi, Bhaldar Wadi, Brahmin Wadi, Kumhar Wadi, Mehtar Wadi and Chakna Wadi (is derived from a dish prepared from the intestines of sheep). Gowliguda is named after the gowlis or milkmen. AC guards or African Cavalry guards, mainly comprised of Abyssinians, Somalis and European Officers and were a gift to Nizam VI from Raja of Wanaparthy. They formed the Nizam's guards on State occasions. They established a camp around 1910, to the West of Lakdi-Ka-Pul and the area got christened as AC Guards.
Banjara Hills was once the rugged home of a gypsy tribe from distant Rajasthan who left home to follow the fortunes of warring armies, performing daring deeds that they sing about even today around campfires. One sees them occasionally in Hyderabad, the women gorgeously attired in bright flashy skirts, silver glints at throat, ear and nose, and heavy ivory bracelets click on golden brown hands. Thus the place surrounded by fascinating rock formations called as Banjara Hills.
Lakdi-ka-pul - there is no authentic information on how the area derived its name. However, according to a popular legend, a bridge with wooden poles (lakdi) was built across an old pond and so it was named Lakdi-ka-pul. Despite the construction of a concrete bridge and the lake vanishing, the name still continues to be in use. Lakdi-ka-pul comprises towering structures and a cluster of hotels and presents a picture of chaos and confusion. It is major centre for commercial and cultural activities.
Masab Tank, is a distorted version of Maa-Sahaba Tank. Maa-Sahaba was a title endowed on Hayat Bakshi Begum, wife futub hahi VI. The `Talab' or tank was built by Khanum Agha, Qutub Shah V's mother, but it become famous after his wife as `Talab-e-Maa- Sahaba'. The upgraded `Maa Sahaba Talab' got anglicized to Masab Tank.
The royal families also lent their names to various streets. Begumpet owes its name to Bashir-Ul-Unnisa Begum, daughter of Nizam II, who married a Paigah noble and received the land as part of dowry. Kulsumpura near Karvan was so called after Kulsum Begum, the daughter of Muhammad Qutub Shah.
Purana Pul or Old Bridge is the most famous of the four bridges of Hyderabad. It was built in 1578 by Sultan Ibrahim Qutub Shah, the king of Golconda. Tavernier, the celebrated French Jeweller, traveller and historian, wrote of this `bridge of love' when he visited Hyderabad in 1676: "At Bhagyanagar you cross the river over a bridge no less beautiful than the Pont Neuf at Paris".
Tarnaka, is derived from `Tar' which means `wire' and `Naka' meaning `guard room'. It was thus called because the Nizam barbed the area and put up a guard room to protect his fruit gardens in the area. Though the tar and naka have disappeared, the boundary still exists in the form of Osmania University Campus. Tarnaka once a fruit garden has now turned into the cradle of intellectuals pursuits with a number of research institutions like CCMB, NIN etc.
Thus Hyderabad, with its twin city Secunderabad, presents a fine picture of Muslim and Hindu cultural coexistence and the convergence of the past and the present, as well as the coming together of north and south India in its population, monuments, modern buildings, bazaars and way of life.
Long live Hyderabad !!!!!!!!!!!