Category Archives: Historical Links, Pre-Independence

I make sure to cook for the entire family on Eid: Aditi Rao Hydari

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

It is that time of the year when the smell of biryani, korma and seviyan fills the air.

“If I am in Hyderabad during Eid, I make sure to cook for the entire family living in the city,” says Aditi Rao Hydari, who traces her ancestry to two royal families of Hyderabad–namely Muhammed Saleh Akbar Hydari and J Rameshwar Rao of erstwhile Raja of Wanaparthy family.

Who: Aditi Rao Hydari
What: On Eid, Acting, Fitness

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The actress who grew up in a multi-cultural environment talks about Eid in Hyderabad, acting and why dancing is a passion.

Hyderabad Hues
Be it any festival, we as a family celebrate it. We all meet and join in the revelry. As for Eid, there is a stream of guests and relatives at our home. As kids, we would receive money and gifts as ‘eidi’. Now, I give eidi to the young ones in the family. At home, we cook delicacies like sheer kurma, biryani, haleem, salli boti and the special Hyderabadi biryani. Recently I visited the the streets of Mumbai during Ramzan. I enjoyed the nalli nihari (mutton dish), chicken and mutton kebabs and firni. Thankfully, I have an appetite of a sparrow. So it doesn’t show on my figure.

In the orbit of fame
Since childhood, I was told that I would be an actress because of my good looks. Though I would pretend not to understand, it was a secret desire that i would grow up to be one. The fact that I was a good singer and dancer helped fuel my ambition. I had started learning Bharatanatyam since I was six and became a disciple of Leela Samson. My dream came true when I made a debut in a Malayalam film opposite the legendary Mammootty. In 2007, I played the role of devadasi in a Tamil film. I got that film when the director of the film Sharada Ramanathan saw me perform at a conference. After that things started falling in place. Movies like Delhi 6, Yeh Saali Zindagi, London Paris New York and Murder 3 came my way.

Dancing and friends
I keep myself fit by dancing and practising yoga. By God’s grace, I have a high metabolism level which keeps my weight in check. When I am not shooting, I spend time with my family and friends. I don’t have many friends in the industry, my friends are from my childhood days.

Bollywood’s warm welcome
I am an outsider in Bollywood with no connections whatsoever. But the industry accepted me with open arms. It is one’s talent that is recognised here. I feeI truly blessed to be the part of the industry. An actor’s most valuable asset are his/her fans. I believe in satisfying them with my performances. It’s their love and appreciation that I yearn for as an actor.

source: http://www.mid-day.com / Mid-Day / Home> Entertainment / by Nilesh Rao /Mumbai – August 09th, 2013

Kursura submarine museum turns 11

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence
Picture for representational purposes only.
Picture for representational purposes only.
Visakhapatnam: 
Kursura Submarine Museum, one of the significant landmarks in the tourism circuit in Visakhapatnam and located on the Beach Road, will be celebrating its 11th anniversary on Friday.
The first of its kind in the whole south Asia, the INS Kursura Submarine is a Soviet built-I-641 class submarine and was inducted into the Indian Navy on Dec 18, 1969, and the same was decommissioned on Feb 27, 2001 after 31 years of glorious service to the nation.
During her ferocious and victorious service, the submarine traversed 73,500 nautical miles participating in almost all types of naval operations.
She played a vital role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. She was the pioneer submarine extending goodwill and harmony through her visits and flag-showing missions to other nations.
The submarine is the fourth among the first generation submarines inducted in to the Indian Navy.
After decommissioning from services, the complete submarine, including the weapon package was hauled-up from sea to land and positioned on a concrete foundation at Ramakrishna Beach Road.
For setting-up the Submarine Museum, Rs 6 crore was spent in technical association with Naval-ship Design and Research Center.
The length of submarine is 91.3 meters, while the breadth is 8 mts. Kursura submarine Museum is the only Submarine Museum in India.
The Indian Navy is proposing to add another submarine museum by setting up the INS Vela, the first among the second generation submarine decommissioned on Jan. 25, 2010, between Chennai and Mamallapuram in Tamilnadu.
The state government issued GO Ms. No. 88 in 2002 ordering transfer of the entire submarine museum with the surrounding areas developed for the museum, including the food courts and open areas to Vuda for the up-keep and maintenance and throw it open to the public for display and entertainment.
The Kursura Submarine Museum was dedicated to the nation on Aug. 9, 2002 by the then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / Visakhapatnam – August 09th, 2013

Hyderabad to add another chapter to its history

About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Hyderabad is all set to add another chapter to its 422-year-old history by becoming the joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for 10 years.

Located in the heart of Telangana, the city will also serve as the capital of Andhra Pradesh, the name which the non-Telangana region called Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra) is likely to retain.

Under the formula worked out by Congress, Hyderabad will serve as joint capital for 10 years and during this period, Andhra Pradesh will build its own capital.

Hyderabad does not share a contiguous boundary with Seemandhra or future Andhra Pradesh. Anybody coming from that state will cover a distance of at least 200 km to reach the capital.

Though Chandigarh is a joint capital of Haryana and Punjab, it shares boundaries with both the states. When news states were carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, they built their own capitals.

However, it was not easy for the central government to ask Seemandhra to immediately give up Hyderabad, a city in whose development over the last 56 years they claim to have played a major part.

A decision on the state’s division was delayed as Hyderabad was the bone of contention.

Since Hyderabad is historically and geographically a part of Telangana, its leaders were not ready for a state without this city, which also contributes bulk of the state’s revenues. Seemandhra leaders were demanding union territory or special status to Hyderabad to protect their interests.

The industrialists and businessmen from Andhra are estimated to have invested Rs.50,000 crore in Hyderabad. The bulk of this investment came since 1995 when the city emerged as an IT hub, triggering an infrastructure boom with unprecedented increase in real estate prices.

Hyderabad has a population of about seven million and an estimated 30 percent of them are from Seemandhra. They include government employees, students and businessmen. The city is also the hub of the Telugu film industry, dominated by actors from Andhra.

The Congress has promised to take care of their concerns by asking the government to take steps for the safety and security of all residents.

The Congress also requested the government to take legal and administrative measures to ensure that both state governments can function from the common capital for 10 years.

Andhra Pradesh may not have to build separate buildings for assembly and secretariat as the existing buildings can accommodate them. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has already indicated this.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which had once given a slogan of ‘Telangana wale Jago, Andhra wale bhago’, has assured people of Seemandhra living in Hyderabad that they need not have any apprehensions.

Only 50 percent of Hyderabad’s population comprise of native residents and people from other parts of Telangana.

“When people from other states and of many nationalities can come and settle here, why our Telugu-speaking brothers should have any problems?” said Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha.

The cosmopolitan character of Hyderabad existed since the times of Qutub Shahis and Asaf Jahis (Nizams) when people from Iran, Yemen and Arab countries made Hyderabad their home.

Known for its long history of multi-linguistic, religious and cultural heritage, it is the fifth largest city in India. A key destination for IT and ITeS companies, it is home to giants like Microsoft, Google, Facebook, IBM, Oracle, Dell, Motorola, HSBC and Deloitte.

It is also known as the bulk drug and pharma capital of India and is home to a large number of central public sector undertakings, scientific research institutes and defence establishments.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by IANS – Hyderabad / July 31st, 2013

Magical Old Town – the way it was

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

Visakhapatnam : 

There have been some reports recently in the papers about the fate of our once vibrant old town. A walk through the dusty old town today does not reveal the lively social life in that part of Vizag in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. It was so different then that those who did not experience it will consider it pure fiction. A land far far away. A people so alien. A life so unimaginable. Only those of us who lived there will remember those days with poignant fascination, like a hazy dream.

It is hard but let me try and give you a picture. We called our part of the town “One Town” or “Soldierpeta”. The beach road was just around three kilometre in length. There was no outer harbour then and most of us stayed a street or two away from the sparkling clean sea. As kids our playground all summer was the beach and the beach road. We swam, fished, and caught crabs. We wrestled and played football. We played Holly-Colli, Sticks and Stones, Tops and Gilli Danda till it was dark. As winter advanced and the beach became cold we cycled and played rough games under the massive banyan trees around the Recruiting Office. We lit small twig fires and told ghost stories. The trees were full of squirrels and chattering of birds and flying foxes that ate figs on the high branches above.

Along with a bustling local community, Soldierpeta also had a good population of Anglo Indians, a fortuitous result of the intermingling of the British soldiers who occupied Vizag earlier and the swarthy young local ladies. Well known families were all over One Town, the Lamonds, Hilliers, Larives, Halges and so on. Many of them migrated out of Vizag and India but some remain even today in different parts of Vizag. As we grew old enough to appreciate the opposite sex, we sighed and watched Pauline, Wendy, Julian and Vivian stride proudly along the beach in their short floral skirts escorted by their boyfriend of the day.

In the evenings, as the dim low voltage lights came on in the homes on the beach road, the sound of Jim Reaves,  Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and Pat Boone  wafted into the air. In the absence of TV, conversations flowed like streams through the neighbourhood. Everyone knew everyone. And on Saturday evenings, we clambered on to a wooden box to peep over our wall into the Sacred Heart  Church where live bands rocked the night as energetic dancing couples displayed their fluid skills on the dance floor. As the night proceeded, some got into brawls but there was too much love in the air and nothing serious ever happened. On Christmas and New Year we boys would be very welcome in every home. We gorged ourselves on kul kuls and patties and drank blood red homemade wine under Christmas trees with big orange cardboard star and silver bells as record players played a scratchy Christmas tune in the background.

Sailors from all over the world descended on Vizag port. These big tough men with bulging biceps and tattooed arms were called “Shippys”. After much sailing these men were keen on some company. A line of cycle rickshaws waited eagerly at the port gate and ferried them to the two famous hotels  on the beach road. The New Costis and The Marina Hotel did roaring business till the wee hours of the morning. They had large dimly lit halls that served as bars, dance floors and a place to socialize. Loud live bands played Ventures, Shadows, Elvis and Bill Haley numbers and everyone danced like crazy.

Perfumed and painted young women, from all over India, looking lovely in the dim light, sat at the bars or at the tables encouraging the sailors to drink themselves silly. The rooms in the premises, rented by the hour became busy as the night progressed. And long after midnight when the band stopped playing, the Shippys staggered out of the hotel, got into their rickshaws and sedated by alcohol and other exertions went quietly back to their ships. Some came back and others sailed away to their mistresses at other ports or perhaps to their families back home.

One Town was indeed full of wonderful characters. There was Chacha, the professional smuggler who kept watching the ships that brought his contraband, usually cigarette cartons and scotch, through a telescope. There was Smith, who wore a frayed black jacket and repaired lighters. I shall never forget the remarkable athlete, Merry Irwin, who built boats. And Nippo, who swam into the sea every evening so far that we could only see him as a speck in the water. He always came back after an hour or so, much to the relief of his myriad girlfriends who watched anxiously from the shore.

That was before the outer harbour was built. When the overhead conveyor belt went through our locality the port told us it was sealed and all would be fine. They lied. Soon many had to leave that part of town. One Town was a magical place, but those days have now been lost in the haze of coal and iron ore dust.

(The writer is an environmentalist and a member of the Vizag chapter of INTACH)

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Sohan Hatangadi, TNN / July 21st, 2013

Here sleeps the earliest urban planner

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

 

HYDERABAD: ANDHRA PRADESH: 03-06-2013:The tomb of Mir Momin Astarabadi situated at the Mir Momin Ka Daira in old city of Hyderabad. / --- PHOTO BY: ASIF YAR KHAN / The Hindu
HYDERABAD: ANDHRA PRADESH: 03-06-2013:The tomb of Mir Momin Astarabadi situated at the Mir Momin Ka Daira in old city of Hyderabad. / — PHOTO BY: ASIF YAR KHAN / The Hindu

He was the first prime minister during the reign of Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah and was instrumental in the planning of Hyderabad including the location of the magnificent Charminar. But not many know about him or his grave.

Mir Momin Astarabadi now is buried at a graveyard at the Mir Momin Ka Daira in Sultan Shahi, a little ahead of Charminar.

The place gets its name through his tomb. Historians say that Mir Momim himself got the tomb constructed at the place when he was alive.

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Iranian immigrant

A first generation Iranian, he migrated to the Golconda Kingdom in the late 15th century and is known to have embossed Iranian influence on the city. He held a crucial position in the administration and governance.

His tomb was lying in a state of neglect for many years until the Iranian consulate intervened. A fresh coat of plaster was given to the lime structure, and plans were afoot to undertake beautification works.

Work stopped

The work was stopped for some reasons, and now the structure presents a dull look, says Syed Hameed Hussain Jaffery, president, A.P. Shia Youth Conference.

The premises have numerous tombs and mausoleums including that of Mir Abul Qasim, also known as Mir Alam after whom the tank near the zoo park is named. However, the necropolis is now riddled with problems.

Govt alerted

Except for the maintenance of a couple of tombs, many other old structures of the 18 and 19 century are fast losing their sheen. The other day Mr. Jaffery represented the matter to the Wakf Board and other departments demanding that the government take steps to restore the structures at the Mir Momin Ka Daira.

“The historic structures as well as the entire graveyard is in pretty bad shape,” Mr. Jaffery complains. He wants the government to take up immediate restoration work.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Asif Yar Khan / June 18th, 2013

Descendents protect Tikkana memory

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

Nellore: 

Although it was nine centuries since the great poet, Tikkana Somayaji, the one among three poets (Trinity of poets) who translated Mahabharata from Sanskrit to Telugu, his descendents have been protecting the only memory of his invaluable service.

The 18th descendant of his family, Paturu Harihara Sarma, takes pride in showing a sheath made of sandal wood, that was used to keep the ancient writing implement (Ghantamu or iron stylus) by Tikkana while writing Mahabharata on palm leaves.

The sheath with the pictures of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Saraswati carved on either sides, perfectly reflects the artistic skills of artisans in 12 century AD.
“This precious piece has been with our family for generations. My grandfather gave to my father and I was given this responsibility after taking an oath that I would protect it throughout my life,” says Harihara Sarma holding it carefully.

He said that he declined to part with the sheath when AP archaeology wing officials have approached him to take possession of the sheath in 2006 after this newspaper published an article on the subject.

Another testimony of Tikkana era was a mandap located on the banks of Pennar River in Nellore. The poet is believed to have penned down the great epic, sitting in the mandap, which is still there standing as classic example for the negligence of authorities.

A park near the mandap which was named after Tikkana and Siddheswara Swamy temple in his native village Paturu, 10 km from Nellore, where the poet worshiped Lord Siva, are also in bad shape.
The retired head of Telugu department of VR College, Nellore and a scholar who did extensive research on Tikkanna, Mopuru Venugopalaiah says the literary giant has constructed Lord Hariharanadha temple close to the existing Sri Ranganadha Swamy temple at Nellore.

As a result of sheer negligence, the traces of the temple are completely washed out, Venugopalaiah said.

“Though born as a Shaivaite Brahmin, Tikkana Somayaji during the rule of Kakatiya Empire, his works has a clear message that there is no difference between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.  His first epic Nirvachanottara Ramayanamanu speaks about Sita’s banishment to forest and the birth of twins Lava and Kusa. Tikkanna translated 15 chapters of Mahabharatam, using more colloquial Telugu unlike Nannaya and Errana,” Venugopalaiah said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / December 27th, 2012

SJM to have 3 new galleries

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
HYDERABAD,: 27-11-2012 Governor E.S.L Narasimhan giving away award to A.Nagendar Reddy,Director,Salarjung Museum, on Indian Red Cross Society annual general meeting day in Hyderabad on Tuesday. / PHOTO: G_Krishnaswamy / The Hindu
HYDERABAD,: 27-11-2012 Governor E.S.L Narasimhan giving away award to A.Nagendar Reddy,Director,Salarjung Museum, on Indian Red Cross Society annual general meeting day in Hyderabad on Tuesday. / PHOTO: G_Krishnaswamy / The Hindu

More than 60 years after it was opened, Salarjung Museum (SJM) is still in the process of opening more and more galleries. There is never a dull moment with this world famous museum. In the next few months it is going to add three more galleries. The birth anniversary of its founder, Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Bahadur better known as Salarjung III is the occasion for taking stock of things, chalking out plans and setting the road map for future.

Museum Director A. Nagender Reddy explains the new plans on the anvil to  J.S. IFTHEKHAR

Any new galleries planned?

Yes, three new galleries are in the pipeline. A gallery containing walking sticks of Salarjung will be opened within a fortnight. As many as 180 walking sticks, some studded with jades, will be on display for the first time. Though Salarjung himself did not use the sticks, he took pains to acquire them from different parts of the world. The gallery is almost ready on the ground floor.

Which is the other gallery you have proposed?

A coins gallery is planned and it is expected to be ready in next two months. It will have more than 1,500 coins right from the Satavahana period to the Nizam’s era. The Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai, has agreed to put up two kiosks in the gallery. One will enlighten visitors with the history of money while in the other kiosk with a video will explain the method of detecting fake notes.

And the third gallery?

We have totally refurbished the children’s section at a cost of Rs. 30 lakh. The new gallery on the first floor has 3,500 sq ft area to display everything connected with children in a much better way. This gallery, which will be opened in next four months, will also have computer games to keep the visiting children engaged.

Any other thing?

The Islamic Art Gallery on the second floor in the Eastern Block is in the final stages of construction. A sum of Rs. 3 crore has been spent so far and another Rs. 1.5 crore is required to deck up the interiors. Everything connected with Islam from carpets to the holy Quran will be displayed here. The Islamic Art gallery will be inaugurated during this financial year.

What about plans to provide a virtual tour of the museum?

We plan to tie up with Google to give this enchanting experience to visitors. Shortly the SJM will go in for solar power to meet 40 to 50 p.c. of its energy needs. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has provided a budget of Rs. 3.5 crore. The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation will execute the project.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / June 15th, 2013

Ancient coins found in Andhra town temple

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Uncategorized

Eluru :

Ancient coins have been discovered from underneath the Dwajasthambam of Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy temple at Palacole town in West Godavari district. Temple authorities, who were restoring the Dwajasthambam that fell down last year, were astonished to find a large cache of gold, silver and copper coins inside the foundation. They had dug up the foundation of Dwajasthambam to install a new one.

The temple authorities have informed officials of the state archaeology department. The period of the coins and their historical and archaeological value is yet to be ascertained. They also found a Kurma Yantra from the site.

Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy temple is one of the Pancharama kshetras in Andhra Pradesh. Great religious and historical significance is attached to the temple.

Thousands of devotees from all over the state visit the temple and offer prayers to the presiding deity.

Religious legends trace the history of the temple to the period of Ramayana.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / June 03rd, 2013

Four 15th century idols found in Guntur district

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

Guntur :

Four idols dating back to 15th century were found in the agricultural fields on the way to the historic Kondaveedu fort near Phirangipuram in Guntur district.

The idols of Lord Sri Rama, Sri Lakshmana, Sri Sita Devi and Lord Sri Lakshminarayana Swamy were found during tilling of his barren land by a farmer, Maddiboina Sambaiah, on Friday.

The farmer alerted Kondaveedu Fort Development Society convener Kalli Siva Reddy, who after inspecting the idols, spoke to archaeology experts in Hyderabad and confirmed that the idols were nearly 600 years old.

He said archeological experts would soon visit the site to ascertain the exact age of the idols.

While the left hand of Sri Lakshman’s idol was found broken, the idol of Lord Lakshminarayana’s right hand was found missing  .

Contrary to the popular tradition, the idol of Sri Lakshminarayana Swamy is not accompanied by his consort Sri Lakshmi Devi. The idols were found just at a depth of 5 ft in the fields and were mostly intact.

“The idols may belong to the regime of Reddy king – Kumaragiri Reddy — an ardent devotee of Sri Lakshminarayana Swamy,” said Siva Reddy.

He said all the four idols looked fresh despite having remained buried in the fields for centuries chiefly due to the impressive sculptural beauty of those days.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad> Guntur District / TNN / May 25th, 2013

Hyderabad: ‘A spiritual home’ for Rolls-Royce

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

 

Red carpet: The yellow Rolls Royce that once belonged to the Nizam. After restoration, the car is now displayed at the Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad.
Red carpet: The yellow Rolls Royce that once belonged to the Nizam. After restoration, the car is now displayed at the Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad.
The history of Rolls-Royce motor cars in India has been an integral part of the country’s automotive development since the early 1900s.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars owes much to India. The sub-continent has been the ultimate destination of many of the early cars, including the 40/50hp Silver Ghosts and Phantoms built during the first half of the twentieth century.
Proving ground
The extremes of climate and terrain offered the perfect proving ground for that which was a relatively new form of machine and transport. To gain a reputation for unequalled reliability amongst the royalty and rich of India was praise indeed. The number of surviving Rolls-Royce motor cars from those pioneer days remain as a testimony to their success in that era.
The connections with Rolls-Royce in India could well have begun when the parents of the Hon. Charles Stuart Rolls, Lord and Lady Llangattock, attended the 1902/03 celebrations of the Coronation Durbar in Delhi, two years before the formation of Rolls-Royce Ltd. They must have told their son Charles, who was selling French cars in London at the time, of the burgeoning interest in motoring amongst the fabulously wealthy Indian potentates.
Ghosts and kings
In 1907, an English businessman with interests in India took a 40/50hp to Bombay. The car christened ‘Pearl of the East’ was to participate in the 620-mile Reliability Trials, spread over six mountain passes of the Ghats between Bombay and Kolhapur. The Rolls-Royce performed without fault, and in winning its class was awarded the Mysore Cup. H.H. the Maharaja of Gwalior purchased the car and the resultant publicity did much to enhance the reputation and sales of the model that became widely known as the ‘Silver Ghost’ among Indian royal families.
By 1911, Rolls-Royce had already established a following and eight identical Silver Ghosts with landaulette coachwork were ordered for use at the Imperial Delhi Durbar.
In Hyderabad
Legend has it that Mir Osman Ali Khan, the VII Nizam of Hyderabad — famously named as the all-time richest Indian, and the 5th all-time wealthiest man to have ever lived — owned over 50 Rolls-Royce motor cars.
What is certain is that just over 100 years ago, a priceless Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Throne car was delivered to the Nizam’s doorstep. Hyderabadis were thus able to celebrate the arrival of the first imported car into the city…..This elegant vintage car with its rich canary yellow body and gold mountings, lights and silver-finished roof still survives to this day.
Also, in pre-war British India, the majority of coachwork for the Rolls-Royce chassis was supplied by specialist, coachbuilding firms.
The Rolls-Royce chassis, with its inherent strength and rigidity enabled these coachbuilders to produce bodies that catered for many different tasks. Formal limousines, rakish tourers, shooting cars, transport for wives, for servants, even religious artefacts. Some designs were bold, some subdued and some garish, but all built with care and attention that gave a long life of service to be enjoyed by their owners.
The Rolls-Royce sales department recorded a vast array of special silver and gold fittings, for delivery to ‘Indian’ cars. Purdah glass in the formal limousines, sirens, thermos flasks, Stephen Grebel hunting lamps, gun racks, ivory steering wheels and control knobs, were some of the special requests that Rolls-Royce and their coachbuilders were happy to comply with. Even a servant’s seat was occasionally fitted to the near side running board. The variety and choice of accessories was amazing and no trouble was spared in providing the customer with his every requirement.
It was usual to finish the bonnet in polished aluminium to prevent the blistering Hyderabad heat from cracking the paintwork, with louvers often specified to assist the escape of engine heat. The finishing touches of flag staffs and emblazoned heraldry added to the individual character of the impressive appearance of the car. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the respect and enthusiasm for Rolls-Royce cars remained strong, the large 40/50hp cars being joined by the smaller 20hp of 1922 and its successors, ending with the Wraith of 1938.
In 1931, Rolls-Royce bought Bentley Motors Ltd. The name of Bentley was appended to a smaller, faster, generally more sporting car than other Rolls-Royce models. It was a success with customers who wanted a more ‘personal’ vehicle to add to their garages.
As the threat of World War II became a reality, the importation of cars ceased. Post-war India emerged into a different climate with Independence proclaimed in 1947. Sales of the new models made a good start, with the Gaekwar of Baroda ordering six Bentleys and the Maharaja of Mysore, acquiring nine Bentleys and eight Rolls-Royce Silver Wraiths. But times were changing, and the wealth of India was being redistributed.
After the war, it was the captains of commerce and industry who would be the new owners of motor cars from Rolls-Royce. Now, rewards of perseverance, dedication, vision and sheer hard work are enabling the men and women of India to realise their intuitive appreciation for craftsmanship and design without compromise, in the ownership of a Rolls-Royce car.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was the ideal luxury car for the India of nearly a century ago, and today’s Goodwood-built motor cars continue that enviable reputation for the India of today with bespoke cars. No expense has been spared and no compromise made to produce a car that both inspires and cossets its driver and passengers. The engine is virtually silent in operation, yet will accelerate the car faster than many sports cars.
A Rolls-Royce motor car is literally for all seasons, both in terms of climate and driving usage. It is subjected to the famous “monsoon test” where high pressure water is sprayed and technicians inspect the car for moisture. The mantra: should one drop of water be found, the car is sent back to the assembly line.
It is this sort of attention to detail which Rolls-Royce founder Sir Henry Royce was obsessed with, saying: “The quality remains, long after the price is forgotten.”
Today’s India and the Asia Pacific
Phantom, Ghost and now Wraith stand as automotive icons in the Indian car market. After an absence of 50 years, the ultra-luxury marque opened its first showroom in Mumbai (2005), followed by New Delhi (2008), and Hyderabad (2013).
Now, with the birth of the official dealer ‘Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Hyderabad’, run by Kun Motoren Private Limited , the marque returns to a spiritual home for the world’s finest maker of luxury cars.
Situated on the second floor of Kun’s facility in Hyderabad, the 5,400 sft, three-car showroom for Rolls-Royce boasts a carefully crafted bespoke lounge where customers are able to create intimate detailings of their Rolls-Royce motor car, just like customers in the past. Just like how the Rolls-Royce first arrived this grand city.
This piece was exclusively written by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars for the Deccan Chronicle
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / May 18th, 2013