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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. |