A book on Hyderabad in Hyderabadi lingo

Former principal of Anwar-ul-Uloom College Anand Raj Verma has brought out a three-volume book that is a collection of Hyderabadi tales, which are more common in Urdu and English, for the benefit of Hindi readers. The author provides a comprehensive insight into the city in the local lingo with his book ‘Daastan-e-Hyderabad’.

Verma has taken pains to portray the history of the city in a different way but has concentrated on how the nuggets of Hyderabad are carried by word of mouth, rather than in writings in various languages. The writer spoke at length with family members of the various nobilities to get stories that are only part of family lore.

“Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, popularly known as Salarjung III, had a dalliance with a Hindu lady? The dalliance, however, didn’t end in marriage since there was opposition from his family members,” the writer shares. The book is studded with poetry. While the first volume deals with the Qutb Shahi era, the second deals with the Asaf Jahi rule and the third titled ‘Anjuman’ recounts details about families that played an important role during the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

The author also outlines the details of the generous donations made by the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, for public causes, his tactful handling of disputes arising between Hindus and Muslims and the land row between Sikhs and Muslims at Nanded Gurudwara.