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Lt Col A K Bhandari

A memento in Bhandari's Hyderabad home revives memories of '71 war

The grand Spanish mosque of Hyderabad

Grand Spanish mosque is Hyderabad's lesser known icon

Khaja Begum

Khaja Begum dishes out authentic Nizam food

Ratna-Chotrani

personality-news

Inkredible art: Meet the master calligrapher Sami Sultan

Ratna G Chotrani Sami Sultan, a popular Indian Calligrapher from Hyderabad, has transformed lettering into a celebrity art form, blending traditional scripts with films, memorabilia, wedding invites, textiles and any medium Calligraphy is more than just beautiful handwriting; it's an art form that has been part of India's cultural and artistic heritage for centuries. From ancient temple inscriptions to Mughal-era manuscripts an...

personality-news

Nimrah Mirza's horses can calm your nerves through Equine Assisted Therapy

Ratna G Chotrani/Hyderabad There’s no denying that everyone needs a bit of a mental health check sometimes —and for more than a few individuals, therapy with horses is the key to peace. Trot and Talk, a Hyderabad-based organisation started by this young Horse rider and Equestrian that trains racehorses to provide therapy to children and youth with disabilities or mental health issues. The initiative provides a home to thous...

Equine therapy dynamism is helping transform the lives of horses and humans

Ratna G Chotrani/Hyderabad There’s no denying that everyone needs a bit of a mental health check sometimes —and for more than a few individuals, therapy with horses is the key to peace. Trot and Talk, a Hyderabad-based organisation started by this young Horse rider and Equestrian that trains racehorses to provide therapy to children and youth with disabilities or mental health issues. The initiative provides a home to thous...

A peek into ensembles and fashions of the Royals Nizam and Paigah

Ratna G. Chotrani A visit to the scion of the Paigah family and the great-great-grandson of H.E. Nawab Sir Vicar- Ul-Umara Bahadur, Amir-e-Paigah and former Prime Minister of erstwhile Hyderabad state M A Faiz Khan grew up seeing their family as ardent patrons of homegrown textiles, superior garments, and spectacular gems even as history is witness to the global influence of Indian Prince and Princesses. He says that a visit to Hyderab...

Tagore and Nizam appreciated each other for pursuing cause of education

Ratna G. Chotrani It was nine decades ago that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore visited Hyderabad, then a State ruled by Nizam, as a guest of the 'Riyasath' and he fell in love with the Banjara Hills, a posh area of the city now-a-days. Nizam of Hyderabad had extended a formal invitation to Ravindranath Tagore to visit Hyderabad in 1933. The inviten was forwarded by Nawab Mehdi Nawaz Jung, Secretary to the Executive Council. The...

personality-news

Hyderabad's Afsar Jahan helps women who are clueless about their rights

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad I met her in the small interval between her making intense arguments for her client, mostly kin of the custodial deaths, before the judge to her sessions at the Mohalla family counseling centres. Afsar Jahan works almost without taking a break from her hectic schedule as a human rights lawyer and women's rights activist. Besides her routine legal work, she provides free legal aid at the Mohalla Family Counse...

Palestinian Kunafa of Karachi Bakery on Eid is a rage in Hyderabad

Ratna G Chotrani/Hyderabad Show stopper desserts like the Golden syrupy Baklava or delicate desserts like a Kunafa, chocolate coated dates stuffed with dry fruits or wafers sandwiched with date cream and nuts, or its delicate pastries or exquisite mithais. These mouth-watering and unique Eid specialties can only be obtained from a classy bakery like Karachi Bakery of the city. Karachi Bakery has a slew of offers for you this Eid. There...

Ghaghra, sharara in pastels with traditional jhumkas is the trendy Eid attire

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad Gourmandizing and style are two factors that bond women regardless of faith and culture. Each one of us waits for the festivities to break the monotony of the mundane. No wonder women invited to the month-long Iftar parties and now the grand Eid-ul Fitr get-togethers don’t just think of the Rose Sherbet, Kebab, Biryani, and Sheer khurma, they have to think more about what to wear for the occasion. So w...

Anjum Pasha's home-cooked food is a rage during Ramzan in Hyderabad

Ratna G. Chotrani Anjum Pasha wears many hats; she is a lawyer and an educationist by profession and a home chef specializing in the Hyderabadi cuisine by passion. She borrows as much from tradition as she does from good old-fashioned ingenuity. Her food is much sought after by famous restaurants of the city during Ramzan as it’s the choice of guests for their post-Iftar meal. Her food is so famous that she enjoys the status of a...

Hyderabad's traditional Seviyan-makers do brisk business during Ramzan

Ratna G Chotrani/Ratna Chotrani Snippets of food wisdom have been woven into culture for thousands of years giving cities and towns its distinct heritage food. What attracts us to Hyderabadi food is the tradition and history behind it and one such ingredient is Seviyans which form an integral part of Indian festivities. In Hyderabad, the Ramazan platter often comprises food, made of recipes handed down from generations. Making Sevi...

A little Yemen in Hyderabad where Arabic food culture is thriving

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad The Barkas locality in Hyderabad is home to a large population of Arab-origin people, mainly from Yemen. Today the tribe has assimilated into the local population, and yet retains its ethnic distinctive culture. Interestingly, Barkas comes from the English word ‘barracks’ and there is a story behind it. During the Nizam’s rule, the Barkas served in the Military and lived in Barracks. The Ch...

In Hyderabad, Ramzan nights are abuzz with cuisine, cultural fests and shopping

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad The city of Hyderabad is bursting with life and energy during the holy month, particularly after sunset, as Muslims break their day-long rigorous fast. The night during Ramzan brings unique activities and exclusive experiences to residents and visitors. Those new to the city are astonished to see the cultural celebrations, thrilling outdoor adventures, tempting retail offers in Malls and shops, and incredibl...

Mohammad Ali Baig introduces the West to struggles, dreams of Indians through theater

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad The Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation has changed the definition of Indian theatre with the sole motive of telling stories that speak the language of India. No wonder its founder Muhammad Ali Baig, a member of the Indian Diaspora, is breaking stereotypes and representing the multicultural Indian world to the West. Muhammad Ali Baig is often referred to as the Global face of Hyderabadi Theatre. Son of t...

Chef Prateek Mathur retrieves lost Hyderabadi recipes from the pages of history

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad Beneath its touristy luster, Hyderabad preserves a deep traditional culture and a cuisine that has a long-standing Mughlai Turkic and Arabic influence. Known for its distinctive culture, countless traditions, artistic practices, and most importantly cuisine Hyderabad cuisine is one of the best favoured across the globe. Be it the famed Hyderabadi Kacche gosht ki Biryani or the Patthar ka ghost and many...

Using religion to unite through 'Meal at Masjid' on Milad- Un- Nabi

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad (Telangana) In India, one cannot separate food from faith. Be it Muslims, Jews , Sikhs ,Christians or Hindus, the massive cooking in holy kitchens always amaze people. The large scale cooking satiates the hunger of millions of people who visit holy shrines. This holds good for special dishes made in all places of worship -whether it is Meethe Chawal in Dargah Sharif or it is the cauldron of Halwah during Ros...

How ASI-protected 460-year Katora Houz at Golconda Fort is turning into a cesspool

Ratna G Chotrani/Hyderabad The heritage site of Katora Houz is in utter neglect. Flouting the heritage status of the monument, the Lake is being turned into a landfill leading to its slow death. The 460-year tank at Golconda, built by the Qutub Shahi rulers, as a freshwater storage tank resembled a septic tank. Once the elixir for the people of Hyderabad under Qutub Shahi Kings the travelers was wowed by the Lake’s majestic...

Sibghatullah Khan introduces Hyderbadis to their rich past through his Deccan Archives

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad It’s January; there's a nip in the air and the humidity is low. It’s a great time to explore Hyderabad on foot. Whether you're traveling to a new destination or want to pull back the curtain on your city, these walking tours are the best way to rediscover the streets of Hyderabad. Mohammed Sibghatullah Khan co-author of Hyderabad Deccan, an architectural and visual designer by profession and ...

'Nizam' Mukarram Jah to be laid to rest in Hyderabad as per his wish

Ratna G.Chotrani The ceremonial 8th Nizam of Hyderabad Mukarram Jah, who passed away in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 12, was fond of cars and had married five times. Though he lived most of his life abroad- in Europe - as per his wish, his body will be aid to rest in his native place. Jah, 89. heir to the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad was the grandson of the last reigning Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. His body ...

Hyderabad's Numaish: world's largest consumer fair with a dash of fun

Ratna G Chotrani/Hyderabad Come January and it’s time for the Numaish in the city of Nizam. The venue is teeming with people, fairy lights of the Giant wheel create a magnificent view from far, the wafting aroma of sizzling kebabs, the sweet smell of the cotton candy, the sizzle of the frying Mirchi pakoras popularly known as bhajji’s, variety of eggs, samosas and endless foods lure families to spend time shopping and having fu...

Hyderabad to restore heritage monuments for UNESCO tag

Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad The Hyderabad City authorities have decided to restore several monuments and heritage structures in Hyderabad to strengthen the city's claim for the UNESCO world heritage tag. While the work on the restoration of the 140-year Saidani Ma Tomb is going on, the authorities recently announced that Sardar Mahal, Mir Alam Mandi, and Mahaboob Chowk Market (Murghi Chowk) would also ...

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