Monthly Archives: November 2013

Of mushairas and Urdu poetry in an era gone by

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

 While Hyderabad has transformed into an urban metropolis, mushairas and Urdu poetry have survived the test of time. Mohd. Ziauddin Ahmed Shakeb, historian and Urdu-Persian scholar, traces the history of Urdu poetry in Hyderabad

(Courtesans singing ghazals…)
(Courtesans singing ghazals…)

During Nizam’s time, Urdu had a very special position — it was spoken by everyone, everywhere. All sign boards, shops, post offices, hospitals, railway stations were written exclusively in Urdu. There were three main languages during the time — Telugu, Maharashtra and Kannada; and while Urdu was compulsory, education in a native language was allowed till high school.

Subsequently, Urdu poetry was a social phenomenon. Almost all the Nizams were great poets. And they used to have one poet laureate in their court. For instance, Nizam VI had Nawab Mirza Khan Daagh as his tutor in poetry. Daagh was brought up in the Red Fort under the last ruler, Bahadur Shah Zafar and had read out in mushairas (poetry symposiums) in front of Mirza Ghalib! He came to Hyderabad and stayed for several months, and at that time, there was great reception to his poetry. He was hoping that he would be invited by the Nizam, but he wasn’t. After three-to-four months, he left Hyderabad. That is when the Nizam’s order was issued that he should be brought back, and paid from the day he landed in Hyderabad! And so, Nawab Mirza Khan Daagh was given an audience, and subsequently, he was appointed as the Nizam’s tutor. The poet laureate’s salary shot up from 400 to 1,000!

While he represented Delhi School of Urdu, there was another major school, the Lucknowi School. The chief of the school, Amir Meenai, also came to Hyderabad, but soon was caught up with pneumonia and he passed away here. But he had a large number of scholars with him, and one of his students, Jaleel Manikpuri, was appointed as the Nizam VII’s tutor. And he would write beautiful poetry.

“Nigaah barq nahi, chehra aftaab nahi (her looks aren’t electricity, and her face is not the sun)
Wo admi hai magar dekhney ki taab nahi (She is just human, but no one has the courage to look at her)”

Since Urdu was a language understood by a majority, there was fantastic poetry written even by Hindu poets, in Urdu as well as Persian. One of the Prime Ministers of Hyderabad, Sir Maharaja Kishen Pershad, used to write in Persian and Urdu, and even have mushairas at his palace. And so it was that there were hundreds of Urdu poets in Hyderabad.

(As told to Apuurva Sridharan)

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Life & Style> Books> Language / TNN / by Apuurva Sridharan / November 12th, 2013

Japanese garden to come up at Jubilee Hills

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

GHMC to develop the theme park in 3,500 square yards

Adding to its list of different theme-based gardens in the city, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is readying a Japanese garden at Jubilee Hills.

Estimated to cost around Rs. 80 lakh and spread over 3,500 square yards at Road No.3, it incorporates the finer aspects of Japanese gardens such as stone benches, arch bridges, water plants and flora that go with the theme. The GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar visited the garden on Wednesday and instructed the officials to complete it in a month’s time.

The Additional Commissioner (Urban Biodiversity) N. Chandra Mohan Reddy said the garden was being dotted with features that usually are part of a garden in Japan such as Gazebo, stone benches, stone lanterns, stone bridges and designs prepared with small stone chips. “These gardens usually are not elaborate in nature, but come across as trimmed ones with trees that preferably have red-coloured leaves and are flowering,” he said. The Japanese garden is being set up with an all-round pathway set in granite stone and a small island in a pond which would be connected with a stone arched bridge. “We are planning to introduce five different coloured lilies in the pond,” Mr. Reddy said.

SOLAR LAMPS

A total of 12 solar lamps have been set up around the place. Authentic lanterns as used in Japanese gardens were scouted for and finally they are being acquired from Bangalore. Work is on to set up arch bridges carved out of single stone. “The theme for such gardens is usually informal and we are emulating the same to incorporate styles that are not in an order or in straight lines,” he added.

Apart from 49 major gardens in the city, the GHMC presently has 520 colony parks and 15 parks and gardens that are based on themes such as Palm Garden at Malakpet, Bamboo Garden and Bougainvillea Garden in Jubilee Hills.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 06th, 2013

On an island of birds, India’s Mars dream takes wing

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

Sriharikota :

Flocks of pelicans and painted storks laze around Pulicat lake, about 100km north of Chennai. Their peace would be disturbed six noons later, when a nation’s ambition for interplanetary exploration takes wing.

A few hundred metres from where the migratory birds spend their warm days, an extra large Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle would lift off at 2.38pm on Tuesday, carrying an indigenous spacecraft that would fly to Mars. The 300-day journey to the red planet would keep the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on tenterhooks – and the world in rapt attention.

“This is our first step towards another planet,” says Isro chairman K Radhakrishnan. “Learning from this mission, we will take bigger steps. Isro’s 16,000 members are working together for that.”

And that shows at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre which is a beehive of activity during the run-up to the countdown that starts at 6.08am Sunday. The 80 consoles at the mission control room flash details from 150 computers and the innumerable circuits and parameters they monitor. Giant screens show simulation of flight events, the rocket velocity and altitude. Fifty-eight hand-picked scientists remain glued to the screens that show the simulated PSLV as a climbing blip.

“It’s a rehearsal,” says V Seshagiri Rao, associate director of the spaceport. On the day of the launch, the blip would disappear from the screens for about 28 minutes. “That’s when the rocket, making a peculiar manoeuvre, would go out of the range of our radars here,” explains Rao. To track this face, Isro has, for the first time, deployed two ships fitted with radars in the South Pacific Ocean.

But right now, the 44.4-metre-tall PSLV-C25 stands on the first launch pad, 7km from the mission control room. “It’s a versatile rocket, the same we used for Chandrayaan-1,” says vehicle director B Jayakumar, showing around the launch pad. “It can put satellites in different kinds of orbits.”

This time it will, after burning four stages, put the Mars orbiter in an elliptical orbit around the earth, about 43 minutes after the lift-off. After five orbital corrections to lengthen the farthest point, the spacecraft will begin its voyage to Mars on December 1. “September 24, 2014 would be the D-Day,” explains Radhakrishnan. “That’s when the spacecraft would enter the Mars orbit.”

Going around the red planet in a highly elliptical path (365km being the nearest to Mars and 80,000km the farthest), the orbiter would sequentially switch on its five instruments to study the martian atmosphere and surface. Most crucial among the search operations would be those for deuterium and hydrogen to study possible early presence of water, and methane that may suggest biological presence on the planet.

The Isro chairman is proud, but measured when he speaks about the probability of success of the mission. “Orbiting around Mars itself is a challenge. It will be an achievement if we do it.”

Whether India’s Mars orbiter spots methane or water, the winged visitors of Pulicat lake will be frequently disturbed as Isro revs up for a series of satellite launches. The next big one: A GSLV with an Indian cryogenic engine on December 15.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Science> Sathish Dhawan Space Centre / by Arun Ram , TNN / October 31st, 2013

Now, get a stamp with your own photo

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Union minister of state for IT and communications Killi Kruparani (right) handing over a ‘My Stamp’ sheet to a woman at the foundation-laying for a post office at Kukatpally in Hyderabad on Sunday | Express Photo
Union minister of state for IT and communications Killi Kruparani (right) handing over a ‘My Stamp’ sheet to a woman at the foundation-laying for a post office at Kukatpally in Hyderabad on Sunday | Express Photo

The Andhra Pradesh postal circle is launching a unique initiative in which customers can create stamps using their own photographs. It gives one the option of converting personal photographs into legally valid postal stamps.

To be introduced in the first week of  April at the General Post Office (GPO), Hyderabad, the personalised stamps will have two detachable parts–the stamp value part and photograph part.

People can choose backgrounds like flowers, illustrations from Panchatantra tales, zodiac signs, wildlife, trains and airplanes or submit their own photographs and get 12 stamps of denomination `5 at a cost for `300. However, the photographs can be printed only on five-rupee stamps.

“This a unique philatelic product in which an individual can have his/her photograph on a postage stamp. AP circle is the third in the country to implement the scheme. The department hopes that it will receive good response from customers,” chief postmaster general of AP circle Karuna Pillai said.

The postal department wants to make it a success and improve its revenue. This scheme is expected to interest children and political leaders. The idea of “My Stamp” is altogether a new concept and it is sure to attract the yonger lot, Pillai said.

Officials said more than 20 designs of My Stamp have been approved by the postal directorate. They include zodiac signs, Taj Mahal, wildlife, train engine, Panchatantra and aircraft.

My Stamp is is a wonderful way to celebrate special occasions such as weddings and birth of a baby or to send greetings to loved ones and friends. The scheme is currently applicable to only individuals. Companies and business houses can’t use this facility now, they said.

Customers can either bring their photographs or a photographer will be arranged by the postal department. The customer can collect his My Stamp sheet within a day.

Customers have to produce ID-proof like voter card, ration card, Aadhaar cards or any other valid document. The scheme is being introduced initially at the GPO, Hyderabad.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by S Bachan Jeet Singh / ENS – Hyderabad / April 01st, 2013

University of Hyderabad gets 1st woman president

Education, Records, All

UnivofHydHF12nov2013

Hyderabad: 

Shirisha Vepoor, an integrated MA Economics student of the University of Hyderabad, made history by becoming the first-ever woman president from the SFI this year.  The elections were in news for being the first to have the Nota (None Of The Above) option.  Nota grabbed four per cent votes. The results were annou-nced on Thursday.

Apart from the SFI, an Independent, ABVP, NSUI and UDA were in the race. Shirisha was declared the president, Sandeep Kumar (MCA) the general secretary  and Aditya Harish (MSc)  the joint secretary. UDA’s Manikanta was declared the vice-president and ABVP’s Krishna and Swathi were declared sports and cultural secretaries. President Shirisha received 1197 votes, and vice president Manikanta received 1193.

Delighted with the results, Shirisha Veppor said, her priority will be on ensuring security, safety and better facilities for girls on the campus. “I am very happy about  my victory, it  is the victory of every SFI cadre who has worked for the welfare of the students.

The first thing on my agenda would be on urging  the administration to build more hostels for girls, as there is a dearth of hostels for them. We will also organize gender sensitization campaigns on the campus along with Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) to fight for the rights of women on the campus.

We will also not allow any fee hike to be imposed and ensure that there is no financial burden on students.”Adding, “One important factor is to keep a tab on the university land and make sure it is not given away to private bodies for non-academic purposes,” Shirisha said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / November 01st, 2013

IL&FS Engineering bags Rs 675 crore project

Business & Economy

Hyderabad :

Hyderabad-based infra player IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company Limited (IL&FS Engineering Services) on Friday said the company had received a letter of award (LoA) for Rs 675 crore for high rise buildings work in Mumbai.

“IL&FS Engineering Services had received a LoA from Neelkamal Realtor Tower Private Limited ( NRTPL) for construction of ‘Orchid Heights’, a high-rise residential project at Byculla in Mumbai,” the company informed the bourses on Friday.

The company said that the total value of shell and core portion of the contract is Rs 675 crore and was to be completed in 39 months from the date of commencement of work. However, the timeline for finishing and mechanical, electrical and plumbing ( MEP) work will be decided during the course of execution which will further enhance the contract value, the company added.

The Orchid Heights project is IL&FS Engineering Services’ first project in Mumbai.

“Being a very tall structure, the Orchid Heights project opens up the market for the company in this segment of high rise towers. The company now enters a select group of companies who execute such high rise buildings with modern and most sophisticated methods of system formworks and sophisticated machinery,” the company release said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Business> India Business / by  Swati Rathor, TNN / November 01st, 2013

India’s first aerospace park ready for take-off

Business & Economy, World Opinion

Investments worth Rs 1,500 cr committed for special eco zone

Hyderabad :

The country’s first aerospace SEZ is all set to take wings in Adhibatla on the outskirts of Hyderabad. About 20 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and a few big players have committed an investment to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

Located about 15 km from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, the facility will see action beginning on November 4.

At least half a dozen companies will begin work on the day, when the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Kiran Kumar Reddy, is expected to kickstart activity at a foundation laying function.

The Aerospace & Precision Engineering SEZ venture can provide direct employment of 10,000 and indirectly to another 18,000 in the next three years, as these manufacturing units, turn fully operational. The projected annual turnover is Rs 2,500 crore and exports to the tune of Rs 400 crore.

Among the SMEs that have taken land are Motion Dynamics, Gagan Aerospace, Aeroc Space Tech, Hemmair, Apollo Aerospace, DSR Tech, Lokesh Machine Tools, Gowra, Ratna Tools, Castall Tech, Compu Power, Rolon Seal, Revathy Industries etc., said M.M. Sreeram, Executive Director of Samuha Engineering Industries.

Samuha is a consortium of Aerospace Industries, which will anchor the development of the Aerospace Park. MTAR, SEC Industries, Ananth Technologies, Zetatek, Scarlet and SKM Technologies are the main promoters.

At present, the Tatas have made major investments in a couple of ventures in the area, including in the SEZ. In the joint venture with Sikorsky, it is manufacturing helicopter cabins. “The existence of a large number of SMEs with diverse expertise in Hyderabad has drawn the Tatas in a big way. Similarly, several other multinationals are showing keen interest,” Sreeram said.

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) has allocated 193 acres at Adhibatla. Of this, 100 acres will be for the SEZ for which the Corporation is a co-developer. The 93 acres in the domestic tariff area (DTA) has been allotted to Samuha as a lead developer and to allot land to other member units, explained Jayesh Ranjan, Managing Director of the Corporation.

The Aerospace SEZ will be developed in an integrated manner. Industries will share expertise and strengths in a symbiotic manner to meet big demands, especially that will emerge from the Defence offset policy and other strategic sectors, he told Business Line.

Thousands of crores of business is expected to flow to Indian industry as the offset makes it mandatory for winners of big Defence contracts to source at least 30 per cent of the value from domestic industry/institutes.

As part of its effort, Samuha will provide a common test facility, training centre and common marketing, HR, and procurement facilities, exhibition and guest facilities, labs said Sreeram. The equity of the shareholder units will be proportion to the land holding, he added.

Sreeram said Samuha is planning to replicate two more SEZs in the State and wanted a special task force to look into the potential of exploiting to opportunities emerging in the strategic sectors for SMEs.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Logisitcs / by M. Somasekhar  somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in / Hyderabad – November 01st, 2013

A tearful farewell to the ‘Sher Khan’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Union Minister Chiranjeevi and his son and actor Ram Charan Tej consoling Shanti, wife of deceased actor Sri Hari, at the latter's Jubilee Hills residence on Thursday.— Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu
Union Minister Chiranjeevi and his son and actor Ram Charan Tej consoling Shanti, wife of deceased actor Sri Hari, at the latter’s Jubilee Hills residence on Thursday.— Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu

Thousands of people bid adieu to this ‘Real’ Star and they included the rich and famous in the film industry and leaders of different political parties too.

What was striking though was the way women, children and men from the outskirts of the State capital and nearby districts thronged his residence to have a last glimpse of their hero.

It was near chaos at the residence of Srihari on Road No. 45, Jubilee Hills and the entire stretch was choked as people tried to gain entry.

A large posse of police was on duty and traffic was made one-way with people joining long queues to pay respects to the star who came up the hard way in a highly-competitive industry.

The goodwill that ‘Sher Khan’ of Magadheera fame had earned with just about 100 films was evident from the way people turned up all through the day. The mortal remains were laid to rest at the family farmhouse in Bachupally on the outskirts of Hyderabad, next to the place where Srihari and Shanthi’s only daughter, four month-old Akshara, lay.

What most people regretted was how an actor, who was a fitness freak, a martial arts enthusiast and gymnast, succumbed to a disease. A very few people actually knew that he was undergoing treatment for liver cancer for a while now. For about five years till 1984, this Hyderabadi from Balanagar worked out for six to eight hours a day and reached the final camp for the Asiad.

On Wednesday, he complained of giddiness while shooting in Mumbai for a Hindi film Rambo Rajkumar. The end came at Leelavati Hospital. He is survived by two sons and wife Shanthi, his co-star, between whom there was a six-year-long courtship before tying the knot.

As for his career, it began with Thirugubaata in 1986 and it was in 1999, after essaying several roles of villain, that he became a hero with Police and went on to showcase his diverse talent as hero, character artiste and in special roles. Interestingly, he was ‘Sher Khan’ even in Ramcharan Tej’s latest movieToofan in Hindi.

Srihari had the privilege of working in hits like Mutha Mestri and Bavagaaru Baagunnara with Chiranjeevi and delivering hits like Magadheera with the megastar’s son. Other films that showcased his diversity as an actor include Nuvvostaanante Nenoddantaana, Kubusam, Dhee and Sri Jagadguru Adisankaracharya.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – October 11th, 2013

Jaw-dropping Hyderabad

About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion

Hyderabad-PictureHF10nov2013

By Bader al Kiyumi –

Travelling is very worrisome to me. Before I set out for any trip I do maximum research and make plans well in advance. I make notes, search Google for every place of my destination, including restaurants, hotels, which have discounts, parks and other centres of attraction.
It is only once in a while it happens that I take an unprepared trip. It was one trip like this when I took off to Hyderabad, India last summer.

Hyderabad-Picture02HF10nov2013

Hyderabad is the capital of the southern Indian state of Andrah Pradesh and the fifth largest city in India which boasts of ancient civilization and culture.

The city has an ancient past and a unique culture; it is known for its natural beauty, mosques and minarets, bazaars and bridges, hills, lakes and monuments. What more can you expect from Hyderabad which is perched on the top of plateau 1,776 feet, above sea level, and spreads over an area of 100 square miles?

Hyderabad, a city nearly 400 years old, was founded on the Moosi River five miles east of Golconda, in 1591-92 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah.
Ever since, multitude of influences has shaped the character of the city. Hyderabad is truly a city of enchantment as many building have more than 50 floors, ancient style of houses and mosques, beautiful gardens with multi-colour flowers and streets have architectural value of their own. The regime of Hyderabad is known to be home to some of the wealthiest royals of the past. The elegant buildings, temples and monuments speak volumes about the regimes which once reigned there.
There are several places to see in Hyderabad one of them is Charminar. Built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the Charimar is beautiful even post 418 odd years. The four minarets with its delicate small arches (typical Mughal style architecture), looks very picturesque, and no wonder is the most identifiable structure of Hyderabad.
One unique aspect of the Charminar (out of the many), which caught my attention, was the lotus design on the ceiling. One can view it better, when one is on the first storey.
A visit to Hyderabad can never be complete, without having visited the Salar Jung Museum. Situated next to the Moosi River, Salar Jung is one of the largest museums in the country.

Hyderabad-Picture03HF10nov2013

The city is land of unity of diversity, the religions, languages, lifestyles, cultures, habits and geography different but still they live together. I came from Hyderabad with this image of men in black suits, cigarettes dangling from the corner of their mouth.

When I opened my room window, I saw women and children playing cricket between houses and on corridors.
On the streets, there are big crowds on bicycles, and people walking without a pin drop of space.
Although, there is a speed limit clamped on cars, people are seen driving at their own whims and will. Overtaking without proper signals and driving on incorrect tracks are common.
On the pedestrian paths, vendors were seen selling grilled fish, kabab and mushkak. Fish biriyani is one of the famous foods in Hyderabad. Early morning, I like to go to stand on a queue to buy a cup of fresh milk, which was tasty. Because I was foreigner most of the people there give respect to me and give me a chance to buy first.
For many of my friends, Hyderabad is synonym for biriyani, pearls, nizams, palaces and forts. Not necessarily in the order mentioned of course! If you are thinking you will require an extended period of time to savour all things Hyderabad, well I can personally assure you that we were able to appreciate quite a bit of the city even on our 3 day visit.
I was not expecting the landscapes that I saw, that drop the jaw. There were exotic flowers on the streets and other feasts for the eyes. Scenic beauty and deep blue lakes will linger on in my memory.
The pearl city has a beautiful coastline. It is distinguished by a refreshing sea breeze and it is frequented by people during early morning hours or evening. It is considered ideal for sunbathing and all forms of beach entertainment.

source: http://www.main.omanobserver.om / Oman Daily Observer / by Bader al Kiyani / Wednesday – October 31st, 2013

IAF puts Adilabad aerodrome to use

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technology
A farmer on his bullock cart among the locals watching an Indian Air Force chopper landing at the old aerodrome in Adilabad on Tuesday. / Photo: S. Harpal Singh / The Hindu
A farmer on his bullock cart among the locals watching an Indian Air Force chopper landing at the old aerodrome in Adilabad on Tuesday. / Photo: S. Harpal Singh / The Hindu

Built during the Nizam era, the airstrip served as a refuelling point for the fighter planes heading to the battle fronts until late1970s

The Indian Air Force (AIF) has begun putting the old aerodrome in the town to use like refuelling its Chetak helicopters those are used for training pilots. Four choppers belonging to the Hakimpet Helicopter Training Academy made brief halts at the airstrip located in the outskirts of the town on Tuesday to refuel the engines.

The move has raised hopes among the locals who expect more development activities at the airstrip which was laid in early 1930s during the Nizam era. The aerodrome was built apparently to be used as a refuelling point for the fighter aircrafts heading to battle fronts. Spread over 350 acres, the aerodrome has an airstrip running to about 1,000 metres.

After Independence, the airstrip came under the control of the IAF and it was used as a refuelling point until late 1970s after which it fell into disuse. In order to prevent the possible encroachments, the IAF secured the premises by erecting fence around the aerodrome in 1996. The IAF has started using the airfield since the past 10 days or so.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / TheHindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh  / by Special Correspondent / Adilabad – October 30th, 2013