Hyderabad isn’t just a city nor it is solely an emotion. It is a canvas over which the different brushstrokes of various eras are still apparent to varying degrees—be it the pre-Nizam/British medieval times, the oft-romanticised princely era, its time as a lynchpin-cum-capital of a united Telugu-speaking Andhra Pradesh, or its eventual transformation into a technology centre that would later belong to one of India’s youngest states. During the past century, the city has worn many hats. It has been an outpost for artists as well as Urdu poets, a focal point of various political movements, a major site of the linguistic/cultural reimaginations (both in 1956 and 2014), and a case study of minority success stories. This journey hasn’t been without much churn. At our Online Talk #CityOfPearls, writer Daneesh Majid narrates a saga that lends a more rich, layered character to the city beyond notions centering around its most famous dish, biryani, and iconic monument, the Charminar.

About the speaker:

Daneesh Majid is a Hyderabad-based writer who concentrates on South Asian culture, security, and Urdu literature. He has worked for Siasat.com, the online English edition of the prominent Urdu daily. His writing has been featured in numerous South Asian media outlets, including Mint Lounge, The Hindu Business Line, Express Tribune, The New Indian Express, The Wire, The News Minute, The Print, Madras Courier, DailyO, The Nation (Pakistan), and Dhaka Tribune. He is an alumnus of Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania, and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.