Acts of Love - Babar Khan Autowala

While looking for a autorickshaw from Charminar to Imlibun I saw this one auto coming up with an aged Muslim driver. Something about him made me realise he was a decent guy and that he would not overcharge or try to fleece - he had an honest air about him. True to my guess, he asked for 120 bucks (as opposed to 200 bucks in the earlier case) Got in and headed out to the Imlibun bus stand.

We got talking and he asked why I was there in the old city and if I was new to Hyderabad. I said I was not new but was discovering the city only now, especially the Old city. He asked if I had biryani in the Old City and I asked where they served the best biryani. He said Shadab without blinking an eye. Then he said 'the best biryani is at my house'. Then he went into raptures on how they make it at home and how zabardast it is.

I said I would have loved to come to his house for a meal. 'Abhi bole to palta detun,' he said which translates to 'I'll turn the vehicle around if you tell me now'. So pleased was he that I asked him about a meal at his house that he was ready to take 10 bucks less, wanted to drop me right at the steps though the cops were stopping us etc.

'Aise dil mein mohabbat hain so aadmi mushkil se milte saab,' he said. 'Mile toh nahin chodna'. (It's difficult to find people who have love in their hearts sir, we should not let them go easily).

I loved his sentiment, his intensity. His search for mohabbat or love in all his interactions. I envied it. I asked him his name. 'Babar Khan,' he said with a smile that lit his wizened eyes. He did not have a mobile so no numbers were exchanged. And in those few moments, he showered all the love in the world on me for just saying I would love to eat a meal at his house.

Babar Khan, I wish you all the mohabbat in the world my friend. And may you enjoy many more of your biryanis at home. And feel my presence along with.  

Acts of Love - Dad and Son

 Coming home in the Metro after watching the Bonalu procession near Lal Darwaza I got a seat at Khairatabad. Some time later I found a young boy, eight years old perhaps, standing before me with his father looking around for a place to sit. I felt bad that he had to stand, knew it would be stupid to offer my seat to him. Luckily a seat was vacated soon enough and the father saw it.

Then only as a father can do, he offered the seat to his innocent looking son and stood for the rest of the journey. And I wondered how many times my father would have done that for me, or how many fathers do that every day.

So many small acts of love.

A Guide to Architecture in Hydeabad, Deccan - Omar Khalidi

This book has about 274 places in Hyderabad with pictures and covers monuments, lakes, tombs, places of interest from 1591 when the city was built. In his introduction the author writes that the city was named Hyder after the fourth orthodox caliph and the first imam of the Shiite Muslims . Other legends go that it was named after Bhagmati, the love interest of Sultan Mohammad Quli, the fifth Sultan and that she was named Hyder Mahal and that was why the city is named after her. However, due to lack of any sign of a tomb or any other sign of her existence, we may discount the Bhagmati tale and go with the first one.

https://archive.org/details/hyderabad-guide-2009/page/42/mode/2up

Dabeerpura Darwaza

The main parts of the book are 

1) Rivers, Lakes and Waterfronts - Musi, Husain Sagar Lake, Mir Alam Tank 

2) Squares and Plazas - Charminar, Charkaman (Kali Kaman, Machli Kaman, Sihr-i Batil kaman, Charminar Kaman), Malakunta Masjid square, Abid Circle,  

3) Bridges, Forts, Towers - Golconda, Qilaa-yi Kohna and Mosque, Old Fort, Malkajgiri Fortification and Baradari, Purana Pul, Naya Pul, Chaderghat or Oliphant Bridge, Lakdi ka Pul, Musallam Jung Pul, Anbarpet Burj, Kaman Chatta Bazaar

4) Walls and City Gates - Purana Pul Darwaza, Dabeerpura Darwaza, Delhi Darwaza, Afzal Darwaza, Chaderghat Darwaza, Daricha-yi Bewahir

5) Clock Towers - Mahbub Chowk, Fateh Maidan, Sultan Bazar, James Street, Secunderabad

6) Mosques and Ashurkhanas - Badshahi Ashurkhana, Maula Ali, Jama Masjid, Mecca Masjid, Miyan Mishk ke Masjid, Toli Masjid, Abd al-Rahman Khan ki masjid, Shaikpet Masjid and Saray, Premamati ki masjid, Kuslum Begum Masjid, Hayatnagar Masjid, Masjid Qutb -i Alam, Qutb Shahi Masjid (Uppal Klan), Mushirabad Masjid, Purani Eidgah, Kali Masjid, Chowk ki Masjid, Afzal Ganj ki Masjid, Spanish Mosque, Khwaja ka Chilla, Bagh-i Aam ka Masjid, Aazah Khaah-i Zahra, 

7) Dargahs - Mir Mahmud Nimatullahi, Shah Raju II, Yusufayn, Sayyid Mir Shujaauddin Husayn, Nuruddin Shah Qadiri, Muhammad Hasan Abulayi, Tariqat Manzil, 

8) Tombs - Qutb Shah Royal Tombs, Daira-yi Mir Momin, Janwada Grave and Mosque of Hussaina Begum, Armenian Cemetery, Amin al-Mulk (Patancheru), Tomb of Hakim, Khayrat Khan, Khayratabad Tomb, Mir Qutbuddin Nimatullah Dashtaki and Mir Sharif, Kamrakhi Gunbad, Puran Mal Samadhi, Paigah Tombs, Raymond's tomb, Chin Qilich Khan Tomb, Nawabs of Kalyani, Saidanima and Diler Jang, Imad al-Mulk, Fakhr al- Mulk, Bahadur Yar Jang, Humayun and Sughra Mirza, Nizams at Mecca Masjid, Osman Ali Khan and Family 

9) Hindu temples - Kishn Bagh temple and Dargah, Jham Singh Temple, Sitaram Bagh temple, Maharaja Chandulal's temple, Laxman Bagh, Birla Mandir

10) Parsi Temples - Parsi temple

11) Churches - St Mary's Cathedral, St Joseph's Cathedral, St George's Cathedral, St. John's Church, Vijaya Marie 'Our Lady of Health' Church 

12) Residential Architecture - Taramati Baradari, Goshamahal Baradari, Mishk Mahal, Bhagawandas Garden Pavilion, Deori Akram Ali Khan, Chowmahalla Palace and Shahi Khilawat, British Residency, James Da Costa Mansion, Baradari Chandhulal, Deori Iqbaluddawlah, Deori Asman jah, Baradari Khurshid Jah, Diwan Deori, Deori Shamraj Bahadu, Deori Kishan Pershad, Malwala Palace, Manjli Begum ki Haveli, Sardar Mahal, Purani Haveli, Abd al-Majid Khan Mansion, Sulaymani Bohras Mansion, Deori Fida Husain Khan, Deori Shah Yar al-Mulk, Gyan Bagh Palace, Deori Bansilal, Bait al-Ghaws, Jahan Numa, Falak Numa Palace, Asman Garh Palace, Paigah Palace, Vilayat Manzil, Viqar Manzil, Aiwan-i Begumpet Palace, Bashir Bagh Palace, Rahat Manzil, Raushan Manzil, Saifabad Palace, Hill Fort Palace, Shapurwadi Mansion, Faridunji's Mansion, Peston ji ki Kothi, Deori Imad Jang, Asad Bagh aka Nizam College, Asad Bagh aka Madarsa-i Aliyah, Zulqadr Jang Mansion aka Madarsa-i Aliya, Muqarrab Jang Mansion aka Directorate of Industries, Kashana-i Ishrat, Sayyid Abd al-Rahim's Mansion aka Ravi Bar, King Kothi, Gough Bungalow, Panj Mahalla, Parwarish Bagh, Reddy Hostel, Golden Threshold, Adil Alan Mansion, Uma Bagh, Ali Manzil, Bait al-Ashraf, Khusro Manzil, Mumtaz Mnasion aka Asman Mahal, Gulistan aka Liaqat Manzil, Nafis Manzil, Bella Vista, Deori Mahdi Nawaz Jung, Iram Manzil, Shah Manzil, Ali Yawar Jang Mansion, Alhambra, Koh-i Noor Mansion, Sayyid Naqi Bilgrami Mansion, Hyder Ali Khan's Bungalow, Wanaparti Mahal, Wanaparti Mansion, Green Lands Guest House, Dilkusha Guest House, Dosabhoy Nusserwanji Chenoy Mansion, D Laxmaiah's Residence, Dr Pentaiah's Residence, Ibrahim Mansion, Mohanlal Malani Mansion, Shyam Rao Chungi Mansion, Prem Chand Mansion, Astad Chinoy Villa, Parsi Function Hall, Sarurnagar Palace, Mahbub Mansion, Amin Manzil, Aziz Bagh, Baqir Bagh, Qamar Manzil, Raza Ali Mansion, Yusuf Tekri, Central Coop Training College, Humayun Nagar Mansion, Taj Mahal Hotel, La Palais Royale, Ibrahim Manzil, Office of Commissioner of Land Administration         

13) Educational buildings - St George's Grammar School, Aaliya High School, Mahbubiya School for Girls, Nizamiya Observatory, City College, Public School, State Central Library, Osmania University Art's College, Idarah-i Adabiyat-i Urdu, Birla Planetarium

14) State buildings - Shamshir Kotha, Khazana Building, Gun Foundry, Secunderabad Arsenal, Secunderabad Cantonment, Bengal Bank, State Bank of Hyderabad, Mahbubiya Town Hall (Legislative Assembly), Jubilee Hall and Pavilion, State Archaeological Museum, Salar Jang Museum, Mini Bal Bhavan, College of Nursing, The Nizam's Post Office, Old MCH Office, Hyderabad Railway Station, High Court, Begumpet Airport 

15) Commercial buildings - Karwan-i Sahuan, Aliabad Saray, Akkanna Saray, Lad Bazar, Mandi Mir Alam, Pathargatti Bazar, Abid, I. Prakash Building, Laxmi Paper Mart, Muazzam Jahi Market, Raja Bhagwandas Building, Hifazat Husain Store, Nanubhai G Shah's Building, Alladdin Building, Monty's Hotel, Percy's Hotel, Secunderabad Club, Nizam Club, Lady Hydari Club

16) Sports - Fateh Maidan, Hyderabad Race Club

17) Hospitals - Darul Shifa, Victoria Maternity Hospital, Osmania General hospital, Unani Hospital

Mnay of those listed do not exist anymore and some are rather difficult to find but I would now like to check out all the stuff I can, at least the major ones. Thanks Omar Khalidi for the effort.

We Are All Made of of Glue - Marina Lewycka

I have absolutely no idea who gave me this book (my bet is that it could be Raja who loves humour) and I always kept it off judging the book by its cover and its title. But it turned out to be a delightful read in the end.

The protagonist Georgina Sinclair is an aspiring novel who writes for a magazine called 'Adhesives' (about adhesives), is married with two kids, one girl college going and one boy school going. Her marriage falls apart when her husband leaves her after they have a fight and she is left with her son Ben who starts getting into different religious cults who foresee dark futures etc for mankind. 

Georgie meanwhile makes friends with a ninety year old neighbour Naomi Shapiro who picks up a lot of stuff of her husband's stuff which Georgie throws out (leading to his walking out). Naomi is a Jew who lives with a bunch of cats and is constantly in some trouble. The local real estate guys are moving in and so are social security types who are worried that she cannot manage alone. All she has is Georgie (and she for G) and they negotiate their lives and its twists and turns together (and affairs with poetic real estate men) until it all comes together in the end with a house that burns down. The house which everyone is after was never Naomi's (in fact she is not Naomi at all), her former lover's son who returns from Israel, a Palestinian who helps fix Naomi's broken house and his two useless assistants Nabeel and another chap.

Witty and delightful in a very British way, Marina leads you into a layered world of complex relationships, human and of the world, religion, politics, war, racism and figures that it is all made of glue (she scientifically proves it too!). I really enjoyed it.  

Acts of Love - Swiggy Brotherhood

 I went to pick up Anjali's order at the gate. I looked left and right and then a bike came - with two people on it. I was looking past them when they came near my house and slowed down. The guy at the back got off and handed me the packet.

We would do stuff like that for our friends - when they had work, we would go along with them for company. It was always nice to have them around - buying my first stereo, my first car, clothes, wedding vendors for my sister's wedding, Dad's pension, EMI for plot scams - so many. I also remember midnight rides for friends who had work at midnight  - sitting by road sides, drinking chai.

These two must be friends and one friend must have said I will come with you or I will drive you and they came by combining work with pleasure.

What is friendship for, if not for this - someone who can share a bit of your burden, who makes life seem a bit more bearable by doing that one spontaneous act, who recognises the drudgery of your job.

What is it but an act of love.

Acts of Love - Children Trust Easily

Most days on my walk, I see this mother-daughter pair walking to school. The moment they come close to me, the mother looks away (in India we do not have the practice of saying 'Hello' or 'Good Morning' to strangers and with good reason because the next thing people want is your number). But the child has no such fears and looks directly at me and smiles brilliantly. And she does that every day. I also love that look in her eyes - full of eagerness, looking forward to go to school. 

Children trust easily. I do hope to find an adult story which is similar. (And if not, create one).

...

Vijay and me were returning home at 8 pm in a remote part of Mahindra Hills and two ten year olds pop up asking for a lift. I stopped much to Vijay's surprise. I asked them where they wanted to go. 'They did not expect us to stop but answered 'To the shop'. 'What for?' I asked. 'To buy Limca,' they said. Hop in I said.

They must have a pact of going to the shop which was some half a kilometer away and drinking Limca. It must also be fun to ask for lifts. Vijay asked 'What if someone kidnaps you? It's not safe to ask lifts from strangers.'  They looked chastised. I said 'But there are also good people around like us. So don't worry.' They laughed.

'be careful though,' shouted Vijay as they got off. They told us their names and Vijay told them to study well and become stars. They nodded.

Hmm. To trust easily like a child. To be like one. To fall in love with every moment. And enter the next moment afresh.

What is love if it is not trust. No one does it better than children.    

Yashaswini - Indraganti Janakibala

Mohan Krishna's mother gave this book to me as a gift when I visited her many years ago to know about publishing in Telugu. Its a bio of film star and multi faceted personality Bhanumathi - writer, dancer, singer, actor and much more.

Bhanumathi started acting when she was 15 years old in a film called 'Vara Vikrayam'. She followed that up with several films in which she both acted and sang. As a rebel she married Ramakrishna who was an AD in one of the films she acted in despite some opposition at home. Several films with top heroes of her time ANR, NTR and others made her a household name. 'Malliswari' in 1951 became a huge hit and catapulted her into the heights of stardom. 

As a writer (which was her first love) her stories 'Attagari Kathalu' (stories about my mother in law) were serialised in magazines and even adapted to TV on Doordarshan (Saas Bahu Kahaniyan in Hindi). She was awarded Sahitya Akademi awards, Doctorates from several Universities, Padmashri.  Another story 'Naalo Nenu' was also published serially and won her acclaim. I was very impressed to know of her love for writing and how prolific she was.

Her film career spanned from 1939 to 1993 - in which she acted in about 60 films which included major hits like 'Laila Majnu', 'Malliswari', 'Vipranarayana', 'Aggi Ramudu', 'Tenali Ramakrishna', 'Palnati Yuddham' etc. 

These facts apart Bhanumathi was a force, a personality you could not ignore, even on the screen. Her tone, sharpness, the fire and intelligence in her eyes, easily made her stand out. You see her once, you will never forget her. I have seen many more heroines of that era and after and forgot the names of so many, but her name remains etched as is her tone, her manner from the couple of movies I watched. Now, that's something. 

The writing is crisp, saying so much in a few words, capturing the essence so well in a book of just 88 pages. Thank you ma'am. My Telugu reading continues and I am surprised at how many I am reading these days.