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Hyderabad is the
capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is in
the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. With approximately 6.1
million people (61lakh), it is India's 5th largest metropolis
and the 41st largest metropolitan area in the world. Hyderabad
has a twin city named Secunderabad which was formed when the
British residency of the erstwhile princely State of Hyderabad
had set up a military base near Hyderabad.
Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and
architecture representing its unique characteristic of a
meeting point for North and South India, and its multi-lingual
culture, both geographically and culturally. Hence, Hyderabad
is considered to be the gateway of southern India. Hyderabad
has always been a place where Hindus and Muslims have
co-existed peacefully for centuries.
Hyderabad and the surrounding areas of Telangana have a
distinct dialect. The Telugu spoken here has assimilated many
Urdu words into it. And the Urdu spoken here is also unique,
with some Marathi words and a unique Hyderabad accent, giving
rise to a dialect sometimes called as Hyderabadi Hindi.
Hyderabad is also one of the most developed cities in the
country. It is the emerging information technology (or IT) and
biotechnology hub of India. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are
twin cities, separated by the Hussain Sagar (bound by the
'Tank Bund'), a manmade lake made during the time of Ibrahim
Qutb Shah in 1562. The Charminar (Urdu: "Four Minars")
monument, built in the center of Hyderabad by Muhammad Quli
Qutb Shah in 1591, is a commemoration of the eradication of a
plague in the region.
Hyderabad was founded on the banks of the Musi river in the
present day Andhra Pradesh by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Sultan
of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, in 1590; this relocation was
intended to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had
experienced at their old headquarters at Golkonda. They ruled
over the Telangana region and some parts of present day
Karnataka and Maharashtra.[2]
Theories explaining the origins and etymology behind
Hyderabad's name differ. A popular theory suggests that after
founding the city, Muhammad Quli fell in love with and married
a local Banjara girl known as Bhagamathi. He named this city
after her as Bhagyanagaram. Upon her conversion to Islam,
Bhagamathi changed her name to Hyder Mahal — and the new
city's name was correspondingly changed to match it, resulting
in the eponymous name "Hyderabad" (literally, "the city of
Hyder").
When India gained independence in 1947, under the terms of
independence from the British the State of Hyderabad headed by
the Prime Minister, the cabinet and the Nizam opted for
independence, either as a sovereign ruler or by acquiring
Dominion status within the British Empire.
India then enforced an economic blockade. As a result
Hyderabad state signed a Standstill Agreement with the Indian
Union. On September 17, 1948, more than a year after India had
gained independence, the Nizam signed the Instrument of
Accession to the Indian Union.
On November 1, 1956, the states of India were reorganized on
linguistic grounds. The terrorities of the State of Hyderabad
were divided between newly created Andhra Pradesh, Bombay
state (later Maharashtra), and Karnataka. Hyderabad and the
surrounding areas were added to Andhra Pradesh, based on the
Telugu speaking community. Thus, Hyderabad became the capital
city of the new state of Andhra Pradesh. |
