Latest news with #Hyderabadis
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Balconies in Bloom: How Hyderabadis Are Cultivating Nature in Small Spaces
In Hyderabad's fast-paced urban environment, where space is at a premium, residents are transforming their balconies into lush, vibrant gardens. This growing trend of aesthetic gardening in compact flats is not just about beautifying spaces, it's about reconnecting with nature, boosting mental well-being, and practicing sustainability in everyday life. For many Hyderabadis, gardening is a nostalgic thread that links them to their roots. For Sarika, a 46-year-old homemaker from Puppalguda, gardening has always been a passion. 'I started gardening a long time ago. Even when space was limited at home, I took to terrace gardening,' she shares, adding, 'Planting and nurturing gives me a therapeutic, relaxing experience.' Her balcony garden features flowering plants, herbs, vegetables, and indoor greenery. With a flair for creativity, Sarika combines DIY and upcycled pots with decorative elements, turning her balcony into a living canvas. 'I let my balcony be my painting, and my plants, pots, and pathways be my palette. My garden is my creative outlet,' she adds. Despite space constraints, she has mastered the art of selecting smart, space-saving plants and containers. 'By God's grace, I have enough sunlight for my plants,' she says with a smile. She waters them mindfully, according to each species' needs, and uses homemade compost and organic pest control. Her vibrant garden has become a source of inspiration for neighbours and family members alike. Vinesh Kumar, a 33-year-old salaried employee living in Manikonda, began his gardening journey inspired by memories of his mother's balcony and rooftop gardens. His compact green space features flowering plants in clay pots and creatively reused glass bottles, an ideal match for his northeast-facing balcony that receives gentle morning sun. Though limited in space, Vinesh tends to his plants with care, using spray bottles for watering and inspecting regularly for pests. 'The best part is sitting on the balcony during the mornings and evenings, surrounded by plants, it's really relaxing,' he says. While no one has directly followed his example yet, he enjoys sharing his progress on social media.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Kongunadu takes the spotlight
Known for its bold use of spices, locally sourced ingredients, and age-old culinary wisdom, Kongunadu cuisine hails from the western regions of Tamil Nadu. Offering a refreshing departure from the more widely recognised Chettinad fare, it presents a distinctive flavour profile that is both rustic and refined. At the food pop-up event 'Flavours of Kongunadu with Chef Harshini' at Feast, Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, Hyderabadis were treated to an authentic taste of this lesser-known culinary tradition. The festival featured a thoughtfully curated menu by Chef Harshini, founder of Soul on a Plate and a passionate advocate of Tamil cuisine. With her deep-rooted knowledge and contemporary flair, Chef Harshini crafted a dining experience that celebrated tradition and storytelling. Her menu invited diners to explore rare regional recipes passed down through generations. Presented in a thali format for the tasting session, the meal was a vibrant showcase of Kongunadu flavours. We began with a zingy and refreshing Pacha Puli Rasam, a no-cook rasam made with raw tamarind, which immediately set the tone for the lunch. The Vazhaipoo Vadai, crispy fritters made from banana flower, chana dal, curry leaves, onion, and spices — was a delightful starter. A standout dish was the Prawn Thokku, featuring succulent prawns simmered in a rich, spicy, tangy tomato-based sauce. Paired with Malli Biryani (a fragrant coriander-based biryani), it was simply irresistible.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
RCB's chief nemesis receiving '150 messages a day' to return to IPL, deny them first title: 'Come as replacement player'
All-rounder Ben Cutting might not have played enough international cricket for Australia, but he remains a hero for several cricket enthusiasts in India. The right-handed batter will always be remembered for his heroics for David Warner-led SunRisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016, as his all-round performance helped the side defeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and win the T20 tournament. The right-handed batter has now revealed that he has been receiving 150 messages a day to return to the IPL and deny RCB their maiden title. It must be mentioned that the Rajat Patidar-led side has already qualified for the playoffs and is currently in second place in the points table. Speaking of the 2016 final, Cutting, who represented SRH, smashed 39 runs off 15 balls. Apart from this, he also took two wickets, including the key scalp of Chris Gayle. "If I load up my private messages on Instagram now, there'll be 150 every day saying, 'Can you make yourself available for the IPL as a replacement player?' for any team that's coming up against RCB," ESPNcricinfo quoted Cutting as saying. 'What was achieved that night… It's essentially one of the biggest sporting events in the world. To play for Australia was always a lifetime goal of mine, and I'm still disappointed I didn't get to play Test cricket. But that IPL final, for me, still ranks higher than everything else,' he added. While speaking about his performance and SRH's win in 2016, Cutting revealed that over the years, his performance has been lauded by many more enthusiasts and social media. He said that because RCB has yet to win the IPL trophy, the significance of his performance has continued to grow. "For some reason, this year, social media has blown up far more. I think because the longer the years drag on and RCB still haven't won, the more important that night becomes for the Hyderabadis," said Cutting. "The time has flown. Even at the time, I realised that was probably going to be the highlight of my career," he added. In the 2016 final, Cutting walked out to bat with SRH 147/4 in the 16th over. He then single-handedly dismantled RCB, particularly Shane Watson to help the Hyderabad-based franchise post 208 runs on the board. In the final over, Cutting also smashed a 117m six off the bowling of Watson. "I knew that he was bowling close to 140 kmph and some quick bowling like that on that sort of wicket was going to suit my game to a tee. I just wish it wasn't against Watto! I love the bloke. He was a hero of mine coming through the ranks. I still feel guilty about seeing it unfold like that against someone that I looked up to - and still do - as a hero on the field," said Cutting. Coming back to RCB, the Rajat Patidar-led side will next take on SunRisers Hyderabad on Friday at the Ekana, Lucknow.
The Print
21-05-2025
- The Print
Charminar to Golconda, Hyderabad is full of history. Yet not a single World Heritage Site
For once, the internet made a smart point—because had that actually been the case, the Charminar and other Hyderabad monuments might have made it to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites by now. It's a pity that despite being a global city, both historically and in the present day, Hyderabad still doesn't have a single monument on that list. All that we've had are feeble attempts. While their tour made global news, what got my attention were the many internet comments about the event. Many Hyderabadis kept reiterating one thing in their online comments: how things would be so much better if the Old City were free from its usual clutter for everyone and not just for fancy foreign guests. The whole world watched as the Old City of Hyderabad welcomed Miss World contestants during their heritage walk on the evening of 14 May, and I think, as a city, we couldn't have been prouder. The Charminar was swept clean and decorated, and the streets were sanitised to clear out the daily clutter and give the contestants a more comfortable experience. Also Read: The owners of Karachi Bakery are as Hyderabadi — and Indian — as anyone else Great sites, bad management With the exception of the Qutb Shahi tombs complex, monuments in Hyderabad are far from achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The Golconda Fort and Charminar are globally known and attract a lot of tourists every year, but both sites are, frankly, good examples of bad management in general. (For now, Telangana's only spot on the list is the Kakatiya-era 13th-century Ramappa temple, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2020.) The Charminar, as it stands today, has a temple on it that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) itself has previously said is an unauthorised construction (and that it has no records of it). The Golconda Fort, meanwhile, is surrounded by residential homes. These were built over the last four decades within its original boundary walls. What many of us don't realise is that when we go to the fort, we only visit the palace area of the citadel. The fort actually has eight gates and several other monuments within its enclosure, covering about 7 kilometres, but those slowly gave way to unauthorised constructions. In Hyderabad, the ASI controls the Golconda Fort and the Charminar, while the Qutb Shahi tombs are managed by the state government. I won't mention any other places when it comes to the UNESCO World Heritage list, because these are the most prominent and historically important sites. Also Read: What makes someone a Hyderabadi—Irani chai, biryani, Nizam nostalgia, or Dakhni? Failed attempts at rejuvenation Hyderabad's heritage has been routinely let down. The Charminar was built in 1591, when Mohd Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth king of the Golconda kingdom, decided to move out of the Golconda Fort, which had been the capital until then. His grandfather, Sultan Quli, who was of Persian origin, had founded the Qutb Shahi or Golconda kingdom in 1518. The Qutb Shahi tombs complex is where the entire dynasty is buried. This necropolis is possibly one of the best historical sites in India to explore, thanks to its fabulous restoration by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. In 2020, there was supposedly a proposal to club it with other Deccan monuments in Bijapur and Bidar and nominate them together for the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. However, that fell through. Then, about a decade ago, the state government had attempted the same with the Charminar and Golconda Fort. Even that did not work out due to the umpteen issues around both sites. Lack of basic public infrastructure, such as tourist amenities, and the failure to clear encroachments are two major issues that plague both monuments. Even the few limited successes barely lasted. For instance, in the Old City, the state government had started the Charminar Pedestrian Project, which unsuccessfully ran for over two decades to try and pedestrianise the main Pathergatti to Charminar stretch. While that didn't work out, the government finally managed to pedestrianise the 200–300 metre area in front of the Charminar about half a decade ago. I remember feeling happy then because hawkers had actually been kept off the main pathway leading to the Charminar. But even that lasted only two weeks, as the hawkers eventually reoccupied the road that was meant to facilitate a smooth walking experience. That, apart from the continuous littering caused by the hawkers and the general lack of hygiene, makes visiting the Charminar a terrible experience every single time. While there is now some hope with the Qutb Shahi tombs due to its restoration, we are still far from protecting and maintaining our monuments at a world-class level. Even citizens in those areas need to be sensitised to the fact that this will help them too. It will draw more tourists and help the city become a great destination that all of us can be proud of. Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist whose work primarily focuses on politics, history and culture. He tweets @YunusLasania. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
There'll be more Kohlis, not like we don't have talent: Owaisi the cricket romantic
Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi, once known more for his fiery medium fast bowling than for his fiery oratory, recalls besting future India paceman Venkatesh Prasad in an inter-university final match in the early 90s. Owaisi ended up with 6 for 79 and on Saturday recalled with glee that Prasad went wicketless in that match. For the record Prasad's Bengaluru University team beat the future Hyderabadi politician's Osmania University. "We lost the match but I did get six wickets and Venkatesh got nothing," the MP from Hyderabad constituency told PTI in an interview on Saturday. With pride, Owaisi showed off on his phone the picture of a large write-up in the local Deccan Chronicle newspaper after the day's play, complete with the score card. The report also featured a small picture of the then clean-shaven Owaisi, his hair plastered on the scalp. After that he got selected for South Zone inter-university Under-25 team, and played in Vizzy Trophy, a national level one-day tournament for university teams, in 1994. But as luck would have it, he went to London to study law at Lincoln's Inn and "the cricketing chapter ended right there." He modestly dismisses suggestions that he could have made it to the big league had he stayed in cricket, just as fellow Hyderabadis Mohammad Azharuddin, Abid Ali, M.L. Jaisimha, Ghulam Hussain and VVS Laxman did. To him, they were all-time greats and he was simply a mediocre bowler. "No no no! My name cannot be compared with Azharuddin. He is a man who played 99 Tests. You cannot compare me with Azharuddin. As a cricketer I salute him. As a politician I have many differences with him," said Owaisi. He agreed with the suggestion that Indian cricket today has democratised the game and allowed players from all kinds of backgrounds to rise to the top, citing the story of pacer Mohammad Siraj. But it needs to be democratised more, he said. "Look at Mohammad Siraj today. Mashallah. A boy from poor background. With hard work he rose and has taken 100 Test wickets. Great journey ... inspirational! ... I hope that he plays a lot for India and gives India many victories. He paid high tributes to Virat Kohli who this week announced his retirement from Test cricket. "Arey zabardast player hai. We will forever be deprived of his cover drive. On the rise the way he hit over the bowler's head! Arey great player hai. Zabardast player hai. "But there will be more Kohlis. It's not like we don't have talent in India," he said.
