Tag Archives: Daneesh Majid

The Hyderabadis: New Book Revives Debate on City’s Past and Identity

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

New Delhi:

The release of Daneesh Majid’s book The Hyderabadis at the India International Centre ignited a sharp discussion on history, memory, and identity. The event marked the 77th anniversary of Operation Polo, when the princely state of Hyderabad was annexed in 1948.

The book captures ten stories from that turning point to the present day, focusing on ordinary families. Former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat, academic Mujibur Rehman, journalist Dinesh C. Sharma, and author Ruben Banerjee joined Majid on the panel. Wajahat Habibullah, India’s first Chief Information Officer, surprised the audience by claiming that former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was ashamed of his Muslim heritage, linking it to his view of the Nizam’s rule as tyrannical.

Majid explained his motivation to write, saying Hyderabad’s Muslims shifted from being a ruling minority to a numerical minority in democratic India. He recalled advice from Siasat.com editor Mir Ayub Khan to highlight not only achievements but also the struggles faced by Muslim families after the annexation.

Dulat stressed that Hyderabad’s culture extends far beyond its clichés. He highlighted its pluralism, saying Hindus and Muslims traditionally shared deep friendships. Journalist Sharma noted that while the creation of Andhra Pradesh diluted Hyderabadi culture, the city’s multilingual legacy preserved its tolerant spirit.

Not all responses were celebratory. Habibullah compared Hyderabad’s inter-community relations unfavorably with Lucknow. Historian R. Mahalakshmi criticized the absence of women’s voices in the book and urged Majid to include them in future work.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News > Report / by Radiance News Bureau / September 20th, 2025

Saudi NRI promoting education in Hyderabad

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Videos, , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / SAUDI ARABIA :

MMS01MPOs06feb2020

Hyderabad:

 Arshad Pirzada’s successful career in Saudi Arabia has enabled him not only to help his family but also serve the community through education initiatives.

Whether it was learning skills from various General Motors representatives at Al-Jomaih Automotive Company or learning from the Indian expatriates, Pirzada’s hard work has paid off.

“Okay, I had gone to the Kingdom to alleviate the economic woes of my own family. But should one stop there? Shouldn’t he think about the people he has left behind in his city who were in the midst of an economic crisis for a long time?” Pirzada asks looking back at his stay in Saudi Arabia.

The moment one asks Pirzada about the ups and downs in his life, he goes back to the times of grandfather (maternal) who was the Collector of Rychur, formerly a part of Nizam’s Hyderabad State. Those were the days when there was peace and prosperity prevailed. But the 1948 Police Action changed all that.

Speaking about how began his journey to educate a miniscule part of the community, he says, “My children are well settled. My wife, on the other hand, is a teacher of Quranic Arabic, author of a book and an entrepreneur in her own right.  She designs and sells mostly Bridal ware. This where my active association with Mount Mercy School comes in,” he informed.

Mount Mercy School
Mount Mercy School

Established in June 1999, the school in its early days has gone through the pangs of growth. There was always a galore of challenges. Initially only 56 students enrolled. Yet, through better infrastructure developed and word of mouth, there are now 850 students.

MMS04MPOs06feb2020

Pirzada mentions, “Not many among us realise how bad the literacy levels are among the Muslims. For example, around 30 to 40 percent of the kids in MMS are first-generation learners who come from families with limited financial resources. Also, whatever money we make is pumped back into the development of facilities at the school.”

He said, “In today’s competitive, globalized market, soft skills are just as important as the hard skills. We also polish the kids and prepare them for interviews for different competitions, contests and tournaments as well.”

Although the journey that lead to him to forming Mount Mercy with others is one that many Hyderabadi gulf migrants will identify with. That too, whether or not they came from the same background as Pirzada.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Daneesh Majid – Researcher/Writer / posted by Minhaj Adnan / February 04th, 2020