IN the month of June 2001, while I was listening to the BBC Urdu Service in the morning, I came to know that the southern wall of the Pakka Fort of Hyderabad had collapsed, killing two and injuring four or five people. It hurt me as I have developed a very special kind of love for Hyderabad since 1964 (I first visited this historical and great city in the year 1964). I have been living and visiting Hyderabad very regularly since 1975, that has resulted in a special kind of attachment for the city.
The houses in the fort, specially the ones that are very close to the big outer wall, are facing serious danger as parts of the wall have been falling off for the last many years. But nobody has expressed any serious concern.
Great nations preserve their cultures, civilizations and heritages at all costs. We people, generally, have no respect for our valued heritage. The historical places in Hyderabad and other parts of our homeland have been decaying and are being destroyed by ignorant people and vested interest-groups. Many historical buildings are being replaced with so-called modern flats and buildings without any concern.
Elders tell us that there was a time when Hyderabad was called the Paris of Sindh. The streets and roads of Hyderabad used to be washed daily. In Heerabad, they used to sprinkle perfume in the evening. There was a good number of trees and people used to plant flowers inside and outside their houses. But, today, in Hyderabad, you can only see roads filled with sewage.
However, Hyderabad has improved a great deal since President General Pervez Musharraf took over. The former Commissioner of Hyderabad, Imtiaz Kazi, who hails from the city, has taken keen interest in the renovation of old historical buildings. The new look of the Sindh University’s Old Campus and the Jetha Ram Hostel have made them ornaments of the city. Now, after the devolution plan, the responsibility lies with the new District Nazim of Hyderabad, Dr Makhdoom Rafique-uz-Zaman and the City Nazim, Moinuddin Shaikh. People expect a lot from both of them. I personally feel that the young Makhdoom can do a great job by changing the shape of the city for the better.
A few days ago, an officer who has just returned from Paris after staying there for three years, told me with sadness that there isn’t any recreation facility in Hyderabad. And he is right. There was a time in the good old 60s when Rani Bagh used to be a hot-spot for recreation. Al-Manzar, nowadays, is in very poor shape. There are only two cinema halls worth visiting. If one goes there, he is bound to repent because 70 per cent of the people are found smoking inside.
Loyal Hyderabadians can play a very positive role under the leadership of the District Nazim. The privileged class and businessmen can also share the burden to beautify and make Hyderabad a clean city again.
For the recreation of the people of Hyderabad, an open-air theatre can be constructed in the vicinity of the city where musical concerts, big social gatherings, comedy dramas and political functions can be held.
Rani Bagh can be brought back to its old glorious standards. A water park, such as the one in Karachi, can be made for the people of Hyderabad and the interior of Sindh. The Al-Manzar Restaurant in Jamshoro can also be renovated and made fit for outings.
These dreams are not so great that the greats of Hyderabad cannot make them a reality. They can!
IN the month of June 2001, while I was listening to the BBC Urdu Service in the morning, I came to know that the southern wall of the Pakka Fort of Hyderabad had collapsed, killing two and injuring four or five people. It hurt me as I have developed a very special kind of love for Hyderabad since 1964 (I first visited this historical and great city in the year 1964). I have been living and visiting Hyderabad very regularly since 1975, that has resulted in a special kind of attachment for the city.
