Hyderabad Heritage & Heritage Structures

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Will Golconda or Charminar ever get UNESCO World Heritage tag?

Hyderabad: Will Golconda or Charminar ever figure in UNESCO’s World Heritage list? Going by the present state of affairs, it can safely be presumed that nothing of the sort will happen in the next few years. Experts from UNESCO’s International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are set to visit the city in September for a final inspection of the Qtub Shahi heritage — Golconda, Charminar and Qtub Shahi tombs — before preparing the World Heritage list for 2013. If officials of the departments concerned make a concerted effort to spruce up the monuments by then, there’s a chance of them figuring in the list.
The newly-formed high-level special heritage committee is scheduled to meet on July 30 and GHMC officials claim, “All major decisions would be taken soon and completed before September.” However, the task ahead is simply too much, it seems. The Charminar Pedestrianisation Project, which has been going on for years, is yet to be finished. This even after the GHMC has reportedly shelled out crores! The pending works are expected to be resumed after Ramzan by August-end. In other words, officials will have just a few days to complete it before the UNESCO team’s visit.
As the State Archaeology department faces shortage of funds, the GHMC has come forward to sponsor a major part of the face-lifting of the Qutb Shabi tombs, which is maintained by the department. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) which takes care of the Charminar and Golconda, officials admit, is awaiting allotment of funds from its Director General for carrying out major works, including the proposed subterrain underground toilets near the Charminar.



As if this is not enough, a senior GHMC official on condition of anonymity revealed, “We are also trying to make a study of conservation activities in other heritage cities like Jaipur, to chalk out a standard specification rate (SSR) ahead of calling tenders.” He said that the state’s SSR prepared by the Roads and Buildings department is not suitable for conservation of monuments.
All major decisions would be taken at the first high level special heritage committee meeting on July 30. There doesn’t seem to be any urgency among the departments concerned. Dr R Krishnaiah, superintending archaeologist, told City Express, “Keeping the urgency in mind, certain works like improvement of pathways, painting of fence, introduction of surveillance cameras etc are underway. But major conservation works including chemical cleaning and restoration of monuments, providing public convenience at Charminar etc would be taken up only after the allocation of funds from the Director General, ASI.”
State Archeology department on the other hand, has been working out an MOU with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which had earlier visited the city to chalk out a programme for documentation, laying of gardens, conservation of monuments, civic amenities and involving local community under public-private partnership mode. “They are visiting us next month, and we are discussing the possibilities,” said a senior official with the State Archaeology department.
In a recent inspection of these monuments by GHMC, APCPDCL, ASI and State Archaeology department, suggestions including adoption of uniform signage for all shops around the monuments after removing hoardings and flexies, shifting of transformers, underground cabling, demolishing of dilapidated buildings, etc have been proposed. Reducing the height of buildings, mainly unauthorised buildings in the neighbourhood that block the skyline of the monuments, is also in the pipeline.
AP has never made it to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. For the year 2013, the State has recommended the Qutub Shahi heritage - Golconda Fort, Charminar and Qutb Shahi Tombs for the list.

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Shrines in heritage structures could spike Unesco tag hopes

HYDERABAD: Officials of the tourism department, ASI and GHMC have begun to take necessary steps to ensure that the city bags the coveted Unesco World Heritage tag for its Qutub Shahi monuments.

The Agha Khan Trust is expected to carry out works at the Qutub Shahi Tombs in collaboration with the state archeology department while the officials of GHMC and ASI are implementing suggestions laid down by an ASI sub-committee which visited the heritage structures in May this year.

The Qutub Shahi monuments of Hyderabad--the Golconda fort, Qutub Shahi Tombs and the Charminar are on the tentative world heritage sites list of Unesco's committee. The operational guidelines of the World Heritage Convention lays down ten selection criteria, in addition to emphasising on protection, management, authenticity and integrity of the sites. The convention mandates that the sites should be of outstanding universal value and fulfil at least one of the ten criteria. The website of the committee lists Hyderabad's Qutub Shahi monuments on the tentative lists and provides justification for fulfilment of four of the listed criteria.

What could prove a stumbling block for the officials is the presence of religious structures at Charminar which have grown in size and prominence in recent years. Officials say that the thought of removing structures have put them in a piquant situation.

According to sources in the archeology department and ASI, officials have postponed discussions on the issue until after Ramzan. When officials of ASI sub-committee inspected the monuments, a discussion was arranged between the committee members of the religious structures and the experts. It is learnt however that the discussion did not yield anything. Letters were also sent from the ASI to the committee officials but to no avail.

A senior official in ASI on condition of anonymity admitted that it was a sensitive situation and warrants circumspection. "The 2010 amendment to the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act has made it clear that there cannot be any encroachments within 300 meters of monuments. But we cannot anticipate what the Unesco committee will make out of it. These religious structures have been here for decades now. Their existence itself is less of a worry compared to the proportion they have obtained in recent times. But in order to address this issue we need cooperation of the politicians and district officials as this is a prestigious matter," he said. The officials are hoping that the reading of the convention by the Unesco committee would allow for some leverage.

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‘Restoration’ of heritage sites on

HYDERABAD: In a much belated action, GHMC officials along with officials from the tourism department and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday began cracking the whip on illegal construction activity around heritage monuments in the city. In a little more than a month's time the Unesco team is slated to visit the city to inspect various sites for awarding them the coveted World Heritage tag.

The crackdown began with the demolition of three floors of an under construction ground plus five (G+5) building in Diamond Hills Colony near the Qutub Shahi Tombs. Officials of the GHMC said that they have identified 13 such structures constructed in violation of the rules around the royal necropolis.

Sources from the GHMC pointed out that according to the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, there cannot be any structures within 300 metres of a heritage site. They added that building stipulations pertaining to the area restrict construction activity to ground plus two (G+2) only and that the building being demolished had violated both the building rules. Mohiuddin, city planner, Central Zone said, "We have given notices to all the 13 new structures which have come up near the Qutub Shahi Tombs. Of the 13, two or three are already occupied by residents. We will demolish the top three floors of the building as it violates building rules and regulations. Further, it is within 200 metres of the boundary wall of the tombs and was the most glaring encroachment among the 13 buildings."

More...

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Heritage-cum-cultural complex to adorn 12th century city shrine

A grand heritage-cum-cultural complex is coming up around the swayambhu 12th century Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple on Road No 12 in Banjara Hills. It is believed that Lord Sri Narasimha Swamy, after killing Hiranyakasipu, halted here.

What is unique about the shrine is that the self-manifest idols of the Lord and his consort are in a standing posture on a boulder. The Lord, in this very rare form, is said to be very generous to His devotees and grants all their wishes without fail. Lord Shiva as Panchajanyeshvara also manifested in the same temple complex.

Previously the temple was being maintained by authorities of the Yadagirigutta Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. Some time back, the maintenance of the shrine was handed over to the Hare Krishna Movement - Hyderabad (affiliate of ISKCON Bangalore) by the State Endowments Department. The walls of the 12th century temple are dilapidated. The shrine has an altar and the Hare Krishna Movement has carried out minor renovation of the temple for smooth worship and rituals like timely naivedyas.

The Hare Krishna Movement plans to not only refurbish the temple, but also build a grand heritage and cultural complex to propagate the glory of the Lord.Its plans include construction of grand Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Sri Srinivasa Govinda Temple, Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Bhagavad Gita Lecture Hall, Sri Narasimha Lila Kalashetra (open-air theater), Nitya Annadanam Hall, Yajna mandap, Goshala etc on this site.

It is one of the biggest projects of the Hare Krishna Movement in Andhra Pradesh.The new temple complex will also have facilities for children’s cultural activities, youth programmes, Krishna kalakshetra, agriculture and cow protection, bhakti yoga and vedic literature.

“The temple land is around 4.3 acres and the upcoming temple will have an iconic cultural complex. We will promote our culture and heritage here. The plans are ready and we will start construction soon,” says Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa, president of the Hare Krishna Movement-Hyderabad.

Currently, the members of the Hare Krishna Movement feed visitors free food under the Nitya Annadanam programme. The visitors are mainly from the nearby government school as well as daily-wage labourers engaged in the vicinity. Nearly 150 people eat on the temple premises daily. The shrine also conducts festivals and satsangs every Sunday.

“Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, had a vision to feed anybody who is hungry within a 10-mile radius of a temple. Taking this input, we have started Nitya Annadanam programme in the temple,” says Ravi Lochana, member of the Hare Krishna Movement-Hyderabad.

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Face-lift for Golconda Fort

Nine other monuments in ASI list for promotion of tourism

New Delhi: The Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, along with nine other Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monuments, has been adopted as part of the Union Tourism Ministry’s Campaign Clean India. The Tourism Ministry has facilitated the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) and the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management to adopt the monument.

According to an official of the Tourism Ministry, the government is looking for an India that impacts a visitor and a tourist monument is the first interface, to begin with, for cleanliness and hygiene. Conversely, lack of, or inadequate personal and environmental cleanliness, will have a pull down impact on the image India, the worst hit being on the tourism sector, where the first impression of a visitor is often his last.

According to the Union Tourism Ministry, cleanliness and proper hygiene are universally regarded as indispensable existential norms. The Ministry of Tourism will engage the Quality Council of India (QCI) for an independent and objective evaluation of the state of cleanliness specific to each monument chosen for adoption. The QCI will classify the improvement over the adoption period as average, good, very good and excellent. Based on the QCI classification, the Ministry will extend awards with citation to the adopters.

Apart from Golkonda Fort in Hyderabad, the other monuments are: Sé Cathedral of Santa Catarina and St Francis Assisi Church Complex in Goa; Gwalior Fort in Gwalior; Buddhist Caves in Kanheri in Maharashtra; Megalithic Bridge on Um-Nyakaneth in Meghalya; Red Fort in Delhi; Temples in Bhubneshwar, Bhatinda Fort in Bhatinda in Punjab; Mamallapuram Group of Monuments in Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu; and Imam Bara of Asaf-ud-Daula in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.

In furtherance of the Campaign Clean India, the Tourism Ministry has launched a scheme for Awareness for Cleanliness through Facilitators, i.e., NGOs/Schools/Colleges and Adopters (PSUs), Corporates, Industry etc, specific to certain selected tourist destinations. The scheme will enable schools and non-profit organisations, namely the registered societies, trusts and clubs of repute, to adopt, voluntarily, certain indicated destinations.

The scheme also provides for a dispensation to regulate each adoption. The one important aspect of the scheme is that it necessitate an assessment of performance by an independent agency namely Quality Council of India. Their assessment will also be the basis for awards to the better performing schools, NGOs and adopters.

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More Hyderabad monuments may vie for world heritage tag

HYDERABAD: After Charminar, Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi Tombs, two more city monuments, Badeshahi Ashoor Khana and Paigah Tombs, may soon be in the race for Unesco's list of world heritage sites.

Officials of Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (Intach) Hyderabad said they are planning to propose names of the two monuments at the South Zone consultative workshop for revision of the tentative list for potential world heritage sites across the country to be held in Chennai on August 10. Talking about these structures, Intach representatives said, "Both these places are very unique and in our view deserve to be considered for the world heritage tag. We will definitely push for the inclusion of these sites from the city in the tentative list at the workshop."

Located near Charminar, Badeshahi Ashoor Khana is popular among archeology experts for its intricate enamel tile work while Paigah Tombs at Santosh Nagar are noted for their stucco work. Both these structures have been in the spotlight for quite some time after activists started organising walks and visits to save heritage sites in the area from being damaged during the metro corridor construction. Including them in the list would ensure their conservation, said Intach officials.

The event, which is the fourth in a series of six zonal level workshops, will cover Andhra Pradesh along with Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Lakshadweep and will be attended by representatives of state governments, Archeological Survey of India (ASI), heritage conservation experts, NGOs and other professional/institutional bodies from the region. The results will be presented at the South Asia regional workshop in Delhi to be held in October. The final recommendations from the workshops will be used to prepare the revised tentative list for India by the end of the year and the final nominees will be presented before the Unesco panel to be declared as world heritage sites.

Apart from these two monuments, officials said they would also propose the inclusion of the Kakatiya monuments in Warangal in the list. Discussions on which other sites could be proposed for inclusion are in progress and Intach representatives said more monuments are likely to be added.

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How the Nizam lost Hyderabad in 1948

Hyderabad, the largest princely state at the time of Indian independence was caught in a confusing web, partly of its own making. Bred on the delusion of born to rule, always protected by the British and egged on by Razakars, a volunteer militia, the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was pitching for independent sovereign state. Often susceptible to wrong advice, the Nizam took the “dispute” of Hyderabad’s future to the U.N Security Council even while preposterously considering the option of merging Hyderabad with newly carved out Pakistan. On the other hand, India was furiously pursuing Hyderabad to join the Indian Union adopting a carrot and stick policy authored by Sardar Vallabbhai Patel.

Patel was gearing up to launch a military operation euphemistically called Police Action. Congress, Arya Samajis and Communists were running freedom movements both for the liberation of Hyderabad from Nizam’s rule and an end to feudalism. The period preceding the liberation of Hyderabad State on September 17, 1948, a full 13 months after Indian independence, was turbulent to say the least. In his memoir, Mohammed Hyder, brings alive all these aspects lucidly weaving facts of history with his own annotations based on interactions with some of the most powerful state and non-state actors of the time who shaped the destiny of Hyderabad.

Using to full effect his situation as man at ground zero during that critical transition period, the Hyderabad Civil Service officer comes up with a balanced narrative shorn off exaggerations. As Collector of Osmanabad, (now part of Maharashtra) a large politically sensitive border district of Hyderabad State he had several unenviable tasks. The most challenging was tackling “violent raids” by the Congress from Indian territory “to cripple civil administration and provoke annexation” and reining-in the armed Razakars, floated by Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen who took upon themselves the task of protecting Muslims and the Muslim rule.

The book is actually an edited version of Hyder’s tenure in Osmanabad written by him in jail in July and August of 1949. He was in jail after the new Hyderabad Government suspended and arrested him and slapped 23 cases including 14 murders, arson and loot — an ordeal undergone by several officers of the time.

The Hyderabad question, he observes, had become a major unresolved issue at the beginning of 1947, no less worrying than Kashmir. In a dispassionate dissection of the unfolding situation, he presents the causes, the differing perceptions and perspectives of the turmoil and the Nizam’s as well as the Muslims’ dilemma. At the level popular politics there was one overwhelming fact, he explains: “Hyderabad was predominantly Hindu with Muslims representing some 20 per cent of the population. From one perspective its political arrangements were self evidently undemocratic, with an autocratic Muslim ruler at the head of the system and a small, apparently reactionary Muslim ruling class dominating its administration and political life”.

Expectedly he finds a contrasting perception inside the ruling system: “Hyderabad was viewed as a state blessed with a remarkably secular outlook, enjoying communal harmony, with a benign ruler concerned with the advancement of the poor and the protection of the oppressed; an excellent administration … and an eclectic ruling elite …”

TURNING POINT

Probing political and social processes, the author considers the huge demonstration in Hyderabad city by Razakars led by Majlis leader, Syed Qasim Razvi in October 1947 against the administration’s decision to sign “Standstill Agreement” as a “turning point”. The agreement between Hyderabad and the Indian Union spoke of maintaining status quo on the status of the princely state pending accession.

It was this demonstration in front of the houses of the Prime Minister, Nawab of Chattari, advisor, Sir Walter Monckton and Minister, Nawab Ali Nawaz Jung, the main negotiators, the author says, forced them to call off their Delhi visit to sign the agreement. It was treated as “a triumph for Qasim Razvi over the rule, the Government and the people of Hyderabad” and perceived as “October coup”.

In a chapter devoted to Razvi and his phenomenal rise from a small time lawyer in Lathur to a larger than life Majlis leader, Hyder lays threadbare his persona and philosophy, based on a marathon conversation. Questions he posed and the responses he got provide insights into Razvi, often reviled by a section as the man who sowed the seeds of communal divide in Hyderabad with his infamous mission. How could a Muslim minority headed by a Muslim ruler, continue to dominate a vast and politically conscious Hindu majority in Hyderabad? To Hyder’s query, Razvi’s responses were sharp: “The Nizams have ruled Hyderabad for over two hundred years in unbroken line ... The system must have some good in it if it has lasted two hundred years. Do you agree? ... We Muslims rule because we are more fit to rule ... We rule and they [Hindus] own! It is a good arrangement and they know it!” How could Hyderabad avoid accession to the Indian Union? Could India accept the disintegration that might result if Hyderabad stayed out? Razvi shot back, “India is a geographic notion. Hyderabad is a political reality. Are we prepared to sacrifice the reality of Hyderabad for the idea of India?” Hyder says Razvi foresaw a time when Muslims would once again become rulers of India and the Nizam, ruler of Delhi, if only he followed his advice!

Hyder says he was not really impressed and recalls how he came back from the meeting frustrated rather than inspired. For him it seemed “absurd and frightening that this little man could make his position of mastery over Hyderabad”. He concedes that the views Razvi shared certainly existed in Hyderabad Muslim society then, though representing its lowest common denominator.

In the later chapters, Hyder moves on to his own struggle as Collector, his long legal battle with the new Government that took over after the merger of Hyderabad with a series of documentation that makes reading a bit heavy and taxing.

He concludes by highlighting the fallacy of interpreting Hyderabad’s status and its confrontation with India during 1947-48 from the Indian lens of aspirations of nationalist movement, totally ignoring the concerns of a smaller State being hustled into accession. He goes on to compare Indian perspective and Hyderabad’s dilemma to Thucydides’ narrative of the capitulation of the people of the small island of Melos by the mighty Athens. For those craving to know more about Hyderabad’s not so recent history of merger, this is the book.

OCTOBER COUP: — A Memoir of the Struggle for Hyderabad: Mohammed Hyder; Roli Books Pvt. Ltd., M-75, Greater Kailash II Market, New Delhi-110048. Rs. 295.

Source: The Hindu

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HMR told to address issues of heritage structures

Hyderabad: In a matter concerning heritage structures, a division bench of the AP High Court comprising acting Chief Justice P C Ghose and Justice Vilas Afzalpurkar on Monday directed the authorities of the Metro Rail Project to look into the issues raised by the Heritage Conservation Committee regarding implementation of the Metro Rail with respect to heritage structures and precincts in Hyderabad.

Dealing with a writ petition filed by a former IAS officer and Deccan Heritage activist V K Bawa, the bench also directed the GHMC to look into the matter. The petitioner alleged that the government and the GHMC had failed to take proper precautions in protecting heritage structures like the Assembly building, the Clock Tower, Mozamzahi Market, Charminar, etc., where the metro railway projects were being undertaken.

The petitioner said that the association, of which he is a member, had already brought to the notice of the government the lapses in works undertaken to protect the heritage structures. The bench disposing the petition directed the concerned authorities to address the issues raised by the Heritage Conservation in protecting the heritage structures.

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GHMC submits report on excavations at Golconda

Hyderabad: A division bench of the AP High Court comprising acting Chief Justice P C Ghose and Justice Vilas Afzalpurkar on Monday took on file the observations made by GHMC Commissioner.

Dealing with a writ petition filed by Jasween Jairath, the bench had directed the Commissioner to submit a detailed report regarding the excavation work going on at protected monuments near Nayaquilla area of the Golconda Fort without proper clearance certificate from the Archaeological Survey of India.

In the report submitted to the bench, the Commissioner said that though the work at one spot was taking place with the permission of the GHMC, there was another spot where the excavation process was going on using a GHMC Board illegally.

The Commissioner in his report said that a police complaint was lodged with the Golconda police station. Taking the report on file, the bench directed the Police Commissioner of Hyderabad to submit a report within three weeks.

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Naya Qila: GHMC covers its tracks well in court

HYDERABAD: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's (GHMC) deposition on the controversial Naya Qila digging activity before the high court on Monday threw up some interesting facts. A quick scan of the civic body's inspection report, tabled in court, reveals that the Archeological Survey of India (ASI-Hyderabad), which has been feigning complete ignorance to these developments so far, was well aware of the illegal excavation work being carried out by the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) on the heritage property premises since August 1. It even issued a show-cause notice to the A-listers club on August 6 directing it to stop the work with immediate effect. Curiously, however, ASI officials made no declaration of this during the August 9 meeting held at GHMC commissioner M T Krishna Babu's office. The meet was specially convened to discuss the digging work and was attended by representatives of GHMC, ASI, HGA and the civil society.

On August 2, when TOI contacted R Krishnaiah, superintending archeologist of ASI, he had refused to comment on the matter and maintained: "We have no knowledge of what is happening there."

Krishnaiah's reaction has drawn strong criticism from heritage activists who allege that ASI is trying to protect the elite club and even assisting it in encroaching upon the heritage precinct. "It is bad enough that ASI woke up four days after the work took off. The fact that its action remained only on paper and officials tried to conceal this information, raises further questions on ASI's involvement in the case," said activist Jasveen Jairath. Monday's court hearing was in response to the writ petition filed by Jairath complaining about the digging work at Naya Qila.

Though GHMC painted a responsible picture before the HC bench by submitting documents proving that it had lodged a police complaint against 'some people' who were misusing the GHMC board to carry out excavation work at the heritage site, it refrained from explicitly naming HGA in it. This, despite it being aware of the digging work being overseen by a HGA-hired contractor.

Predictably, activists allege that the municipal body too is party to this government-HGA nexus. What seems to fuel their doubt is the date of the police complaint, August 9. "The meeting with the GHMC commissioner was held the same morning where officials of the department said they were planning to approach the police. The complaint looks like a hurried job done by the GHMC to defend itself in court," stated activists in their Naya Qila report submitted with the GHMC, ASI, collector (Hyderabad) and AP tourism department on August 13.

The report even questions the role of the Golconda police in safeguarding the interests of the elite club.

While the personnel deployed at the site on August 2 claimed that they were pressed into service by GHMC to avoid disruption in the digging work, just a week later, station house officer Md Waheeduddin admitted to have sent his team following a request from HGA.

He, however, tried to play down the issue. "Actually even we had heard of some groups planning to protest there. The police was sent to avoid any untoward incident," Waheeduddin had said.

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Last-minute action in Hyderabad for National Commission for UNESCO

In a belated attempt but plenty of action from 22 July 2012, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Andhra Pradesh and the Archaeological Society Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to prevent illegal construction activities around the important cultural sites in the city. Reason for the frantic action is the visit of the UNESCO team in September, will visit Hyderabad to various cultural sites may honor with the title "World Cultural Heritage".
To meet this state, a three-storey building shell and five buildings in the Diamond Hills Colony near the Qutub Shahi grave installations were demolished. A total of 13 buildings were built too close to the vast cultural site. The minimum distance is 300 m.
The city planners Mohiuddin said: "We have all 13 owners of new buildings, the Qutub Shahi Tombs were informed too close. Two or three of the buildings are already occupied. Some buildings will be demolished at the top three floors, because they violate the building codes here. "When in September the UNESCO team comes to town, are all illegal buildings be removed. The residents complained and believe that buildings should have been prevented from the outset. Also, an official of the city, the name would not be called surprising, is: "The builders should have been punished, as was unloaded sand or other building material at construction sites. That would have saved both sides in big trouble and financial losses. "
Even a client is most upset about the procedure: ". Without warning, I was on a Saturday a letter in which I was asked within 24 hours, the top three floors to demolish my building," he turned more to the minister Maheedhar Reddy (minister for municipal administration and urban development) and asked for support. On the following Monday but already started the demolition.
Such cosmetic surgery help at the last minute of cultural heritage sites of India is determined not to the recognition and attention they deserve. The leaders - from the highest down to the small local authorities - should be the heritage treasure at last, India has to realize, and more fundamentally to do more for the preservation of the building. One can only hope that the UNESCO team is appeased and awards during her visit to the World Heritage Site status, because as soon as such a distinction was made profitable, even in India on the legacy of past days, a little better given night.

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Marathon to cover Hyderabad heritage sites on September 23

HYDERABAD: AP Tourism and Hyderabad 10K Run Foundation will hold the second edition of 'Hyderabad Heritage Marathon', which will take runners through the heritage sites of the city, on September 23. The marathon will be held as part of World Tourism Week. While the marathon will have runners who will cover 42.195 km, the half-marathon will be 21.152 km long. The run will start at Chowmahalla Palace and end at the Qutub Shahi Tombs. The run is measured and accredited by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races and is aimed at creating awareness about distance running, fitness and the need to preserve and promote Hyderabad's rich heritage.

The event will cover heritage locations such as Charminar, Mecca Masjid, HC, Osmania Hospital, Mozamjahi Market, Public Gardens, AP Legislative Assembly, Ravindra Bharathi, Hussainsagar, Secretariat, Taramati Baradari and Golconda Fort.

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Hyderabad: Taj Falaknuma worth 10 million pounds

Hyderabad:
The Taj Falaknuma Palace, which opened in November 2010, was recently visited by the British art business and fine art’s auction house, Christie’s. The palace, which was home to the sixth Nizam Mehboob Ali Pasha and later used by his son, was originally built by the Nawab’s brother-in-law and Prime Minister Amir-e-Paigah Sir Vicar Ul Umra.
Having gone beyond his affordable means in building a grandiose living quarters, the minister was indirectly bailed out of his predicament with the Nawab buying the palace.
The interiors boast of muriels, 16 types of wood including Mahogany, teak and Indonesian wood, 18 types of marble, a 10-foot tall music organ (one of the four of its kind to exist), gold-rimmed lamps and wall fixtures like picture frames, furniture, oriental hand-crafted closets, paintings of the English royal family and the Nawab themselves, cutlery, manuscripts and first edition books and stained-glass paintings, to name a few.
Said Girish Sehgal, general manager to the hotel, “The valuation was a conservative appraisal of the premises in terms of paintings, furniture, cutlery, manuscripts, ivory, pottery, glass and so on. With some of the items costing upwards of £450,000, an estimate of the palace is around £10 million. The auction house had also recently brought a publication on the palace.” The hotel-palace houses three heritage rooms in the main building along with 60 other rooms in the annexe.
The main building also houses the lavish jade room, considered to be one of the most unique collections in the world. Also among the noteworthy is the 100 plus one seater dining table, carved from rosewood.
The ceilings boast of Venetian chandeliers that match the ceiling fans.
Among other things, the Falaknuma was the first residential palace to have electricity.

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Forgotten, ignored crumbling

It has been estimated that in the next decade, Hyderabad will stand and watch as some of its finest architecture just disappears — into a cloud of bureaucracy, bad management and downright ignorance. According to historians, Hyderabad has one of the highest number of old and architecturally-important structures after Delhi and Pune. Veda Kumar, heritage conservationist who headed a project to survey the city’s old structures two years ago, remembers some details.

“We surveyed the area under GHMC and discovered more than 1,400 really old structures. Out of which, 1,000 structures should qualify as heritage buildings or they will be lost forever. The process to get them listed is still on.” Fourteen hundred structures? That’s a number higher than some European towns. But what did that survey achieve?

“It is ironic, but Mumbai which is 200 years old, already has 650 structures under protection whereas our 400-year-old city has managed only 137-150 so far,” explains heritage conservationist Sajjad Shahid. Veda Kumar has more dismal statistics. “We have two structures under Archeological Survey of India and around 150 heritage buildings listed by HMDA, 60 per cent of which are government-owned. And some 40 monuments are under the control of Department of Archaeology and Museums.” And, at the heart of this absolute irreverence for our archeological legacy is also the real estate market.

P. Anuradha Reddy, convenor of Hyderabad chapter of Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), points out. “All the buildings and palaces built by the kings were on huge chunks of land, each one had a big garden inside or outside. Now that they lie abandoned and government hasn’t claimed them, they are prone to the greed of land-grabbers. And encroachment is just the first step towards it.”

But how did we allow the situation to get this way? Why are our monuments now facing a very modern-day threat of land sharks and encroachment? In one words — ignorance. “Bengaluru was once the Garden City. But people forgot and now, they’re calling it the IT city or something like that. All gardens lost and now, you walk the stretch of MG Road, there’s not even a place to sit,” says historian Mohd. Safiullah. Hyderabad then, certainly is no different.

Six rare, dying structures
1 Kohe Kona: Built by Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1560 - even before Hyderabad. It was meant to be a city. Today, it’s just a ghost town.

2 Mushk Mahal: Built in 1679 by Miyam Mushk, this building and was meant for ‘entertainment’. It has no windows or doors.

3 Dar-ul-Shifa: Located behind the Salar Jung Museum, it was the first hospital/teaching institute in medieval India, built by Quli Qutb Shah in 1595. Today, it has a private school running inside it.

4 Tipu’s lookout: Commander Tipu’s observation tower located near Khairatabad. Today, its facing a threat from commercial construction and an apartment building.

5 Jilukhana: Located at Laad bazaar and built in the 1700s, it was the entrance to Chowmallah Palace. Now, only an arch remains.

6 Deodi-iqbal-ud-Doula: A complex that was constructed by Vicar-ul-Umra, who also built the Falaknuma Palace. It was built so that the royal family could watch processions.

[Gudavalli]

A monumental marathon!

The upcoming 10k Run in Hyderabad will be a unique blend of heritage and stamina. Uma Chigurupati, board member of the Hyderabad 10k Run Foundation and head of the Marathon Committee, announced the annual 10k Run and Half Marathon for next month. “For the first time, tourism and the marathon will come together. The second edition of the Hyderabad Heritage Marathon will be held en route from Chowmahalla Palace to Qutb Shahi Tombs,” she said.

Having run seven marathons in seven continents in seven months, Uma also has tips for training. “The minimum training period for a marathon is six weeks, nothing less. Since I’m part of the organising committee this time, I recommend that participants undergo some kind of training before entering the competition” Her designer daughter Priyanka will also run the marathon. The previous chairperson of the marathon, Pinky Reddy, is full of encouragement. “Uma is a marathon runner herself. So, I feel the 10k committee is in good hands. She know how exactly a marathon works.” This marathon is open for professional and amateur runners, with certificates to be awarded after completion.

Start: Chowmahalla Palace
Finish: Qutb Shahi Tombs
To register: Log on to hyderabadheritagemarathon.com or contact, 040 – 64646003
Registration fee: Rs 750
On Route Arrangements: Water, electrolytes, light snacks, medical aid. Also, kilometre markings will be provided

[Gudavalli]

Asaf Jahi scion does his bit to save heritage

I want to create awareness about the need for protecting the heritage structures so that the city could get heritage status, says Azmath Ali Khan

A stroke here and a dab there and the finial (kalas) appears. Gradually the ornamental dome below emerges.

Unmindful of the crowd leaning over him, Sahebzada Azmath Ali Khan draws the rectangular arched arcade housing the tombs of the Asaf Jahi rulers in the Mecca Masjid courtyard.

It is on-the-spot sketching at its best. The great grandson of Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikandar Jah, popularly known as Nizam III, is on a mission to save the city’s heritage.

And the medium he has chosen is to sketch the well-known monuments sitting in public places to draw the attention of passersby.

Creating awareness

On Wednesday, Mr. Khan commenced the campaign from the Mecca Masjid after offering floral tributes to his ancestors. During the next few days he will sketch Chowmahalla palace, City College, old MCH office at Darushifa, Purani Haveli yellow gate, Paigah Palace, Sultan Bazar, Gunpark and Husain Shah Wali Dargah.

“I want to create awareness about the need for protecting the heritage structures so that the city could get heritage status,” says Mr. Khan who works at the Vaishnavi School of Planning and Architecture, Madhapur.

Prolific sketcher

He uses pen, pencil, charcoal, brush, oil pastel and waste prints to depict historical, archaeological monuments and other buildings all over the world. Having held 39 exhibitions in different countries, Mr. Khan is back in Hyderabad to portray the Dakhni, Telugu Islamic art and architecture.

Anuradha Reddy, INTACH convener, Hyderabad chapter and Bhaskar Rao, curator, Nizam Museum, appreciated the efforts being made by Mr. Khan to safeguard the city heritage.

[Gudavalli]

Metro boost for city heritage

Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd is seeking to allay fears that the Rs 16,375-crore mass transport project will destroy the heritage of the city. Promising to make the project heritage-friendly, HMRL said it will partly sponsor the renovation of heritage buildings which are now in a state of neglect. To start with, the HMRL is spending nearly Rs 2 crore on reviving the historic Moazzam Jahi Market building.

The GHMC has hired an expert heritage conservation architect to prepare a detailed project report on renovating the MJ market. Hyderabad Metro Rail’s managing director N.V.S. Reddy told this newspaper that HMRL will give an equivalent amount to any organisation that invests in the restoration of heritage structures. “In fact, we will also hand over Nampally Sarai if any organisation wants to restore it. Nampally Sarai was declared dilapidated by JNTU experts. The only condition is that the organisation doing the renovation of heritage buildings should hire reputed heritage architects,” he said.

He said the metro rail will run 50-500 ft away from heritage structures and will not touch the compound walls of heritage properties. But heritage experts are not convinced by these assurances. They say that while they have no objection to the metro rail authority spending money on reviving the lost beauty of heritage buildings, the metro rail should run underground for some distance where heritage sites are located. “We are not against the metro rail, but the skyline is important. Though the metro may not run through any notified heritage structure, its elevated pillars and platform will block the view of heritage structures,” points out Omim Debara, a heritage conservation activist.

Intach city convener P. Anuradha Reddy said, “We are not satisfied with the HMRL explanation. The HMRL should give a detailed presentation to the Heritage Conservation Committee on the height and distance restrictions being followed regarding heritage buildings, including structures of religious significance, on all the three metro rail corridors.”

[sriece19]

Unesco panel to inspect monuments on September 25, 26

HYDERABAD: The much awaited inspection of the city's prime Qutub Shahi monuments for the coveted world heritage tag will take place on September 25 and 26. The team from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos), the advisory body to Unesco's World Heritage Committee will be in the city to inspect Charminar, Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi Tombs for inclusion in the list of world heritage sites of 2013.

While officials are unaware about the composition of the team, it has been learnt that an architectural expert from Iran will be part of the team. As per the schedule drawn up, the team along with ASI officials will visit Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi Tombs on September 25 and Charminar on September 26.

The announcement of the dates has infused haste into last minute preparations. The world heritage tag will secure Unesco funds for the monuments and is expected give a boost to tourism in the city.

Pending works include removal of rank vegetation, repairing pathways, and repairing lampposts at Qutub Shahi Tombs by the state archeology department. At the Charminar, ASI officials are planning to carry out minor repair works to stucco and floral patterns that line the upper half of the monument. There is also a proposal for chemical wash of the monument but it may not take place before the arrival of the team.

While state archeology department officials are confident of handling beautification tasks on time, they have thrown up their hands when it comes to encroachments. "It is impossible to remove squatters in such a short amount of time. We fear that we may not be able to meet the expectations of Icomos panel," said one official.

Religious structures at Charminar are amongst the insurmountable problems. ASI's efforts to get the managements of the religious institutions to the talking table have not worked. Sources say that even the cops are unwilling to make a move on the sensitive issue keeping in mind the festival season.

Many constructions within the Golconda have come up violating the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains (AM and ASR) Act which lays down that no constructions or encroachments should exist within 300 meters of a protected structure. The GHMC recently demolished some parts of a four-storey building near Qutub Shahi Tombs but ten more buildings are yet to be demolished.

[sriece19]

Mecca Masjid cistern in for repairs

The huge cistern at Mecca Masjid is in for repairs. The mosque authorities have emptied it as it has developed major cracks resulting in the speedy depletion of water. The cistern is used by people for ablutions before offering ‘namaz’.

During Ramzan the fast depletion of water created problems for worshippers. “Therefore, we have decided to repair it properly,” said Khaja Nayeemuddin, superintendent, Mecca Masjid.

The cistern got damaged in the bomb blast at the mosque in 2007.

Ever since the water was seeping out but of late the cracks widened causing water to deplete quickly. Last Friday the cistern was completely emptied and the tiles removed to plug the leaks.

[Gudavalli]

Who will walk heritage talk?

With just a fortnight to go for the visit of experts from the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for a final inspection of the Golconda Fort, Charminar and the Qutb Shahi Tombs, it appears that this time too, the Qutb Shahi heritage may not make it to the Unesco’s World Heritage list for the year 2013.
Authorities concerned have dropped all their grandiose plans to make the monuments ready for final assessment by the international team. Instead, they are now focusing on ad hoc measures to somehow make an impression and be done with the process. Officials at the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) here in Hyderabad cited shortage of time as a reason for not going ahead with the chemical restoration of Charminar. “The congested nature of the Charminar area, lack of time and due to other practical problems, we could only do minor restoration work,” said a senior official with ASI on condition of anonymity.
The ASI had even proposed a sub-terrain toilet similar to the one at the Golconda Fort near Charminar. However, now, the same ASI claims it is neither feasible nor required. “There is an existing toilet near Charminar and that is being restored with the help of the GHMC,” said Dr R Krishnaiah, superintending archaeologist, ASI.
To make the cut for the Unesco’s heritage list, the monument shouldn’t have any encroachments around. Officials were supposed to remove all the encroachments near the Charminar ahead of the experts’ visit. It couldn’t be done but after protracted negotiations, a face-saving formula has been worked out. Krishnaiah said people associated with the temple and the dargah near the monument had extended cooperation for the inspection. “As a result of discussions, they have agreed to remove all the flags, hoardings, syntax water tanks etc during the inspection period,” he said.
Similarly, uniform signage for shops and other works near the Charminar were supposed to start after Ramzan but nothing has begun till date. The much-publicised Charminar Pedestrianisation Project supposed to start by August-end hasn’t moved an inch.
When contacted, Dr P Gayatri, Director of State Archaeology, said, “the department is working out an MoU with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture for development of Qutb Shahi gardens at the tombs and we will start laying of Qutb Shahi garden after the experts’ visit.” Representatives of the trust had earlier visited the city to chalk out a programme for documentation, laying of gardens, conservation of monuments, civic amenities and involving the local community under public-private partnership mode.
Convenor of the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage, an NGO, P Anuradha Reddy, felt it was better to do what could be done at the moment and try to persuade the experts about future plans. “This inspection will be the last chance to satisfy them and get our heritage inscribed in the list for 2013,” she pointed out, adding, “dossiers for 2014 are already being prepared. So, if we miss out this time, we will always stand a chance some other time but not next,” she added.