Writer's Corner: Syeda Mirza's book on Agha Aly Asker paints vivid picture of the Persian merchant who shaped Bengaluru

Indian Express

5 days ago

Bengaluru has always been a threshold city. Empires, trade routes, languages, and people converged here long before the city took shape. This was especially true in the 19th century, when a young Persian horse merchant came here for the first time. Agha Aly Asker was soon to make a mark on the architecture, history and high society of the region, becoming a confidant of the royal family of Wodeyars and Mysore chief commissioner Sir Mark Cubbon.
Syeda Mirza's debut book, Agha Aly Asker: The Persian who contributed significantly to the development of Bangalore in mid-19th century, paints a fascinating picture of Asker's origins in the city of Shiraz, and his journey to India alongside his brothers to trade in horses. One is also left with a distinct impression of Persia as it was when he knew it, and the memories the elders of the family later passed down to Mirza.
Agha Aly Asker's kin in Bengaluru today
Syeda Mirza, who hails from Hyderabad, married into Asker's family, which at the time had already become one of Bengaluru's eminent families. Her husband's uncle was Sir Mirza Ismail, the famous Dewan of Mysore, who was the grandson of Agha Aly Asker.
The equestrian tradition described in the book, born of the famous horses of Persia that made the fortunes of traders, still survives in the family. Syeda Mirza's father-in-law was himself a trainer of racehorses, while her grandson Fouaad Mirza is an Asian Games medallist and Olympian equestrian.
By the time her book on Agha Aly Asker came out in late 2019, Syeda Mirza – who was 87 then – had been writing it for 18 years. Speaking to The Indian Express, she said, 'I thought I should let the family know about him (Agha Aly Asker)… I remember the elders of the family telling me about how they came here, what it was like, and how they were some of the first non-local people in Bengaluru from Iran.'
Practices, remedies from across the seas
The tales that survive through the generations preserve how the family brought horses to the subcontinent, 200 at a time, in the holds of dhows. They also brought traditional Persian remedies and practices pertaining to horses with them, the knowledge surviving even in modern veterinary practices.
Uniquely, the information passed down to her through the generations meant that the foundation of this book lies in Syeda Mirza's excellent memory and note-taking. While the book is undoubtedly an excellent resource for anyone with more than a passing interest in Bengaluru, the book is also considerably motivated by Mirza's own family. She said, 'How their interest in horses is part of them (the younger generation)… I wanted them to think about that and realise that this was part of their heritage.'
Another unpublished book that she is working on is a recipe book based on her knowledge of cooking over the years. She says, 'It is mostly Hyderabadi Muslim and Bengaluru Muslim cuisine, which are different from the local cuisine – for example, while Andhra food also includes non-vegetarian fare, the spices are different, the flavours are different… The way biryani is made in our homes is a little different – either the rice or the meat or the process.'