Anand Raj Varma, former AP Jaiswal Sabha President and former Principal of Anwar Ul Uloom writes Itihas Ke Jharoke Mein.
Anand Raj Varma chronicles the history of Hyderabad right from Qutub Shahi kings down to the last Nizam
Throw a stone and it is likely to fall on some monument or the other. That's true of Hyderabad, the city of domes and minarets. The same can be said about the books written on the historic city. Every aspect of the nawabi shaher has been written about in vivid detail by a string of authors both in English and Urdu.
If there is a glaring void, it is Hindi. Strangely, there is no monumental work done in the ‘Rashtriya bhasha', although some books have been written. Hindi lovers take heart – a comprehensive book will soon be out in the official language. A son of the soil, Anand Raj Varma, has taken the initiative to fill this long felt need.
A former principal of Anwar-ul-Uloom College, Dr. Varma has chronicled the history of Hyderabad right from the Qutub Shahi kings down to the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Not just history - the social, literary, cultural and administrative aspects of the erstwhile rulers have been meticulously captured by Dr. Varma in his forthcoming book –Hyderabad - Itihas Ke Jharoke Mein.
The book draws on the 166-odd articles written by Dr. Varma on the Hyderabad of yesteryears. “It is my humble contribution to the city of my birth,” says the 75-year-old writer who calls himself a ‘soldier of Urdu'.
What makes Dr. Varma's book unique is the large collection of anecdotes and little known things pertaining to the Nizams. This he has been able to gather after interacting with the old Hyderabadis and family members of the former rulers.
Sample this for instance: it was winter and the last Nizam gives Rs. 16 to his servant to get him a blanket. The latter comes back after sometime and says the blanket costs Rs. 18. The Nizam raises his eyebrows in surprise and says he would rather make do with the old rug. Shortly thereafter the Imam of a mosque walks in with a request for money to repair the masjid courtyard.
“How much will it cost”, the Nizam asks. The man hesitatingly replies ‘Sarkar, char lakh. 'To his surprise the Nizam hands him Rs. 16 lakh asking the Imam to repair the entire mosque and not just the courtyard.
“This shows that the Nizam was not a miser as he is made out to be. Only he did not want to spend on himself”, points out Dr. Varma.
There are many such interesting titbits in the book. It also includes the Hyderabadi cuisine and which dish was popular with whom. There are also a good collection of typical Deccani adages. Take this one for instance:
Kahan Nizam Ali, Kahan pyaz ki dali (Comparative phrase for comparing the mighty with the lowly)
Or the more hilarious: Halki dosti sang nakko paon mein juti tung nakko (An all too casual friendship is like an ill-fitting shoe)
Anand Raj Varma chronicles the history of Hyderabad right from Qutub Shahi kings down to the last Nizam
Throw a stone and it is likely to fall on some monument or the other. That's true of Hyderabad, the city of domes and minarets. The same can be said about the books written on the historic city. Every aspect of the nawabi shaher has been written about in vivid detail by a string of authors both in English and Urdu.
If there is a glaring void, it is Hindi. Strangely, there is no monumental work done in the ‘Rashtriya bhasha', although some books have been written. Hindi lovers take heart – a comprehensive book will soon be out in the official language. A son of the soil, Anand Raj Varma, has taken the initiative to fill this long felt need.
A former principal of Anwar-ul-Uloom College, Dr. Varma has chronicled the history of Hyderabad right from the Qutub Shahi kings down to the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Not just history - the social, literary, cultural and administrative aspects of the erstwhile rulers have been meticulously captured by Dr. Varma in his forthcoming book –Hyderabad - Itihas Ke Jharoke Mein.
The book draws on the 166-odd articles written by Dr. Varma on the Hyderabad of yesteryears. “It is my humble contribution to the city of my birth,” says the 75-year-old writer who calls himself a ‘soldier of Urdu'.
What makes Dr. Varma's book unique is the large collection of anecdotes and little known things pertaining to the Nizams. This he has been able to gather after interacting with the old Hyderabadis and family members of the former rulers.
Sample this for instance: it was winter and the last Nizam gives Rs. 16 to his servant to get him a blanket. The latter comes back after sometime and says the blanket costs Rs. 18. The Nizam raises his eyebrows in surprise and says he would rather make do with the old rug. Shortly thereafter the Imam of a mosque walks in with a request for money to repair the masjid courtyard.
“How much will it cost”, the Nizam asks. The man hesitatingly replies ‘Sarkar, char lakh. 'To his surprise the Nizam hands him Rs. 16 lakh asking the Imam to repair the entire mosque and not just the courtyard.
“This shows that the Nizam was not a miser as he is made out to be. Only he did not want to spend on himself”, points out Dr. Varma.
There are many such interesting titbits in the book. It also includes the Hyderabadi cuisine and which dish was popular with whom. There are also a good collection of typical Deccani adages. Take this one for instance:
Kahan Nizam Ali, Kahan pyaz ki dali (Comparative phrase for comparing the mighty with the lowly)
Or the more hilarious: Halki dosti sang nakko paon mein juti tung nakko (An all too casual friendship is like an ill-fitting shoe)
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