Nawabi city through the eyes of a Hyderabadi

While anecdotes and lores about Hyderabad are in either Urdu or English, now a writer has brought out a collection of nuggets in Hindi titled Daastan-e-Hyderabad. Former principal of Anwar-ul-Uloom College Anand Raj Verma in Hyderabad on Sunday provided a comprehensive insight into Hyderabad in the local lingo.

The three-volume book is packed with not just the well-known matters but also some little-known things about Hyderabad and both its dark and bright alleys and the people who live in Mahals and also gutters of old city.

Anand Raj Verma, has taken pains to portray the history of this great city in a different way but has concentrated on how the nuggets of Hyderabad are carried by word of mouth, rather than in either writings in various languages. For this he has spoken at length with family members of the nobility to get stories which are only part of family lore. That’s what makes ‘Dastan-e-Hyderabad’ more appealing and readable.

For instance do you know that 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 book studded with poetry makes an interesting read. The first volume is all about the Qutub Shahi era, the second deals with the Asaf Jahi rule and the third titled ‘Anjuman’ recounts details about the families which played an important role during the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Not just the history, the book tries to capture the social milieu, the cultural, archaeological and literary scene of the times.

Verma writes about the generous donations made for public causes by the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, his tactful handling of disputes arising between Hindus and Muslims and the land row between Sikhs and Muslims at Nanded Gurudwara to show his charitable and just nature.

“I have tried to present the historic as also the popular folklore connected with events,” says the versatile writer who’s earlier book on Hyderabad localities in Hindi created a stir.