Latest news with #Nizam-era
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Re-survey in 413 villages with Nizam-era land records: Minister Ponguleti
To find a permanent solution to land-related issues in the State, the government has decided to re-survey 413 villages that have outdated Nizam-era nakshas (land maps). A pilot project will be launched in five villages of these 413 using modern technology, including drone surveys and geo-referencing, said Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. In a statement here on Sunday, he added that the pilot villages selected for the project are Salar Nagar of Gandeed mandal in Mahabubnagar district, Kommanapalli (new) of Beerpur mandal in Jagtial district, Mulugumada of Yerrupalem mandal in Khammam district, Nuguru of Venkatapuram mandal in Mulugu district, and Shahid Nagar of Vatpally mandal in Sangareddy district. The re-survey aims to bring clarity to land ownership, resolve disputes and provide transparency in land records. The government plans to expand the project to the remaining villages based on the results of the pilot project. Minister Srinivas Reddy criticised the BRS government for not addressing the issue in these villages where the records were not updated since the Nizam era despite being in power for 10 years. He assured that the present government is committed to resolving land issues using modern technology. The re-survey will involve preparing geo-referenced cadastral maps and rights registration documents. The government has selected experienced companies to conduct the survey, which is expected to benefit farmers and landowners. He said that the government had chosen survey agencies — RV Associates, Marvel Geo Spatial, IIC Technologies, Neo Geo and Drogo Drone — for this re-survey project. He added that the survey would be taken up in the remaining village after completing it in these five villages.
The Print
30-04-2025
- General
- The Print
Hyderabad is neglecting its Art Deco buildings. Jeera colony to Bachelors' Quarters
However, one very neglected aspect, or rather part of the city's contours, is its Art Deco buildings, which were built mostly after the 1940s. There are so many of them, and almost all are slowly being demolished by owners to make way for modern structures. For that matter, even colonial buildings like the British Residency or the Rashtrapati Nilayam, completed in 1860, make some of us nostalgic—especially if you've grown up in the old cantonment areas of Secunderabad (founded in 1806 by the British). Whenever someone talks about architecture in Hyderabad, it is either about the foundational Indo-Persian Golconda period from the 16th to 17th century or the later Mughal-inspired Nizam-era structures. Given that it is so glaring, it is also understandable that monuments like the Charminar and the Chowmahalla Palace leave people awestruck. Hyderabad's overlooked heritage Art Deco is a form of architecture that comes from the 1925 'L'exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes' (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts), held in Paris. It highlighted new styles of art, architecture, decorative arts, and industrial designs coming up in Europe and across the world. The 100th anniversary of the Art Deco style architecture was marked on 29 April. The exhibition was held specifically to showcase only new and modern designs, and no historical designs or styles were allowed. Just a few years before that, the American newspaper Chicago Tribune held a competition among architects to design its then-new building. The competition also set the tone for America's foray into the design philosophy of Art Deco architecture. The word 'Art Deco' in fact was popularised much later in the 1960s, but it essentially has three forms of design: zigzag or jazz moderne, streamline moderne and classical moderne. Zigzag buildings were essentially more opulent (some included inspiration from ancient Egyptian and Mayan cultures), while classical Art Deco was more muted as the Great Depression in the 1930s made its impact in the US. The third one, streamline moderne, stuck to industrial designs, with buildings often designed to look like ships, or planes, or even automobiles. This is what we find in Hyderabad. Hyderabad has a layered history: It has ancient medieval architecture, followed by the later Nizam-era mix of post-Mughal buildings, which also includes a blend of European architecture. And between these monuments and public spaces, the Art Deco heritage of our city is completely overlooked. One of the best examples of this is the Bachelors' Quarters building in Abids, located across the Moazzam Jahi market (built in 1935 as a market in Indo-Saracenic architecture by the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan). Built in 1941, the Bachelors Quarters—-with its ocean-liner facade—-once housed progressive Urdu writers for years. Another building that has always caught my eye is the Arya Samaj Mandir on RP Road in Secunderabad. It is an absolutely stunning structure. Until a few years ago, the Jeera colony behind it was filled with lived-in Art Deco homes. While a few still stand, many have been torn down. Also read: What makes someone a Hyderabadi—Irani chai, biryani, Nizam nostalgia, or Dakhni? Design shaped by technology Unlike Mumbai, where the Art Deco buildings (like those in Marine Drive) are protected, nothing of that sort safeguards such structures in Hyderabad. Sooner or later, most of them will make way for new construction. In a way, I get it. Many of these homes belonged to joint families that have since split, and naturally, the properties get divided too. That said, the Art Deco era was influenced by a fascination with transportation technology in the 1940s and 1950s. Hyderabad's old airport in Begumpet, built by the last Nizam, is also a beautiful structure. Across the city, even in its busiest market areas of Abids and Secunderabad, you can still spot several Art Deco buildings. Many of these buildings have interesting typography on them. Give it a few decades, and our Art Deco heritage will stand as a century-old reminder of how the idea of technology once shaped design itself. It's always nice to look at old photos of things that don't exist anymore and reminisce. What's better is if they stand the test of time. That way, we can show the future generations what modernity once looked like. Art Deco can be that, and this applies to every Indian city where it exists. Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist whose work primarily focuses on politics, history and culture. He tweets @YunusLasania. Views are personal. (Edited by Ratan Priya)
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Celebrating art deco buildings in Hyderabad, 100 years after birth of architectural style in Paris
Hyderabad is a city of Qutb Shahi domes, Nizam-era arches, British era colonnades and Indo-Sarcenic spires. Beyond these, there are areas where the architecture takes on a different character, offering arresting sights of buildings shaped by fluid curves, bold forms, and distinctive designs that stand out. 'These are Art Deco buildings that were part of the architectural movement that was born on April 29, 1925, in Paris. On that day, the 'Exposition des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes' opened in the centre of Paris. It spawned a movement known as Art Deco that influenced architecture, design of cars, railway engines, typography, drapes and even jewellery,' says architect Srinivas Murthy, who is curating an exhibition scheduled for April 29, at another Art Deco masterpiece in Hyderabad—the Raj Bhavan. 'As most of these buildings are not considered heritage, they are disappearing. Architecture is a layer of the city that we should be conscious of. It tells us about the social milieu and our evolution as a civilised society. Be it temples or mosques, all reflect the social, cultural, and political milieu. Every such layer is important as it tells about the time,' informs Mr. Murthy, who documented the Secunderabad Railway Station just as its facade was torn down to make way for a new building. 'The Art Deco was the choice of the wealthy and well-heeled in Hyderabad. When you see these buildings, you know where the wealthy lived,' he adds. After 1925, the winds of Art Deco blew across the world with cities like Miami in the U.S.A. and Mumbai in India adopting it in a major way. However, the adoption of the art style in Hyderabad, in dozens of buildings, flew under the radar. They remained hidden in plain sight—the home of Patnys, Arya Samaj Mandir, Bachelor's Quarters, Sheesh Mahal cinema hall, Sarathi Studios, Yakut Mahal and a host of them lining the R.P Road and some scattered in Begum Bazaar and near Charminar. The sights are arresting, like a house in Barkatpura, or the grand Bank of Hyderabad (now SBI) building that was designed by architect Mohammed Fayazuddin. Spread out on Mr. Murthy's table is a photograph that was clicked from a spot in Banjara Hills beyond the Jalagam Vengal Rao Park, which shows three buildings: the Kohinoor (now GVK1), Aurora College and Panjagutta Masjid. These Art Deco buildings in Hyderabad were designed by Mohammed Fayazuddin, Zain Yar Jung, Karl Malte von Heinz, Eric Marrett and other assistants of Mr. Fayazuddin. 'Art Deco had order, form and symmetry. The hand of the architect was free to draw a curve and let it bend back,' says Mr. Murthy as he swirls a line that looks like the bannister of the staircase in the Raj Bhavan. 'Most homes and buildings designed in the Art Deco style were built between 1930 and 1965. Ravindra Bharati is an Art Deco piece which had an arch behind the statue of Rabindranath Tagore. That [arch] may get restored soon,' he says. While the architects were free to indulge in the curvy form, thanks to the flexibility and strength of concrete and iron, it also helped the ornamentation and decorative elements that became part of the Art Deco vocabulary. This allowed elements like Chaitya arches, images of gods, vegetal patterns, Islamic architectural elements and artistic decorative patterns. When Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma saw an old image of the Raj Bhavan, he wanted to know why the view from the doorway had changed. 'The reason was the runaway encroachments. Between the Raj Bhavan and the Hussainsagar Lake, there were no houses or trees. With the rise of the colony known as Maqta, everything has changed,' says Mr. Murthy as he points to a photograph of a pillar in Raj Bhavan that has a small gap at the top. The gap makes it appear as if the roof is floating. A 100 years after the birth of an architectural movement in distant Paris, a few eclectic specimens survive, thrive in Hyderabad and can make ones day while travelling here in the Metro.
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Osmania Arts College bldg joins the list of architectural marvels
Hyderabad: Osmania University's iconic Arts College building has achieved a trademarked structure — joining the league of architectural giants such as the Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, and closer to home, Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel and Bombay Stock Exchange. With this, OU Arts College becomes the third building in India to receive this prestigious recognition. The trademark certificate, officially registered on April 19, 2025, was formally handed over to Professor Kumar Molugaram, Vice Chancellor of Osmania University, by Subhajit Saha, Founder of Resolute4IP, Trademark Attorney. Terming the achievement a 'historic milestone in OU's legacy,' Professor Molugaram remarked that the trademark not only honors the building's architectural grandeur and heritage but also elevates the brand image of Osmania University on the global stage. 'This recognition ensures that the building's legacy is preserved and protected. It is a proud moment for every OU alumnus across the world,' he said. Designed by Belgian architect Ernest Jasper, the OU Arts College building, inaugurated in 1939, is a masterpiece blending Qutub Shahi, Mughal, and Kakatiya architectural elements. Inspired by the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, the building's distinctive vaulted roof, bulbous domes, shield-like cupolas, and pointed arches reflect a secular and inclusive vision of education. Unlike typical Nizam-era structures with a singular dome, this design makes the building stand out as a symbol of academic excellence and cultural heritage. 'This landmark achievement not only marks a new chapter in Osmania University's illustrious history, but also places it firmly on the global map as a custodian of heritage, education, and innovation,' said a senior officer, OU.
