[ COMMUNITy HyDERABADI ] Siraj & Renu: All three Punjabi sisters are married to Muslim men of the clan. With the establishment of the Asaf Jahi rulers and the benign control of the British, when Secunderabad was established as a garrison centre for the British army, the Nizams allowed the Parsis to establish their homes and trade centers, the Sikhs came in to look after the treasury, and the Marwaris and Gujjus set up the shops while the Anglo <strong>Indian</strong>s looked after the Railways etc. From such a beginning, the cosmopolitan air of the twin city grew and flourished. One has to walk through the narrow lanes of the Charminar area in the old city of Hyderabad and observe the names of the shops all around – if there is a Muslim name on the shop, the next one is bound to be a Hindu one. I sat and observed a Muslim youngster setting up his bhatti (oven) to start making bangles. Then he suggested that I go to the ‘lakhwaras’ (the Hindu guys who work with lac) since those guys started their work much earlier. I was nonplussed and told him that since I was new to the place, I would not be able to find the way. He called one little boy and said, “Amma ko mitti ka sher le jaa! ” (take Amma to the clay lion). Before I could gather my wits, the little fellow took off – through winding lanes, across alleys with my husband and me in hot pursuit! Suddenly we were there! The mitti ka sher was a clay statue of the Hindu Goddess, Durga who sits astride a lion. It marked the Hindu area. Then I started looking around and found a common wall between a girl’s school with a Hindu name and a madrassa whose name had been written in English as well as Urdu. The Patel market inside Charminar is the Mrs Mukul Puitandi Zaheer (55), along with her husband Mir Ashfaq Zaheer and son Russell place for the Muslims to buy their zakaat gifts. A recent article said that there were people buying as much as Rs 20,000 worth of gifts to give away to the poor. A number of people, especially those who are long time residents of the cities claim that communal harmony is intrinsic to Hyderabad and Secunderabad. One doesn’t have to announce it from the roof tops. It is a given; if there is trouble it is because outsiders interfere. Many believe that if there is any kind of communal trouble, you can rest assured that it is politically motivated. Group Captain S.M. Ghouse (retd) (64) is an old time resident of Hyderabad and when I asked him his opinion about the same issue, I could read the pain in his voice as he explained how a few vested interests were “ trying to break the beautiful fabric of the city. The Hindus and the Muslims are the warp and weft of the social fabric, the taana and the baana. Together they have woven wonders and held up a shining picture of communal amity. Unfortunately the actions of a few people have created this crazy picture where a wrong doer is always a Muslim with a beard and a skull cap.” Then he asked me, “Do I look like a terrorist to you – I also wear a skull cap and keep a beard?” How could he? I have known him for years. His lovely wife, Tayaba and Ghouse have treated all of us hungry hordes of the squadron to the most exotic Hyderabadi biryani with all its accompaniments. He was a religious man then, and remains one even today. But he never pushed his beliefs and values down anyone’s throat! He did Mr & Mrs Nagrath: There are many nationalities in his side of the family not drink and he did not offer any liquor to anyone else and laughingly told all the hudaks (the daaruwalas, the drinkers!) to have their quota at home before coming to his dinner! But then I would put Ghouse in the category of educated, moderate peace loving Muslims who have lived in Hyderabad for many generations and have added a deep and abiding glow to the love and affection shared by old denizens of the city. But then the catchword here is ‘old’ or ‘elderly’. What do the younger people have to say? In one of the BPOs, one young man sought permission to go out for his Friday prayers. When refused he started sending out rambling hate mails to the HR for refusing him special time. The management asked the HR to handle the issue with ‘care’. No one wants trouble. Ghouse says that he had a similar situation on his hands. He told the young man to go and pray during his lunch hour and if he extends the break, then he should work the extra time, to make up for the delay. I appreciate the voices of moderation like Ghouse and that of Asaduddin Owaisi, a Member of Parliament, who has spoken up against the sops given out to the minorities by political parties. His was the one rallying voice who insisted that there should be peace and quiet after the Mecca Masjid blast that rocked the city, a while ago. He does not want sops, like reservations for the minorities – he wants equal opportunities! Shyamola Khanna is a freelance writer based in Hyderabad. 46 <strong>THE</strong> INTERNATIONAL INDIAN
Celebrate Diwali with glittering offers at Joyalukkas FREE DIAMOND & CHALCEDONY NECKLACE SET WITH JEWELLERY PURCHASE WORTH AED 3,000 AND ABOVE Diwali celebration set 2008 * Conditions Apply Offers valid while stocks last SPECIAL PRICE AED 13,000 ONLY BUY SPECIAL DIWALI SET & GET FREE CANON CAMERA FREE DIAMOND & CHALCEDONY NECKLACE SET www.joyalukkas.com The offers are valid from 19th – 28th October ‘08.
Change language