Naveed Qureshi’s insights into behavioural patterns of fowls has earned him recognition in poultry expos

For him happiness is a fluffy pet chicken. Bundles of love wrapped in colourful plumage. Building a house may give one great satisfaction but he draws pleasure in making coops for his pets. That's Naveed Qureshi for you.

He suffers from what they call the Obsessive Chicken Disorder. From being just a hobby, the passion for chicks has become the be all and end all of his life. Imagine somebody spending nearly six hours a day nurturing pets. Naveed does just that. He is nuts about the fowls and loves to watch them play more than the idiot box.

An exotic poultry breeder, his house in Paramount Colony, Toli Chowki, is home to 400 birds. And all of them are ornamental and fancy chickens. They include Cornish (England), Modern English Game, Japanese Bantam, Silver Campine (Belgium), Spitzhauben (Germany), Silkie-Bearded White, Frizzle Bantam, Polish Owl Face Buff and Serama Bantam (Malaysian). He also has parrots, pigeons and Persian cats. Naveed now plans to open an exclusive swan park in Hyderabad. A little prodding and he plunges into the history of domesticated species - ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, partridges, peafowl, pheasants, quails.

"The genealogy of the domesticated chicken stretches back to 7000 to 10,000 years. Red Jungle Fowl is the chicken's wild progenitor", he says fondling the cute feathery creatures.

Initially he collected fancy birds from all over the country at fancy prices. But of late he started concentrating on breeding a new exotic variety - Naked Neck Polish. It is called so as it has no feathers on its neck. It has taken him nearly a decade to obtain this unique variety by mixing the Polish breed with the Indian Naked Neck. He didn't stop at that but strove to achieve different colours - white, black, grey, golden, silver and multi colour. These birds sport v-shaped red comb, white and red mixed ear lobes. Now it is a subject of poultry research at the state and national level.

"Naked Neck Polish is Telangana's gift to the world and I am now in the process of getting it registered with the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources", says Naveed. He is all praise for Dr. D. Venkateshwar, Director, Animal Husbandry, for the support.

Love for the pets runs into his genes. Even as a child, Naveed was fond of birds and collected a variety of species. Of course he used to get an earful from his mother whenever the birds created filth. "Without pets the house will be clean but my heart empty", Naveed remarks.

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched. This may be a sound advice. But Naveed takes it with a pinch of salt. He has a way with the fowls thanks to years of exposure to their fascinating world. His knowledge of the breed character, production, performance and egg quality parameters has won him accolades in the poultry expos. Naveed can read the behaviour of the birds. "I know what they want to tell just looking at the angle of head and body and their postural changes", he says.

Would he like to sell his collection? "No, never", remarks Naveed for whom the chicks are the visible soul of his house.

Pets sure are humanizing. They remind one about the responsibility and obligation to preserve, nurture and care.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Hindu

Dated April 26,2018

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Image courtesy : Google

These are surreal times 

Politics sans principles 

Humanity sans morality

Lynching order of the day 

Intolerance sign of the times 

Animals safer than man

Deer is safe, cow is safer

But women are under seige

Hounded, raped and abused 

Beti bacho, beti padhao 

What about the victims of lust

Are they mere expendables?

The nation failed them

Where are they safe

At home, school, place of worship? 

The sacred Tiranga

A rallying point for martyrs 

Now a shield for rapists 

Will politics of expediency end

Will justice emerge unscathed 

Will their innocence be avenged 

Corruption rules the roost

Law breakers call the shots 

Perhaps justice is really blind

Nations at war

Human rights at stake

Blood cheaper than water

Don't limit your challenges 

Challenge your limits

Swim against the tide

Emerge from the comfort zone

Look for a way

Not a way out

Nothing like a challenge 

To crush the lust in you

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

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Image : Courtesy Google

While traditional bookstores are struggling to survive, those dealing in second-hand books continue to prosper. The online onslaught and the Kindle boom has not impacted them. Many well-known book shops in Hyderabad like A A Husain have called it a day as the industry is going through a rough weather but there is no slide in demand for the used books.

This is heartening news with the World Book Day round the corner. The footfalls on city footpaths bear this out. Come Sunday and general holidays bibliophiles cram the pavements at Abids to pick up their favourite books at throwaway prices. From St. George’s Grammar School to Tilak Road, Nampally Station Road and beyond they can be seen scanning through the titles. Wonder what is William Shakespeare doing in the company of Sidney Sheldon? Or Charles Dickens rubbing shoulders with J K Rowling? Timeless classics and books of the hour are on the same footing here. From P G Wodehouse, William Blake, Mark Twain to Harold Robins and Jackie Collins one can pick up the best of the reads for a song here. For many it makes sense to indulge in pavement shopping.

“Why spend a huge amount on a new book when you get the same at a cheap rate”, asks Kumar who is a regular at the Sunday bazaar. The range of books available are mind-boggling. Not just fiction, there are also books on medicine, interior decoration, history, travel, cookery, fashion, management, health, architecture and puzzles.

“There is never a dull moment. The demand is steady and people come here regularly looking for books”, says Shareef, who is selling books at Abids for over two decades. He may not have read a single book but he is quite familiar with books and authors. Name a title and he will ferret it out in a jiffy.

Whenever they visit Hyderabad, my book-addict nieces, Saiqua Parveen and Rukhsana Parveen, make it a point to drop in at Abids on Sundays. They linger for hours on the titles spread. Often one strikes gold as many rare and out of print books can be found here and for as cheap as Rs.20 to Rs.200.


There is something for everyone here. The Laad Bazaar near Charminar also comes alive with bookworms on Sundays. This street which normally throbs with women looking for colourful bangles offers substantial amount of collectibles and books on Sundays. Hyderabad footpaths sure offer a rich sensory browsing experience.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The New Indian Express

Dated April 23,2018

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Sharing nostalgia:A session in progress  

A forum for Hyderabadis who want to share and recall interesting city anecdotes

It’s a motley group. A retired principal, an advocate, milk man, social activist, builder, corporate filmmaker and many others. Some known faces, some utter strangers. What brings them together every month is their memories of Hyderabad. An unnamed forum as yet, it is open to all. The only condition is you should have a strong bond with Hyderabad and be willing to share your fond memories of the city.

A city of nawabs, kebabs and yearning, Hyderabad has a rich history, but sadly most of the anecdotes and little known things connected with it are now part of the folklore. And there is a danger of this history being lost forever. But a few die-hard Hyderabadis are determined not to let this happen. Senior advocate, Ghulam Yezdani and educationist Anand Raj Verma, have decided to preserve and convey to posterity the rich cultural heritage and apnapan (camaraderie) of the nawabi shahr as best they could. The idea floated by them to form a platform to relate one’s experiences of Hyderabad is gaining traction. So far, three meetings were held with a dozen odd enthusiasts participating.

At their last meet, the group had a baithak at the Urdu Hall in Himayatnagar and reminisced about the gold old days over Osmania biscuits and creamy Irani chai. The animated discussion veered from hotels to theatres and personalities. “You know theatres those days had a curtain for ‘ purdah nasheen khwateen’ (women audience). When the picture started lights were switched off and the curtain drawn to one side,” recalls Verma. Of course there was an exclusive ticket counter for the ladies where a woman would issue tickets. “If I am not wrong there used to be a ‘ namaz wakfa ’ (break) too and during this time the devout offered prayers,” Yezdani interjects.

Tasveer Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Zamrud Mahal...no they are not names of palaces but of top theatres of the 40s. The Select theatre in Diwan Deodi, of course, was for the royalty. The Nizam and a select few used to watch films here. A 16 mm projector was imported from London to screen films.Aalam Aara , the first Indian talkie movie which marked the end of mukka (silent) films, was screened in Sagar Talkies on Abids road. This theatre along with 59 others are now relics of the past. Theatres those days were infested with khatmal (bugs). Moviegoers used to carry newspapers to burn below the benches to force the khatmal out.

How about some famous hotels of the past? Shanker Sher Hotel, Jalal ki Hotel, Tafreehe Deccan, Gade ka Chaikhana, Orient Hotel and Viccaji Hotel were all landmarks in their heydays. People were proud to hang around here. There is an interesting tale about the frustration of famous poet, Makhdoom Mohiuddin, when he visited one of these hotel late in the night and placed order.

“Roti-kheema lana,” the waiter replied “ Khalas ” (Finished) The poet then asked for dal-chawal. Pat came the answer, “Khalas”. When he received the same reply again an irate Makhdoom shot back, “ Ye hotel hai ya Makhdoom ka ghar ?”.

Narration is another USP of Hyderabadis; they can describe a complicated accident in simple words.“ Gadi baigan main milgai,” says social activist, Aleem Khan Falaki. If you miss the magic of the good old days, turn to this forum.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Hindu

Dated April 10,2018

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Breaking stereotypes, young Salwa Fatima sets out 

to fulfill her dream of donning a pilot’s uniform

Yes, she wears hijab and covers herself in black. And yet she doesn’t conform to the stereotype image of a Muslim woman timid, coy and unsure. On the contrary, the right words to describe her would be – bold, courageous and dynamic. That’s Salwa Fatima, the first woman from Hyderabad’s Old City to don a commercial pilot’s stripes.

This year, on Women’s Day, Salwa had a special reason to celebrate. She has finally realised her dream of reaching for the stars. With all the necessary trainings and licences under her belt, she is just waiting to take off. “It is a great feeling to have achieved what I set out to be,” she says, overwhelmed with emotions.

What propelled her this far is her never-say-die spirit, and her refusal to take no for an answer. It’s okay to be girly and a pilot at the same time, feels Salwa. But when the odds are stacked against you, thinking of becoming a pilot is nothing short of day-dreaming. Even as a child she was hooked on to aviation. When other girls played with dolls, Salwa collected pictures of aeroplanes and gazed endlessly at aircrafts flying in the sky till they become a mere speck and disappear.

Her father Syed Ashfaq Ahmed, who is a bakery worker, never thought his daughter would become a pilot one day. He sure knew her fascination for the flying machines but with his poor earnings he could never think of fulfilling her dreams. The dice was cast when she appeared for the Eamcet coaching at an institute. “What will you like to become”, the instructor asked in a routine manner. He did a double take when she replied ‘pilot’.

Everyone was amused by her answer and dismissed it as a childish fancy. But, Zahid Ali Khan, Editor of the Urdu Daily, Siasat, believed Salwa when he saw the determination in her eyes. It was he who offered her moral and financial support initially. He encouraged and groomed Salwa and used his influence in getting her admitted to the Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy in 2007. Thereafter, Salwa didn’t have to look back. She cleared one hurdle after another turning adversity into advantage.

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. That’s what Salwa did. Her greatest challenge was to stay focused and muster courage to chart out a perilous career. In the span of a decade, she succeeded in obtaining Commercial Pilot’s licence, Private Pilot licence and Flight Radio Telephone Operator licence. After logging in 217 hours of flying on Cessna 152 and 172, including 123 hours of solo flight, she underwent multi-engine training in New Zealand. Then, she joined the Gulf Aviation Academy, Bahrain, to do Type Rating, an additional training on Air Bus A-320 to be able to fly any aircraft.

During these years, she ran into rough weather several times. But a cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition. When she needed huge money to pay for the training on a multi-engine aircraft, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao came to her aid. On knowing her enthusiasm, he immediately sanctioned Rs 36 lakh. “I am grateful to all those who supported me,” says the young aviator.

A perfect example of Muslim women empowerment, Salwa is now busy appearing for interviews of various airlines in Delhi and is hopeful of landing a job soon. Does being a woman make piloting difficult? “Not at all. The aircraft doesn’t know or care about your gender. You just have to perform,” she says.


Sure, flying is a great equalizer. And the air is the only place free from prejudices.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated April 8,2018

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Tendering an apology is the hardest thing to do. It means swallowing your pride and saying ‘sorry’. Perhaps this is why it is considered a great virtue by all faiths. Contrition is seen as a mark of strength of character, not weakness. Therefore religion encourages atonement and promises great reward to those who repent sincerely. But for politicians, it seems to be the easiest thing to do. They are past masters in the art of apologising, sorry-sorry-no sorry. Parrot-like they mouth apologies and continue to make the same mistakes. “I am sorry, but it was your mistake in the first place”, is how some apologise adding insult to injury. Hardcore politicians do it differently.

“I am misquoted or my statement is twisted” is the line they take. In most cases the apologies fall short or the misdeeds are compounded with an excuse. “If what I said has hurt someone I apologise”. This is an awful way of expressing regret. Those in public life tend to shift the blame on to others and emerge victorious rather than humble. In recent times there has been a spate of public mea culpas. From celebrities to corporate honchos and politicians everyone is on a regret spree—aimed of course at the public than the victims. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seems to be on penance. He is tendering apologies by the dozen just to escape lawsuits.

But he tries to give the impression that he is not interested in an ‘ego fight’. An apology is a wonderful thing so long as it is from the heart. In fact a sincere apology has three aspects to it. First it should be open and genuine. Second there should be a sense of guilt and third, those repenting should resolve not to repeat the mistake and make amends for the loss. When you have hurt somebody what’s wrong in apologising? No one has ever choked to death by swallowing his pride. Words are very powerful—they can make and mar, heal and wound. But apology is a super glue and can repair just about anything. “Wish I could undo the hurt. I am really sorry”.

This self humbling gesture is enough to defuse acrimony and disarm your opponent. And come to think of it saying sorry doesn’t mean you are wrong and the other person is right. What it means is that you value your relationship more than your ego. There is a grain of truth in what the elders say. Keep your words soft and tender because tomorrow you may have to eat them. Life is very transient, so laugh when you can.Apologise when you should and let go of what you can't change.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The New Indian Express

Dated April 7,2018.

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