It’s a research institute named after the first Education Minister of Independent India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. But its upkeep leaves a lot to be desired. Even worse is the run-down condition of the building in Public Garden where it is housed. Research scholars, who come here to carry out studies, have a difficult time locating books and manuscripts. The leaky roof and peeling plaster is a perpetual headache for the staff who are trying to protect this priceless heritage.

Home Minister, Mohammed Mahmood Ali, who visited the Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute on Monday, was shocked at the dilapidated condition of the building situated right next to the Shahi Masjid. He expressed concern at the poor amenities available and the shoe-string budget on which the Institute operates. Mr. Ali promised to arrange grant-in-aid for the 60-year old Institute. He also assured to extend Rs. 10 lakh from his MLC development fund.

“This Institute is a part of Hyderabadi culture and government will do its best to preserve it for posterity”, he said.

Over the years the Institute has translated and published 89 books. Three more books are ready for publication, but for want of funds they couldn’t be printed, informed Prof. Ashraf Rafi, chairperson of the Institute and Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Director, Academic Board. The Home Minister agreed to arrange funds immediately from the Urdu Academy for publication of these books.

Mr. Ali, who inaugurated a photo exhibition put up in connection with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, said the message of the Father of Nation and Maulana Azad needed to be adequately propagated. The younger generation should be familiarised with the hardships and problems faced by our leaders in securing freedom for the country.

Mahatma Gandhi was the most secular of leaders. And so was the Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao, who followed the Gandhian ideology. KCR wanted the marginalised sections of the society to progress on par with other communities. The Telangana Minorities Residential Schools were set up to provide quality education to Muslims, and the results were showing. Six students from these schools have recently attended the NASA conference in the US and brought laurels to the State, the Home Minister said.

The photo exhibition has nearly 100 rare pictures of Mahatma Gandhi. They throw light on the various stages of the freedom struggle. The exhibition will be open to the public until November 8. Morning walkers to the Public Garden can also visit the exhibition.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 28,2019

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The appeal by GHMC not to feed pigeons may find few takers. For people in Hyderabad feeding of pigeons is not just a pastime or a fad. It’s more than that. Many consider it a virtuous deed and feed the winged creatures religiously.

There are several areas in the city which are known pigeons spots. And in recent times their numbers have only multiplied. A locality close to Husaini Alam in the old city goes by the name of ‘Kabutar Khana’. As the name suggests, it used to have a large number of pots placed in a wall to serve as cosy homes for the birds. Hundreds of pigeons made it their abode. A few years ago, when some pigeon-holes got damaged, the locals repaired them. This 200-year-old Kabootar Khana is believed to have been built by one Siddi Ibrahim who loved birds.

Not just this. Hyderabad also boasts of a Pigeon Welfare Association at Sultan Bazar. This hoary kabootar khana is also home to hundreds of birds. The pigeon coops here are maintained by the Sultan Bazar traders and residents of Hashmatgunj. An open area with coops in the middle is enclosed with an iron mesh and pigeons can be seen picking cereal grains, peas and millets offered by people throughout the day.

A portion of the parallel bridge built alongside the Muslimjungpul near the City College has turned into a huge nesting place for pigeons. At any given the time of day one can see hundreds of pigeons taking flight or landing on the bridge to pick up grains. The Begum Bazar merchants make it a point to feed the birds here. The Makkah Masjid near Charminar is another place where the pigeons come home to roost. Visitors to the historic mosque feed the birds as a ritual and click pictures with their children. With pigeon poop falling all over, it is a big task for the Masjid management to keep its premises clean. Also, because of the seeds deposited by the birds in the minarets often there is a vegetal growth, which if not removed, widens the crevices.

Apart from causing respiratory problems, the recent spurt in the pigeon population has become a nuisance to many. Especially those living in high rise apartments warding off the winged creatures are big a challenge. Of late many people are forced to cover up their windows and balconies with safety nets to prevent the birds from flying in or hitting the window panes.

Kabootar Bazi

The feathery creatures have held a special spot for the people here down the ages. Kabootar Bazi is the Hyderabadis idea of combining leisure with pleasure. Rearing pigeons and using them for the sport has been the favourite hobby of the erstwhile rulers. Come evening, and the nawabs and the well-heeledd would climb atop the terraces of their sprawling deodis and let loose their pigeons.

Oldies recall how bets were placed to determine the stamina of the birds to fly. Another area of interest was to woo away the pigeons of the other group. This was done through whistles and waving of hands. The pigeon flock of the rival groups get mixed while airborne and when they ultimately descend some are found to have ‘defected’ to the other camp. It is a matter of pride and a sign of victory for the one who has successfully weaned away the birds of the opposite side. Now it is for the defeated party to redeem its honour by getting back its birds.

The present times, however, doesn’t permit such racing activities. There are still a small number of persons who rear homing pigeons and indulge in racing games. Kabootar ja ja ja… maybe a passionate cry of movie love-birds. But for Hyderabad is it is a pleasant pastime.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 28,2019

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Hyderabad authors have broken gender-based myths, prejudices and stereotypes and proved they can get as witty as their male counterparts when they pen down their thoughts.

Who hasn’t heard of the women-aren’t-funny cliché! Few consider them half as witty as men. Humour, of course, is not their forte, much less writing of it. The debate may go on, but evidence shows that the female of the species can be as sharp and amusing as anybody else. The fact, however, remains that women writers do face tough challenge from their male counterparts in the humour genre.

Nevertheless women writers of Hyderabad beg to differ. They have all the three requisites to success – a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. They have not suppressed their strong desire to wield the pen, have stood up boldly against societal norms which believes a woman’s place is in the home and they have amply demonstrated their skills to tickle the funny bone. Someone who makes you laugh is a humorist.  And someone who makes you think and then laugh is a witty woman.

The sinf-e-nazuk in Hyderabad have proved their mettle in the humour genre. Writers like Dr Habeeb Zia, Jeelani Bano, Dr Zeenat Sajida, Rafia Manzoorul Ameen, Naseema Turabul Hasan, and Shameem Aleem have stormed what is essentially a male domain and left their imprints. They delve into the incongruities of societal behaviour from a woman’s point of view. Interestingly, most women writers have excelled in prose than humorous poetry. As Habeeb Zia says, some women do write ‘mizahiya shayeri jise wo chapathi nahin, chupa kar rakh deti hain’.

Religious and social factors have restrained women, particularly from the Muslim community, from giving vent to their talent. Prejudices and stereotypes have also led people to make value judgement about what women can do or cannot do. A noted male writer is stated to have made an uncharitable remark when he learnt about a good number of women taking to humour writing.

The first name one comes across is that of Asif Jahan Begum. Twelve of her humorous articles were published under the title Gule Qandan in 1941. Stories like Ghaeb Damag, Buddhe Ki Zehniyat, and Mera Kamra are notable for their satire. The article Gunah Darog Bargardane is a humorous take on  the quirky ways of house maids. Ultimately, the fed up inmates seek refuge in prayer. The story ends with the plea ‘Jal tu jalal tu, aayee bala ku taal tu’.

Dr Zeenat Sajida is another important name to reckon with in the humour genre. Though a writer of serious prose, she also tried her hand at ‘tanz-o-mizah’ and came out with flying colours. Even as she was doing her Master’s in Women’s College, she published her book of short stories – Jaltarang. Later, she penned Telugu Adab Ki Tareek (History of Telugu literature), and Kulyate Shahi.

An authority on Deccani literature, Dr Sajida’s short story Meri Murgian gives a peep into her humorous side. The story is all about her desire to rear chicks in the face of strong opposition from other members of the house. Her biggest opponent is her grandmother who declares that ‘murgian hamre haan pal nahin sakti, raas nahin’. Nonetheless, young Sajida decides to have the pets come what may. In typical Deccani language, she describes the problems she encountered in rearing a pair of chicken. Her troubles only double when she buys another pair. She describes the frequent skirmishes between the hens as ‘nanand bhawaj ki ladaee’. Dr Sajida’s literary prowess comes into play as she cajoles the older hen to retain her composure since she is the ‘ghar ki beti’ and in a few days ‘bahu ko aap hi samajh aajayegi’.

However, as days pass, hostility towards the pets grows in her house. Nobody would tolerate the nuisance, especially the mess created by them. One fine morning, her worst fears come true as her family slaughters the chicken and cooks murghi ka salan.

“Kabhi do daane nahin daale, ab hazam karna dekho”, she remarks at the way everyone enjoys the Chicken biryani. Suddenly, she remembers that it is a Tuesday – Agar do murgian aur mangwaloon toh (What if I get two more chickens).

Habeeb Zia is, perhaps, the finest of woman essayists. With six books, including four on humour, she figures top in the list of hilarious women writers. Goyam Mushkil Na Goyam Mushkil, Bade Ghar Ki Beti, Unnis Bees, Mazameen-e-Nau and Shad-o-Niyaz are her notable works. Short stories like Baccha Bahar Gaya Hai, Sali Raab Jamati Hai, and Hum Ne Flat Khareeda are remarkable for their fun and pun. Brevity is the soul of wit. In just two to three pages, Zia weaves comical stories based on day-to-day events.

Zia made her plunge into the humour world with her very first story Baccha Bahar Gaya Hai. Her keen sense of observation comes across in the opening lines. If you happen to visit someone’s house and see the man shuffling a pack of Dunhill cigarettes instead of Charminar, then believe for sure that “is ghar ka kam-az-kam ek baccha zaroor bahar gaya hai”. Zia refers to different gadgets she sees when she visits her acquaintance to suggest that boys from the family have landed plum jobs in foreign countries. Suddenly, her thoughts are broken by sounds of an aeroplane taking off. “Is there an airport in your home,” she asks in amazement. “Aap itna bhi nahin janteen, ye grinder hai. Bade bhai Dubai se laye hain,” the girl replies smugly.

The story takes a dig at how ‘bahar ka paisa’ changes the way people behave. Some tend to acquire the lavish traits of shaikhs and want to dump biwi like an old TV. But, the bangle sellers of Laad Bazar and Marwaris of Gulzar Houz know how to take the ‘baharwale’ for a ride.

Seeing the miracles of foreign money, Zia also wants her son to grow up fast and mint money abroad. But the 13-year old refuses and storms out of the house. Soon, there is a knock on the door. Some relatives from Saudi Arabia drop in. After a while, they ask ‘where is your boy?’ Holding her head high, Zia replies proudly, “Baccha bahar gaya hai – gilli-danda khelne.”

Padma Shri awardee, Jeelani Bano has also contributed to humour literature. A poignant storyteller, she talks about oppression of women, social injustices and hard realities of life in her novels. Not many know that she has also written stories which are in lighter vein. Her story Bekari Ke Mashgale is a case in point. It is all about how people who have nothing better to do turn out to be the reason for major inventions.

When Mumtaz Mahal parted ways and Aurangazeb imprisoned Shah Jahan, the latter decided to build Taj Mahal. Many top Bollywood stars turned to film industry when they couldn’t land any job. When unemployment and pangs of hunger took over, many a person got unnerved. Someone became a Ghalib, some Meer, some Iqbal and Hali.

Writers like Rasheed Moosvi, Layeeq Salah, Shabeena Fershori and Rasia Nayeem Hashimi are making waves with their humour stories. There is a lot of spunk and fun in their writings and, what’s more, they bring the distinct woman’s outlook in their stories.

‘Mehfil-e-Khawateen’, the literary organisation of women, has proved to be a catalyst for young writers to come to the fore. In its nearly half-a-century of existence, the Mehfil has succeeded in drawing out a huge untapped reservoir of talent among women.

The only organisation of its kind, the Mehfil’s biggest contribution is to make women Urdu writers come out of the closet. It provides them a platform to share personal experiences, stories and empower each other. Senior writers guide the newcomers, try to hone their skills and instil confidence.

As a result, many women writers have managed to create wonderful works of art that reveal their mind and lend a new perspective to the way we look at the world. They have proved that ‘women aren’t funny’ is nothing but a gender-based myth.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated October 27,2019

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Mujtaba Hussain’s pun-filled one-liners, snappy wisecracks and funny style of writing have become his identity and won him the coveted Padma Shri

Laughter is the shortest distance between two persons. But in his case, it encompasses the sub-continent. For more than half-a-century, he has caught the entire Urdu world in splits of laughter with his special brand of humour – which is wholesome and straightforward.

That’s Mujtaba Hussain for you. For the last 54 years to be precise, he has been tickling the funny bone of Urdu readers. And at 85 when his energy has sapped and limbs are giving way, his sense of humour remains intact. Whatever be the occasion, he can still send you into splits at will. His ready repartee, subtle intellect and scintillating humour are always enlivening.

“Aadmi ko kabhi kabhi peeche mud kar dekh lena chahiye…,” he says and adds that this exercise keeps the neck in shape, if nothing else. But when he looks back at his own life, he can rest content. His writings have brought cheer in the lives of thousands of men and women.

Over the years, Mujtaba Hussain has become synonymous with humour, though by nature he is a sober person. “My position is that of the man who dived into the sea on being pushed to rescue a child. And till now, I am floundering in the ocean of humour,” he says.

Hussain’s plunge into humour writing is well-known. He couldn’t forget the day – August 12, 1962 – when he walked into his Siasat office as usual little knowing what lay in store for him. The Editor, Abid Ali Khan, and his elder brother, Mahboob Hussain Jigar, asked him to write the next day’s ‘Seesha-o-Teesha’ column. It was the popular humorous column written by Shahid Siddiqui. His sudden death the previous day left the newspaper in the lurch. Hussain had never tried his hand at humour writing but the Editor’s order left him with no choice.

He somehow managed to write a witty piece that day thinking it to be just a stop gap arrangement. But, he didn’t know that the Editor had presented him with a fait accompli. The pun-filled one-liners, snappy wisecracks and funny style of writing, which he consciously adopted, have now become his identity and character. So deep has he immersed in humour that where people cry he tends to laugh.

“You can call me an accidental humorist,” he remarks. Today, he stands head and shoulders over everyone else in the world of Urdu humour. Many think he tends to make a mountain out of a molehill. But, he doesn’t agree with this view. “What I write has a touch of reality. I make a judicious mix of both fact and fiction. When you don’t mind enlargement in photography, why do you object to it in literature,” he asks poker faced.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Hussain the Mark Twain of Urdu humour. Like the celebrated American satirist, Hussain doesn’t need to be in-your-face to get the humour across. He makes one grin from ear to ear without being offensive in the least. Day-to-day incidents and situational oddities, which normally one ignores, come in handy for him to weave a story. He has poked fun at almost everything – right from raids by Income Tax department, meteorological forecasts to pride in having a Swiss bank account. It is difficult to pinpoint any particular article to explain his art as every single piece of his bristles with incisive humour. For racy style, simple language and absence of overlapping themes, his stories remain unrivalled.

Eminent writer-journalist Khushwant Singh was an unabashed admirer of Hussain and considered him among the rarest of Indian humour writers. This purveyor of wit doesn’t believe in sitting on laurels even after 25 books, 13 awards, including the coveted Padma Shri. For decades, he worked tirelessly for his Sunday column in Siasat. Thanks to Siasat, now all his books have been digitalised and can be accessed online. How did the great humorist react when his books were digitised? He simply remarked “Lo aaj hum bhi saheb-e-website ho gaye,” sending everyone into peals of laughter.

Laughter may be the best medicine but for Hussain it is the mother tongue of the entire humanity. “You may speak in English, French, Telugu or any other language but you laugh the same way,” he says.

He says the solution to the problems confronting the world lies not in equitable distribution of wealth but in fair distribution of laughter. The veteran satirist is sad about the treatment meted out to humour writers in society. He wonders why wit and satire are given a second-rate status in literature when writing a fun-filled paragraph is tougher than producing two pages of a serious article. “Humour write-ups are like fast food. They have to be crisp and spicy and produce instant laughter otherwise the writer himself becomes a laughing stock,” he says.

Hussain’s satirical writings have been translated into Oriya, Kannada, Hindi, English, Russian and Japanese languages. From the mundane to the celestial, he has waxed eloquent on every topic under the sun. Astronaut Neil Armstrong was also the subject of his column when he landed on the moon. “Chand ki barbadi hogaee, budhiya gayeb hogayee…”, he wrote referring to the lore of an old woman working the ‘charkha’. His book Japan Chalo, Japan Chalo is a unique addition to Indian fiction for its originality and beauty in the travelogue genre – something unheard of in Urdu literature.

“His humour is laced with a bitter truth which only an honest person can perceive,” says his daughter, Rashida Samdani. Those who have read his Apni Yaad Mein composition will know. It is a masterpiece of self obituary wherein the author highlights his own follies while taking pot-shots at life. When his daughter died in 1963, he came straight to the office after funeral and penned the next day’s humorous piece.

Hussain once feared that more books might be written on him than he himself wrote. And his fears have now come true. Though he stopped writing a year ago, books on him continue to be written. Scholars from the sub-continent come up with newer angles to highlight his unique style of writing. There is also no end to doctoral theses being done on him. Hussain is, perhaps, the only living writer on whom 12 PhDs have been done so far.

But, all this fame and reputation sit lightly on him. Though age and arthritis have slowed him down, his sense of humour remains intact. Even as one chats up with him, one can’t miss his ready repartee and sparkling one-liners. “There is no scope left in me to grow any more older,” says Hussain in his characteristic style.

Behind every successful man, they say, is a woman. In Hussain’s case, Naseera, his wife, has contributed immensely by ‘not interfering’ with his literary work. Hussain, who married his cousin, says once he asked her to stitch the button of his shirt and ended up being stitched to her for life.

“Main zindigi bhar kabhi wo na bun saka jo bunna chahta tha, hamesha wo bana jo log mujhe banana chahte the.” You can’t miss the underlying humour even in this frank admission.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated October 20,2019

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The Nampally Sarai, which was damaged the other day due to incessant rains, is not the only Sarai to suffer this fate. Several such guesthouses in the city have either fallen prey to the ravages of urbanisation or they were converted into shops.

The Aliabad Sarai is another such historical edifice, which is on the verge of being wiped out. A listed Grade I structure, this Sarai belongs to the Qutb Shahi era. It served as a resting place for weary travellers coming to Hyderabad. Until 1955, the Aliabad Darwaza was also present here, but due to growing traffic congestion, it was pulled down. Now the Sarai itself faces such a fate to enable road widening.

Lost in a row of shops, the Sarai situated beyond Charminar is now difficult to identify. About 80 shops function from this run-down building attached to Masjide Almas and Dargah Hazrath Miskeen Shah Saheb. Officials feel that road widening at this point is essential to accommodate the Metro Rail corridor II, as and when it comes.

Hyderabad and hospitality are synonymous with each other. The erstwhile rulers and their subjects are known for ‘mehman nawazi’. A guest was never considered a pest but someone special to be treated with due respect.

Perhaps following this philosophy, the past rulers thought of the comfort of those visiting Hyderabad from far off places and built Sarais for their stay. The city and its surroundings boast of several guesthouses constructed during the Qutb Shahi and Asif Jahi periods.

Some of the guesthouses were located outside the eight gates of Golconda fort. The gates used to be closed for the night at a particular time and those arriving in the city late found the Sarai convenient to stay. Even those seeking an audience with kings used to stay here until permission was granted.

The Nampally Sarai was supposed to be the gateway to the old city of Hyderabad. However, now, it doesn’t even command a second look. Vagaries of nature and official apathy have combined to render this Grade II heritage building unfit for use. With a portion of it now giving way, it presents a pathetic sight. In fact, it has been crumbling brick by brick for quite some time.

Built by the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Pasha, in memory of the First World War treaty, it was the first choice of visitors to the city for several decades because of its central location. Spread over 5,828 square yards, the two-storied Sarai served as a place for boarding and lodging for transit passengers. However, of late, it’s lime mortar walls and roof made of Jack arch model is showing signs of wear and tear. The prolonged exposure of the iron rafters in the ceiling to weathering has taken its toll. After the balcony of the eastern portion collapsed in 1998, the civic body sat up and took notice. Experts from JNTU who studied the structural stability of the building felt it was conservable. However, the matter was shelved as it called for total reconstruction of the eastern wing and minor repairs to the western block.

Over the years many proposals were bandied about to restore the grandeur of the hoary Sarai. It was planned to develop the Sarai to provide modern amenities to tourists while utilising the existing open space for a parking lot. When the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) entered the scene, it toyed with the idea of using the Sarai as an interlinking facility with the Nampally railway station. However, all plans were put on hold given the sensitivities involved and the concerns raised by heritage activists.

The Shaikpet Sarai is the oldest one, built during the Qutb Shahi regime. Now, it is a declared protected monument under the care of the Department of Archaeology and Museum. This double-storeyed guesthouse has 30 rooms with a big stable for horses and camels. It also has a mosque attached to it.

The Karwan Sarai is another notable guesthouse built during the period of Ibrahim Qutb Shah, the fourth Qutb Shahi ruler. In those days, Karwan was known for the diamond trade, and the guesthouse came handy for visiting traders. Now, there is no trace of the Sarai. The Hayatnagar Sarai is also among the oldest of guesthouses. Built by Hayat Bakshi Begum, daughter of the city founder, Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, it was used mostly by those going to Machilipatnam. It had 130 rooms with a big veranda and a mosque. This guesthouse too is a protected monument now.

Another notable guesthouse was the Mia Mishk Sarai along with a mosque of the same name at Puranapul. While the mosque is still there, the guesthouse has given way to a row of shops. The Bohra Sarai at Hussaini Alam was patronised mainly by members of the Bohra community who migrated from Surat in large number during the reign of Mir Nizam Ali Khan, Asif Jah II.

Tipu Khan Sarai is yet another old guesthouse near the Hyderabad railway station. One Tipu Khan Bahadur constructed it during the rule of the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. This guesthouse was free for visitors for the first three days, and beyond this period, a nominal rent was charged. The Kacheguda railway station too had a guesthouse close by. Nawab Dawood Jung Bahadur built it on the silver jubilee of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. There is no sign of this guesthouse now.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 20,2019

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The city conference of Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO), Telangana, called on Muslim girls to move away from non-issues to the real purpose of life. They should try to excel in education and whatever field they choose to pursue. “Islam doesn’t place any restrictions on women’s education as long as they adhere to Shariat principles,” said Asiya Tasneem, President, Women’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

Hundreds of girls pursuing an education in different colleges took part in the conference held at the Exhibition Grounds here on Sunday. The torrential downpour did not deter them from attending the daylong programme, which focused on the theme ‘Your impetuous zeal keeps the world alive’. A large number of women also participated in the conference. Education Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and former MP K Kavita were supposed to address the gathering but did not turn up.

However, the presence of karate champion, Syeda Falak, enthused the audience. She was lustily cheered as she came on to the dais to give away mementoes to winners of the student fest, Telangana Talento 19, held last month. More than 500 girls who took part in various competitions like quiz, drama and elocution were given awards. Falak also inaugurated a photo exhibition on Muslim women freedom fighters put up on occasion. She appealed to girls to take part in sports activities apart from academics for all-round development.

Dr Taha Mateen from JIH, Bengaluru, cautioned girls about the pitfalls of modern life. In the name of freedom and fashion, they should not dump Islamic values that call for modesty and humility. In the modern age, everyone is being carried away by the western culture, which is bereft of morality. “There is no point in acquiring education which has no moral values,” he remarked and urged the girls to stick to the Indian culture.

Madeeha Amreen, General Secretary, GIO, asked the girls to be ready to face the challenges posed by communalism, western culture, and economic inequality. The media is presenting a distorted image of Muslim women. “It is your responsibility to present the correct picture,” she said and asked Muslim girls to play an active role in the development of the country. She cited Quranic verses to explain how women during the time of the Prophet of Islam played vital roles.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 20,2019

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Diwan Devdi was once the residence of the Salar Jungs, the Prime Ministers to the Nizam in Hyderabad. Diwan Devdi evokes images of a market dealing in tarpaulin, rexine covers, carpets and ready-made ware. It is also home to travel and transport offices and shopping complexes. But there was a time when it was the nerve centre of administration. Only nobles and high officials could dare step in.

It was Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I, who decided to set up offices close to the Diwan Devdi for effective monitoring of the administration. But it was Mukhtar-ul-Mulk who gave shape to the magnificent Diwan Devdi. The Salar Jungs owned a vast area surrounding the palace extending from Nayapul to Patherghatti on one side and up to Purani Haveli on the other side. The two gateways – one towards Chatta Bazaar and the other towards Patharghatti – still exist.

     Aina Khana

The 80-room palace had different buildings such as the Aina Khana (House of mirrors), Chini Khana (House of tiles), Putli Khana (Hall of statues), Naqqar Khana, Naya Makan, Diwan Khana (drawing room), Kutub Khana (library), Lakkad Kot (wooden pavilion) besides the Nizam Bagh and the Noor Mahal. Old Hyderabadis recall how the countless mirrors in the Aina Khana took one’s breath away and left visitors wondering at the numerous images all over.

The Diwan Khana designed in accordance with Persian architecture was the most impressive. So was the Naya Makan with its large hall, high baroque ceilings and doorways sporting semi-circular arches. But unfortunately, none of them exists today. Only faint memories and pictures of the grand palace remain.

Even the famed Salar Jung Museum was housed at the Diwan Devdi before it was shifted to its present site in 1968. The then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, inaugurated the exhibits in the ancestral palace of the Salar Jungs as a private museum in 1951. The architecture of the Diwan Devdi was typically Asaf Jahi with indented arches, wooden pillars marked by carved peacocks and ceilings of delicate stone inlay.

The sprawling garden on the eastern side was used by the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, to host parties. A part of it was developed as a tennis court where the Nizam used to play with Turab Ali Khan. And this portion came to be known as Nizam Bagh. The outer wall of the Diwan Devdi complex collapsed in the great Musi floods of 1908. It was reconstructed later.
This splendid place suffered neglect after the demise of Salar Jung III in 1949. Family members who inherited the property gradually started dismantling Diwan Devdi for commercial purpose. Except for the arched gateways nothing remains today.

This place is now busier than a beehive. But few are aware or care to know about its past glory.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 16,2019

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Abid Moiz is known in both medical and literary circles for wielding stethoscope and pen
 with equal ease




Doctors and bad handwriting go hand in hand. Prescriptions scribbled by them can be read either by the doctor himself or the medical store guy. But, this physician begs to differ. What he writes can be read by anyone and with pleasure. The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.

Dr Abid Moiz seems to do just this. While his diagnosis takes care of the physical ailments, his humorous writings delight patients no end. Even as he feels your pulse, he tickles a funny bone which leaves you in splits. Over the years, he has mastered the art of wielding the stethoscope and pen with equal ease. With ten books of satire and humour, and 21 books on various aspects of medicine, health and nutrition, he has contributed immensely to Urdu literature.

“By profession I am a doctor, by passion a writer and I am madly in love with my mother tongue Urdu,” he remarks.

While he earned livelihood as a nutritionist, he uses his leisure time for promotion of Urdu. Dr Moiz has every reason to smile as he takes a look at his career and passion during the last four decades. He has been successful on both fronts. His contributions to science and medicine are immense. Finding a woeful lack of literature on these subjects, he authored popular science books in Urdu. In simple and lucid style, he explains various health disorders which the common man can understand. His books on nutrition and health – Diabetes Ke Saath Saath (Along With Diabetes), Chiknai Aur Hamari Sehat (Fats and Our Health), Cholesterol Kam Kijiye (Reduce Cholesterol ), Ramzan Aur Hamari Sehat (Ramzan and Our Health), Haj and Health have gone into several reprints. For the large number of Urdu readers, these books are a ready reckoner. They explain in simple terms how to stay fit as a fiddle.

But, he chose tanz-o-mizah (satire and humour) to quench his literary thirst. Those who know him confess that he is more of a humourist than a dour-faced doctor. Apart from writing, he also shouldered the responsibility of editing Urdu journals and worked for their promotion. For nearly two decades, he served as the overseas editor of Shugoofa, the monthly humour magazine. Today, Dr Moiz is ranked among the top few Urdu satirists. He has been so successful as a writer that he is widely known by his penname, Abid Moiz. Only few are familiar with his real name – Syed Khaja Moizuddin.

A bookworm, he spent most of his time in the college library. No wonder his first article was appropriately titled Library main chand ghante. There was no looking back thereafter. His humorous write-ups were published in reputed journals and newspapers in India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Some articles were also translated into Hindi language. Readers eagerly looked forward to his humorous columns in Shugoofa, Kitab Numa, Aaj Kal, Shadab, Rabta, Afkar, Charsu, Urdu Digest, Urdu Magazine and other journals.

Dr Moiz’s tryst with humour writing started way back in 1977 and continued up to 2010. When he took up a job in the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, in 1987, he continued to indulge in his passion. He is among the few Hyderabadi writers who have contributed immensely to tanz-o-mizah in Urdu. Though a doctor by profession, he is a humorist at heart. Endowed with a fine sense of humour, he finds out funny angles in almost everything. Even his conversation is laced with wit and satire. “Urdu language is so sweet that people have stopped using it, lest they attract sugar ailment,” he remarks sarcastically to underline the declining patronage for the language.

Dr Moiz’s writings not merely tickle the funny bone but forces readers to think over the message between the lines. For instance, the article Sherwani Aur Shaadi is a good commentary on the radiant past, bleak present and hazy future – a result of moving away from language and culture. In a funny way, he ridicules the blind aping of everything western.

His story Sag Gasida is a real rib-tickler. It gives an in-depth account of the travails faced by victims of dog bites. Being a physician, Dr Moiz writes about the way his tribe question terrified victims and try to elicit information concerning the canine. He dramatises the trauma experienced by the family of a dog bite victim and the way they wait with dread for him to die – barking and crawling on all fours.

Dr Moiz has mastered the talent of weaving funny stories out of everyday events. He has written columns on such mundane things like Chai Ya Thanda, Nashta Aur Akhbar, Ghurbat ke Faide (benefits of poverty). Interestingly, his writings have kept pace with the changing times. Stories like E-Zamana and Alu Chips Se Computer Chips Tak are proof enough. Dr Moiz’s book Wahan Ki Baat is a compilation of hilarious articles written by him while working in Saudi Arabia. He beautifully captures two things eagerly awaited by expatriates in the article – Chitthi and Chhutti (letter and leave). Though one can speak on phone anytime but the pleasure of reading missives from home is quite different.

Baat hoti hai phone par laikin
Kutch alag hi maza hai chitthi main

The unique thing about the writings of Dr Moiz is that they come like a breath of fresh air. One can read them again and again without losing interest. Books like Wah Hyderabad, Arz Kiya Hai, Ye Na Thi Hamari Kismat, Baat Se Baat, Phir Chidi Baat, Urdu Hai Jis Ka Naam, Farighul Baal, and Ayee Gayee Baat pack a lot of fun.

This prolific writer now prefers to call himself a ‘retired’ tanz-o-mizahnigar – something unthinkable. Writers never hang up their pens. No, it’s not the writer’s block nor want of creative energy that is behind his decision to call it a day. It is lack of patronage from the government that has made him take this extreme step much to the shock and chagrin of readers.

The Telangana State Urdu Academy has turned down his candidature for the literary awards not once but several times. Not that awards and recognition have not come his way. Dr Moiz has bagged prestigious awards like Muhibb-e-Urdu award from Bazme Urdu, Riyadh, Nishane Imtiaz, Anjuman Froghe Science, Delhi, Nishane Azad award from Maulana Azad National Urdu University. But, sadly, his own Telangana State has ignored him.

While several of his books have run into second and third editions and published even in Pakistan, the Telangana Urdu Academy doesn’t see any merit in them. Whatever, Urdu lovers want Dr Moiz not to give up. As the great poet Mirza Ghalib says:

Na sataish ki tamanna, na siley ki parwah
Gar nahin hain merey ashaar main maani na sahi

(I care not for praise or prize If my couplets have no meaning, so be it)

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 13,2019

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The process for Haj 2020 started on Thursday with the commencement of online application facility. Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state Haj Committees have set up special counters for helping prospective pilgrims in filing applications. Telangana Home Minister, Mohammed Mehmood Ali, formally launched the online service at the Haj House here. At the same time, the AP Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha inaugurated the facility in Vijayawada. The last date for filing application is November 10.

Speaking on occasion, Mehmood Ali said that “Qurrah” (draw of lots) for selection of pilgrims would be held in the last week of December. However, pilgrims who are above 70 years and women who are going to Haj without a “mehram” will be exempted from this exercise. They will be selected straightaway. There is a significant relief to pilgrims thanks to the Centre reducing GST for Hajis from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. The pilgrims had faced accommodation issues in Saudi Arabia during the previous Haj. They will be brought to the notice of the Haj Committee of India and steps would be taken to resolve them. This year the government has decided to digitalise all matters concerning Haj and has developed a system to provide e-visa to all pilgrims.

The applications can be filed from the Haj Committee of India website and the Android mobile app as well. The login process is simple and requires only an email ID and password to create an account, explained Mohammed Masiullah Khan, Haj Committee Chairman.

Replying to a question, the Telangana Home Minister said NRC would not be implemented in Telangana. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had already stated this in the Telangana State Assembly. “There is no need for the people to get panicked,” he said. Talking about the presence of Rohingya refugees in the state, Mehmood Ali said that the police was gathering information about them.

New embarkation point

Meanwhile, there is a significant relief to Telangana State Haj Committee which has been looking after the departure of pilgrims from AP. With the Government of India assigning embarkation point status to Vijayawada, pilgrims from AP will now be departing from Vijayawada International Airport, Gannavaram. However, the Telangana Haj Committee still has to take care of pilgrims from a few districts of Karnataka. With the addition of Vijayawada, the number of Haj embarkation points in the country has gone up to 22.

Even after the bifurcation of the state, pilgrims from the neighbouring state were departing from Hyderabad airport. However, Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy successfully convinced the Centre to consider Vijayawada as an embarkation point. The issue was raised at the Haj Committee of India conference held recently in Delhi. The event was attended by other senior officials from the ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation and Health. India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ausaf Sayeed and Haj Committee of India Chairman Sheikh Jinna Nabi were also present at the meeting. Union Minister for Minorities Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqi, who chaired the review meeting, announced the granting of embarkation point status to the Vijayawada.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 10,2019

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Curtains finally came down on the six-decade-old ‘Hyderabad funds case’ with the High Court of England and Wales maintaining that Prince Mukaram Jah and Prince Muffakham Jah, the legal heirs of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, and the Union of India are entitled to the considerable fund kept in a London bank. Justice Marcus Smith, who passed the judgement on Wednesday, left to the parties to finalise the ratio in which the amount has to be distributed and approach the court for its approval.

The court outright rejected Pakistan’s claim to the fabulous funds of the Nizam on the grounds of “illegality”. Overruling Pakistan’s argument, the court said that a settlement reached between the princes and Indian government has rendered the issue irrelevant even if the question of illegality were relevant to India’s claim. Pakistan held the fund through its then High Commissioner to UK, Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoola, as a trust of Nizam VII and his successors in title. The fund was not held by Rahimtoola personally nor did he or Pakistan have any beneficial interest in the fund, the court maintained.

“It is appropriate to record that the Nizam’s successor in the title can be no-one other than the Princes or India…I have seen no hint of the possibility of any further claimant to the fund, beyond the Princes and India,” the court remarked in its historic 140-page judgement.

The Nizam’s fortune running into one million pounds was stashed away in the National Westminster Bank, now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland, UK, in 1948. Soon after partition of the country, the Nizam’s Finance Minister, Moin Nawaz Jung, transferred over one million pounds to the Westminster Bank in Habib Ibrahim’s name.

Subsequently, a dispute broke out between the Governments of India, Pakistan and the Nizam’s family over the ownership of the money which has now grown to about Rs 400 crore. A few years ago, the royal descendants led by Najaf Ali Khan, President of Nizam Family Welfare Association, met the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the Foreign Ministers of both countries. However, there was little headway in the matter. The matter got complicated with Britain’s House of Lords ruling that the account could be unfrozen only with the agreement of all three parties.

Najaf maintains that the London money belongs to the Nizam and not to the State exchequer. There are about 120 claimants to the Nizam’s fortune. “The royal family members are going through financial straits, and the settlement of the dispute will come as a big relief,” he said.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 02,2019

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 Hyderabad accomplished a literary feat of sorts on Wednesday when it witnessed the 1,000th lecture being delivered on Allama Iqbal, one of the greatest Urdu poets. The celebrated poet who penned ‘Saare Jahan se accha’ is loved and respected by all. However, it goes to the credit of Jama Masjid Aaliya, Gunfoundry, to honour Iqbal like no one else. For the last 22 years, it has been organising weekly lectures on Iqbal Shinasi without a break.

Today Masjid-e-Aaliya touched a milestone when the thousandth lecture was delivered to a packed audience at its conference hall. No other country, not even Pakistan where Iqbal is regarded as the national poet, can boast of this record. Prof Khaja Nasiruddin, who addressed the landmark lecture, was beside himself with joy for being part of this rare achievement.

The credit for this marathon lecture series goes to senior advocate, Ghulam Yezdani, who thought of organising talks on the poet. The first lecture was delivered by Mohd Zaheeruddin Ahmed, President of Iqbal Academy, on October 8, 1997. Since then, the weekly lectures had continued without any break except when the city was under curfew.

Over the years, several national and international scholars have held forth on Iqbal’s poetry. Speakers like Ziauddin Shekeb, Dr Taqi Abedi, Dr Murtuza Siddiqui, Maslehuddin Saadi, and Dr Yousuf Azmi have expounded on various aspects of Iqbal’s shayeri. Come Wednesday and Iqbal aficionados make a beeline to the Masjid-e-Aaliya to understand the poet-philosopher.

“The idea of launching a lecture series on Iqbal is to enthuse the youth to take inspiration from his poetry and achieve excellence in whatever field they choose to work in,” says Yezdani.

To commemorate the occasion in a befitting way, a two-day celebration is planned to be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Urdu Hall, Himayatnagar.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated October 9,2019

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Spearheaded by Ghulam Yazdani and Anand Raj Verma, 'Hyderabad Deccan - Yaaden-Baaten' relives the city's rich and varied past

Long after it was closed for the day, the Oxford Grammar School in Himayat Nagar came alive last night. A small group of men and women were seen talking animatedly and breaking into laughter.

No, it was not a class in progress. They were just recalling and relating things gone by. Of late, a few concerned citizens have started reminiscing old memories under the banner of ‘Hyderabad Deccan – Yaaden-Baaten’. No, they are not stuck in the past. They are simply remembering the days gone by to give power to their present.

The whole thing is the brainchild of senior advocate, Ghulam Yezdani, and educationist, Anand Raj Verma. They are concerned, rather pained, to see people forgetting their rich and varied past. “We want the vibrant cultural heritage of Hyderabad to be remembered and passed on to the posterity”, says Verma.

The Yaaden-Baaten forum formed by them is an earnest attempt to remember the good, bad and beautiful of Hyderabad. Off and on, interested persons meet to recount and narrate events and moments they cherish. It could be an interesting anecdote or incident one is personally witness to or heard from parents. Anything concerning Hyderabad is welcome here.

The other day, Ram Nivas Prashar, a businessman, sang a Hindi poem to recall the great Musi floods. The ‘lavani’ written by Hari Ram Shekhawat gave a graphic account of the tragedy which claimed hundreds of lives. To the accompaniment of a ‘daf’, Prashar recreated the grim events of September 28, 1908. With the city experiencing torrential rains in the last few weeks, everyone could easily relate to the horrors of ‘tughyani’.

Karke himakhat jo reh gaye the andar
Beh gaye wo Musa ke dhaar
Jo bache so unka bhagwat karde beda paar

Vinod Bhure Lal Yadav, a milk vendor, surprised everyone with his maps of the 15 darwazas and 12 khidkis of Hyderabad. Verma enlightened the gathering about the importance of these ancient doors and windows which were shut at dusk everyday and opened only at the crack of dawn. Another participant, Nanak Ram Nashtar, threw light on the Sikh community in Hyderabad. Sikhs came to Hyderabad from Punjab not in search of livelihood but to help the Nizam in collecting revenue.

They were a privileged class and had representation in different government bodies, he said.The 80-plus Yezdani underscored the need for people to meet and exchange ideas. The Yaaden-Baaten is the platform where one can talk anything about Hyderabad. He suggested a guided tour of interesting places in around the city to know the little known things. The ‘Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb’ of Hyderabad encompassed everyone irrespective of religion and faith. Yezdani recited a couplet to drive home the point:

Chaman main ikhtelafe rang-o-boo se baat banti hai
Tumhi tum ho to tum kya ho, hami hum hain to hum kya hain

Many like Mateen Ansari, Rafia Nausheen and youngsters like Akram were excited by the things they learnt about Hyderabad. Memory is a slippery thing — slick moss on an unstable slope. But, some Hyderabadis want to cling on to the precious memories. They want to remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm and look forward to the future with confidence.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated October 9,2019

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A trip down the memory lane with Babban Khan, the man behind this most popular Hyderabadi humorous play

    A scene from the play


Baba aaye, baba aaye..
Arey chup. Main daftar se aaroon, jail se thodi aaroon.

Who doesn’t remember these famous lines! They echoed for the last time on February 11, 2001, when curtains finally came down on Adrak ke Panje, the longest run one-man-show. For sheer numbers this Hyderabadi rib-tickler has no match: 10,000 shows, 60 countries, 27 different languages, 35 long years.

It left far behind Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and the Broadway musical A Chorus Line, which closed down after performing for several years. Adrak ke Panje played from September, 22, 1965, to February, 11, 2001 – notching up an unbeatable record.

What’s more, this two-and-a-half-hour show needed just 17 minutes for stage-setting and 10 minutes for removal. There is no lighting effect, no music. And the stage property cost just Rs 650. English stage actor, Rex Harrison, who produced the play My Fair lady, was surprised that the setup cost so little.

The most surprising thing is that during its long run there was no change or update in the script, dialogues, sequences, costumes and sets. Even the black shredded sherwani, the umbrella and the tiffin carrier, which the principal character Ramtoo carried, remained the same.

From the streets of Hyderabad to the best theatres and music halls of China, America, Russia, Rome, Tokyo, Spain, London, France, Germany, Sydney, Egypt, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Stockholm, Argentina, and Greece, Adrak Ke Panje played to packed houses. It got an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1984 edition under the stop press column when it had notched up 5,169 performances.

It also won accolades from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, Hollywood, the Noble Foundation, Stockholm, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, Office of President of USA, National Press Club, Washington.

Dignitaries and celebrities who congratulated Babban Khan, the actor-playwright, include the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela ,Queen Elizabeth, Indira Gandhi, bestselling author, Frederick Forsyth, Hollywood filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola of Godfather fame and several Indian Presidents.

Babban Khan struck gold with his first play. He named it Adrak Ke Panje to denote ginger roots growing in all directions just like an unplanned family. The show, which revolves around Ramtoo (Babban Khan), Bi Pasha (wife, Shaila Khan) and eight children, brings to light the harsh realities of a large family. In the process, the drama also focuses upon the ill-effects of drugs, pollution and dowry.

Didn’t he feel bored performing the same play for so long? “No, never. It has become part of my life,” says Babban Khan, whose wife, Shaila, and daughters – Nazneen and Zareen – also formed part of the cast. What’s the secret of the play’s continued appeal? The universal issue of family planning it addresses and Babban Khan’s foresight in highlighting the consequences of an unplanned family long before it became a problem. Of course, the punchy Deccani one-liners and the way they are articulated are also a major reason for its super success.

This comedy is actually born out of tragedy. The satirical play mirrors the trials and tribulations faced by the writer’s parents because of their large family. His father, Ghouse Khan, a lowly paid clerk in the Fire Service Department, was caught in such financial straits that one after another he lost his three sons and four daughters to malnutrition and lack of medical care. Shocked by these sad events, the only surviving child was not given a name till the age of 10, lest death claimed him too.

They just called the boy ‘Babban’, not knowing that this name would bring them luck and fame beyond their wildest dreams. Young Babban never forgot the hungry days, the sleepless nights, the tears and troubles. He still remembers the problem faced by his parents in paying the rent of Rs 1.75 paise for the House No 24 at Charkhandil in Aghapura.

It was on August 15, 1965 that Babban Khan sat down to write the magnum opus under a street light since there was no electricity at his house. His own family life and personal experiences came in handy to write the play. It took him a little more than three hours to script Adrak Ke Panje, which changed his life forever.

When the play was ready, he had no money to stage it. He sold the gold pendant of his mother, Sughraunissa Begum, for Rs 275. Out of this amount, Rs 200 went towards booking the Ravindra Bharathi auditorium, Rs 18 for sherwani cloth, Rs 2.50 for umbrella, Rs 30 for printing tickets and with the remaining money, he bought ration for his house. There was no money to pay the tailor. He was instead given a free pass for the show. For 15 years, Babban Khan’s mother thought he was doing some business. When she watched the show, she couldn’t understand what her son was doing to make people laugh.

When the first show was staged on September 22, 1965, Babban Khan was a bundle of nerves. Though financially it was a flop, the audience enjoyed it thoroughly. Encouraged, he borrowed Rs 500 from friends and presented a second show at the same auditorium. This time, it was a roaring success. The rest, as they say, is history.

Like the classic dialogues of the blockbuster, Sholay, the dialogues of Adrak Ke Panje have become timeless. Sample translation of some famous lines:

Jockey (neighbour): There should be a limit to your children’s nuisance.
Babban Khan: Children do make a noise. But, why you take it so seriously?
Jockey: What do you mean? The other day I was sitting along with my dog. Knowing full well that I am with my dog, your son threw a stone injuring it seriously.
Babban Khan: I am sorry. Perhaps the boy missed his target.
….
Money lender: As I was coming to your house, a motorist almost hit me. But for a split second’s delay, I would have died.
Babban Khan: I really feel sorry for that split second’s delay.
…..
School Master: Leave alone English and Mathematics, when I asked your son to draw the picture of an owl he couldn’t.
Babban Khan: You can’t draw the picture of an owl?
Son: Yes, father.
Babban Khan: (Pointing towards the school master): Can’t you just see and draw?
….
In one of his fonder moods, Babban Khan buys a jar of cold cream for his wife. She protests, “Is this the age for me to apply cold cream?” To this, Babban Khan replies, “My dear, only when a shoe becomes old, does it require some polishing.”

These tongue-in-cheek remarks have become part of Hyderabadi lore. They combine both logic and laughter. Audience reaction to the play has varied over the years. Some giggled, some laughed and a few turned teary eyed at the sad situations from which humour is drawn. Ramtoo’s house in the play is a picture of chaos. Empty pots and pans, broken chairs, wall clock, oil tins, lantern and an empty bird cage.

Amidst this clutter, Ramtoo, an improvised clerk, takes pot-shots at life. His wife has a litany of complaints – children’s school fees, dues of milk man, grocery and house rent. There are also an unending stream of angry creditors, guests and eccentric relations to contend with. However, an unperturbed Ramtoo takes all this in his stride. He keeps the audience in splits with his clever comments and sustains the show singlehandedly.

For Babban Khan, comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. He has come out with two more scripts – Adrak ke Panje Part II and Gumbat Ke Kabootar on corruption and pollution. Will they be funny as well? Only time will tell.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated October 6,2019

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