Modern Hyderabad

(This is translation of an article that appeared in Muslim Murasu December,2010 edition)
Spirituality and philosophy are inseparable from the basic makings of India. A group of Pakistani artists steeped in spiritual music paid a visit to Hyderabad. The themes of God’s power, intimacy between God and man, uncertainty of this world, decay of body, spiritual discipline resonated in the songs. It was devoid of noisy English, western instruments; only one or two instruments of the land.
Lyrics was heart-warming and soul stirring, filled with classic high qualities and words that are exclusive for Urdu, exhibiting authentic literary authority that is untranslatable or impossible to be taken into any other language in the world. Ghazal, qawwal, naath, geeth, shama, gaana and an entry fee of three thousand rupees testify the domination of Urdu language. Hindus constituted majority of the audience. The sacredness of the prophet was the central theme in many songs. Burqa clad women along with their families filled the gathering. National border and differences between the countries stood defeated in front of the richness of the language. Only talent, interest, liking for literature, and humane quality reigned high in the hall. That was Andhra Pradesh foundation day. Newspapers carried proud advertisement from Chief Minister of 35000 crore rupees of foreign investment; a further 40000 crore rupees of investments were lined up in the coming weeks.

Hyderabad is a densely populated city in South India. Muhammad Quli Qutub installed this city on the banks of Musi River in 1591. Spread across 650 kilometer, this city houses 63 lakh people. 55 percent Hindus, 41 percent Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Jains live peacefully. Terrorist hidden in Hyderabad, bombs unearthed, media is perpetuating such fake news and distorted facts with regularity. But the visit of group of artists of spiritual music from Pakistan was warmly appreciated by English dailies; they published interview.

The absolutely peaceful city sees development of centres of information technology, biotechnology, high-tech instruments and foreign funded institutions. Hyderabad is an exemplary city for Hindu-Muslim harmony. The people of Hyderabad have put an end to the false fictitious imaginations of Pakistan as being synonymous with repulsion, vandalism, terrorism, extremism, aggressive army, culture of ammunition and arrogant fundamentalism. The inhabitants of Hyderabad are continually advancing literature,
language, denial of westernism, music of the land and spiritual qualities. 30 lakh Muslims residing in Hyderabad are champions of religious harmony, it cannot be denied, they are exemplary citizens of modern India.