LEARNING FROM CITIES
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FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HERITAGE
The heritage of a city plays a pivotal role in keeping people on track. It could be the history of any city, structure, street or even an ancient park. It could be a 400 hundred year old market place that serves as today’s Sunday bazaar. Or it could be an intrinsically carved ancient Kamaan (gate), where today people come together in silent contemplation and pay homage to the ancient glories. But for this, it is necessary for people to recognize the value of heritage, and the people of Hyderabad do. Whether the locals really understand the technical idiosyncrasies in the construction, or how the vistas of the ancient market places unfold into a series of nodes for congregation, is beside the point. They are flat head over heels in love with their heritage. They are in complete awe of the ancient spaces they live amidst, and you don’t need to know the theory of city form to figure out why. You could chat up any local and expect a story to unfurl. Stories about the view from the very many lakes (both artificial and man-made) sprinkled around the city... Stories about the Nizami glory…. Stories about the midnight bazaar during the month of
Ramzaan…. Stories about the monumental Charminar… Everyone has a story. Whatever may be the version, a visit to Charminar and its precincts is an Alice in Wonderland experience. The avenue leading to the edifice is a riot of colour… the Chudi Bazaar. The mélange of hues is visually engaging. The lanes are interspersed with horses at rest beside the tongas and sugarcane kiosks. As you meander, the by-lanes open into the beautiful wholesale Pearl market that tugs at your heart strings. Further down, the lanes blend seamlessly into the modern city that is the hallmark of Hyderabad today. On the other hand, those looking for a more structured understanding, have the regularly conducted heritage walks to look forward to. Some are conducted by the local authorities while others by local conservationists and enthusiasts, who are more than keen to show you the very charming side of Hyderabad. While the authorities have restoration plans and proposals, to keep the heritage precinct intact, it is really the people that bind the city together.
A view of the Telangana State High court from the Otherside of the Musi river banks. The building was conceived in 1910, and is well maintained and functional even today. Image credit:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyderabad_High_ Court.jpg
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CITY OBSERVER | June 2016