Hyderabad by Walk - Naya Qila

Deccan Archives announced a Conflict and Coexistence walk at Naya Qila. I like the area near Golconda and decided to go even though it was at 4 pm a rather hot part of the day. From what i gathered the walk would cover the general history of happenings that ended rather badly with Muslims and Hindus conflicting with one another in the Hyderabad state before Independence.

The conflict began sometime in the 1920s in the state of Hyderabad which was 84% Hindu and 14% Muslim when the Arya Samaj or Andhra Maha Sabha protested against conversions of Hindus into Islam.

 The Nizam gave out signals that it was a secular state and well more players got added. The Andhra Maha Sabha to protect the interests of the Telugus, the Communists, the Arya Samaj, the Majlis, the state. Bahadur Yar Jung was the founder of the Majlis, Madapati Hanumantha Rao with the Andhra Maha Sabha. Later on Qasim Razvi from Latur came and took over the Majlis, formed his band of Razakars and things went from bad to worse. General idea. 

As a walk we met near the Naya Qila Bagh. Couple of curious chaps came and took our pictures because their officer wanted to know. Some golfers played in the heat and looked at us curiously. Met Anirudh, Mukhthyar and a few others.

We walked to the Baobab tree at the far end and got into the Masjid e Khayali, built by Mulla Khayali, a well known poet and calligrapher.

Then we stepped down, checked out the Baobab tree which is supposed to have hid 40 fellows. Also called the Hathiyon ke jhaad. Apparently the tree was planted by people from Madagascar who popped these seeds here and there so we can hide in them in times of need. 

We walked back to the place where the Laila cannon lay, a massive cannon that Aurangzeb left behind. There is a Majnu cannon as well on the other side as well. The two remain separated eternally. 

And from there to the Mustafa Khan masjid, built by Mustafa Khan, the conqueror of Carnatic as they say. His grave is there but he is not buried here. Sibgat said it was also called the Masjid of Djinns as spirits were expected to come and take over the place after sunset and hang around till sunrise. 

It was good to catch up with young Anirudh who is a huge cricket fan with an amazing amount of information of cricket, current and past. Mukhtiyar was around too, pen and pad in hand, making copious notes. It was a biggish crowd. We headed out around 645.