Today is Gita Jayanti. I used to read Gita whenever time permitted. Since last December, I have started reading regularly. I read one or two shlokas every day and try to understand them. Trying since last 29 years. :) One thing I certainly understood is that; this Eternal Song of Hindus is nothing but Karmayogshastra. I believe it should be studied by young men and women in their 20's rather than by older people.

Names!

I am overwhelmed every time I read Chapter 16 of Shri Bhagvad Gita. For, the Chapter starts with my name! And describes the concept of my adopted nick name! That apart, the Chapter is basically about Divine and Demonic nature. Every time, as I go on reading, I realize something new and wonder this was already there! Only it is now that I realized it! Truly, Gita is the thing for whose understanding, many people spend their entire life!

KOI HUMNAFAS NAHIN HAI

Authentic way to enjoy Hyderabadi Biryani

The most authentic and correct way to appreciate Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani is to enjoy it with Mirchi-ka-salan, Baghare Baingan and Kachumber. Above all, you HAVE to have it in chowki style. Chowki Dinner is a tradition fading away in Hyderabad itself! I had it many times. But the one I often had at "Shadaab" at Patthar Gatti near Charminar was total divine! Unmatched! I had all what I said just now and above all, with boiled eggs …unlimited! Feels like in heaven! Hazraat, you can still have it………..only problem is that you have to go to Hyderabad!

Tana Shah

Last night I was browsing through various family albums on my laptop. We had many picnics and trips together. Particularly at week ends, we used to go to nearby places such as Daulatabad Fort, Khultabad Ghat and Ellora Caves. Since last five years, the week end picnics because restricted because of the SSC/HSC studies of my daughters. Elder one passed her HSC in 2008 and the younger one passed last week. Elder one has since gone to Mumbai for her studies and the younger one is contemplating to move out of home for her studies. So now we, as parents, are free to resume our favorite week end pursuit.

While browsing the albums, I came across the picture of China Mahal at Daulatabad Fort. What is remaining today is the part of the palace built by Shahjahan. This part was later used by Aurangzeb as prison. The last ruler of Qutbshahi of Golla Konda (Golconda near Hyderabad) Abul Hasan Tana Shah was kept in captivity there for 14 years. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was also kept here in captivity for 2 years by Aurangzeb.

During my many sojourns to Hyderabad and of course to Golconda, someone told me that the real name is Golla Konda. In Telugu, Golla means sheep and Konda means hill. The hill where the sheep used to graze was called Golla Konda which later, by variation, became Golconda.

After looking at the pictures, I thought I should write something about the tragic but interesting story of Abul Hasan Tana Shah. His story is of sheer luck and co-incidence. Frankly speaking, he did nothing much to raise to the position he enjoyed for 14 long years as Sultan of Golconda. But at the same time, he fate made him pay heavy price of being the Sultan.

I should start from the point where all will get the reference. Hence I shall start from the well known figure; Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah.

Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah, Sultan of Golconda and founder of the present city of Hyderabad passed away in 1611 AD. He had only one daughter and no son. His daughter, Hayat Bakshi Begum, played very crucial role in the politics of Golconda. Her position was unique. She enjoyed the status vary rarely enjoyed by any lady in the history of any dynasty in the world. She was daughter on one Sultan, wife of his successor and mother of the next ruler! Her husband, Sultan Muhammad was the nephew of Muhammad Quli. Their son, Abdullah later because Sultan Abdullah of Golconda.

Sultan Abdullah had two daughters and no son. Of his two daughters, the marriage of the younger one was objected to by the elder son-in-law who belonged to Mecca. In the circumstances, one Abul Hasan who was remotely related to the royal family and who at that time was living as a disciple of the Sufi Saint, Shah Raju, outside the city of Hyderabad was brought up and married to the princess. Later, through an intrigue in the palace, Abul Hasan became the new Sultan of Golconda. It is not known as to why and how he was considered and selected to marry the princess. Unfortunately, he was destined to be the last Sultan of Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda.

The last sultan of Golconda came to the throne in a very unusual manner. According to the treaty with Mughals, Prince Sultan Mohammad was to succeed Sultan Abdullah on the latter's death. But as the fate would have it, the designated successor was imprisoned by Aurangzeb himself for his dereliction and so the question of his succeeding Abdullah did not arise.

The story of Abul Hasan Tana Shah reads like a tragic romance. There are umpteen versions about how he came to be the King, how he ruled for 14 years and how ultimately he was taken prisoner by Aurangzeb to die 14 years later in captivity at Daulatabad. He was popularly known as Tana Shah because of his delicacy of temperament and finesse and not due to his despotic and unpredictive behaviour with which the term is (mis) understood now.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, visited Golconda during the reign of Tana Shah. Maharaj helped Tana Shah in his campaign against his own brothers, the Mughals and Adilshahi of Bijapur. Original documentary evidences are available to show the great pomp and extravagance by which Tana Shah treated Maharaj and how Maharaj was happy with the visit.

The Mughals invaded Golconda and the siege lasted eight months! The brave and heroic defence of Golconda against the Mughal army under the direct command of Aurangzeb makes glorious finale to the story of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.

There is one amusing story too. One night the barking of a pariah dog woke up the garrison just in time to block the entry of the Mughals into the Golconda fort. The dog was honoured with a gold collar and given a place of honour by the side of Tana Shah's throne!

As usual, the Golconda fort was taken by Mughals not by brave fight or war but by deceit and bribery. Bribery seems to be very old phenomenon in India practiced by all outside invaders and rules effectively.

Tana Shah was taken to Mughal camp as a captive. The capture and transfer of Tana Shah to Dulatabad in 1687 ended the Qutb Shahi dynasty which lasted for 169 years! Golconda became part of the Deccan province of the Mughals with capital at Aurangabad.

Tana Shah died in captivity at Daulatabad Fort and was buried at near by Khultabad where is victor Aurangzeb also lies under the same earth! Death is indeed a great equalizer!

Hyderabadi Khana

After writing about Bagare Baingan, I can't resist writing something about Hyderabadi Khana. Hyderabadi Khana as well as Andhra Meal are so close to my heart that I can't live without having at least one dish of it once in a week. As I said earlier, the term Hyderabadi Khana is understood to mean non-vegetarian food and Andhra Meal is commonly understood as vegetarian food.

Hyderabad is famous for its four legacis. Charminar, Golkonda Fort, Salar Jung Museum and Hyderabadi Khana. It is slightly sour, hot and richly endowed with dry fruits, nuts and assorted spices and cooked in asli ghee or groundnut or kardi oil. It has to be enjoyed to be believed. The simple method of slow cooking on coal or wood fire in dum help produce fantastic flavours. All Hyderabadi cooking has to be done itminaan se. There is nothing like "just two minutes" or "zatpat pakao aur phata-phat khao". It is rather criminal to do such things in respect of Hyderabadi Khana.

The wealthy and leisured aristocracy of the erstwhile Nizam State as well as the long peaceful years of their dominance contributed to the development and devotion to this culinary art. After the reign of Sikandar Jah (after whom the cantonment city Secunderabad is named) Hyderabadi aristocracy had nothing substantive to do. All the military responsibility was taken over by British and all major political decisions were take under the influence of British policy of state. This state of affairs went on till 1948 i.e. until the Nizam State was annexed to Union of India by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister of India. Such long period of peace resulted in development of a culture which is unique to Hyderabad. The Hyderabadi culture is a classic blend of Mughalai and Dakkhani cultures. Be it art, music, literature or food, traces of Mughlai culture can be clearly found in many things which are now known as Hyderabadi.

I shall write about Andhra Meal some other time because that too is a topic by itself and not just annam-rassam or perugu annam!

Baghare Baingan

The other day I hosted a dinner for my small group of friends. There is a new restaurant opened in the prime area of the city. When I went to the restaurant, they gave me their menu card to show what they can offer as party menu. One item caught my sight. "Baghare Baingan Hyderabadi" I asked the manager how they make it. He confessed that this is out of his jurisdiction! So I demanded to meet the cook. The cook was summoned and I asked him "kaise banate ho"? He was reluctant to tell me the recipe. I immediately realised and appreciated his etiquettes. Being professional cook; he is not supposed to disclose that! I said ok, at least tell me your procedure broadly. He told me that and I was convinced that here I can get authentic Baghare Baingan-Hyderabadi. Yes, Hyderabadi is important to me because that is unique!

I am great fan of "Hyderabadi Khana" which essentially means non-vegetarian food cooked in Hyderabadi style which is unique. The veg. food is known as Andhra Meal. I am fan of both. Depending upon the mood, I venture to have either of them.

Long back, somewhere in 1986, while roaming on Abids, I found one old book named as "Dawat-E-Hyderabadi" which is written by one lady (Begum) from one aristocratic family of Hyderabad. She was born and bought up in typical nawabi culture of Hyderabad prior to Independence. According to family customs, she was not supposed to even step into the kitchen. In those days, kitchens used to be little bit away from the main building of the house (kothi). The ladies of the house were supposed only to order the khansama through their maid servants. (khansama is different than the cook who is known as bawarchi). The male members of the family were supposed to tell their desire to eat whatever the wish to one lady of the family usually their sister or wife.

Baghare Baingan is the best dish what you can have after sumptuous "dose" of different kebabs. ("dose" used deliberately because kebabs are not alone; they are to be savored with something which is take as dose) After kebabs you are in fact full. But it is not considered civilized unless you eat some type of Indian bread and some rice before you finish off the lunch or dinner. So you can have Baghare Baingan with roti/naan/parantha/kulcha or whatever you have as bread. They are light as compared to mutton or chicken curries and at the same time, leave exactly the same taste in your mouth!

The main secret is…. to make authentic Baghare Baingan you have to stuff and then fry them in asli ghee till light brown before putting them in the gravy and allow them to cook on coal fire in a sealed deg that too …..itminaan se………not to hurry!. Now, please don't ask me what is to be stuffed and how gravy is made; because that’s military secret!

Habits and Thinking

I have some bad habits. For example, whenever I go to someone's home these days, I mean in summer vacations, and if I find that the youngest one of the family has completed his/her school, I ask for the text books! I collect as much text books as possible from any standard upto 10th. I have good collection of text books of Marathi, English and Urdu medium. I must say, Maharashtra's Balbharti text books are excellent; for they give very clear understanding of the basics of the subject.

The other bad habit is that I read those text books. All of them. Repeatedly!

The next and worst of all habit is that after reading such text books I think! The thing least expected from any Indian by our mai-baap Sarkar. I sincerely believe, our netas, babus and whoever in power howsoever little that may be, are of the opinion that the janta should never think. Because if the janta start thinking it will ask questions and the questions are not comfortable.

Every day we see and read in media how the questions asked by janta through RTI queries are treated with resistance by the people in power and especially babus.

So what I was saying is that after reading text books, the questions come to my mind are not very different than the questions the school going children ask. Why our MPs, MLAs or the municipal corporators behave in the house in the manner what we see live on television? Why such huge amount of cash is found in the houses of netas and babus? The fundamental laws of economics say that we need money to satisfy our needs. Do people have needs exceeding hundreds of crores of rupees? What netas, babus and their wives do with kilos of gold ornaments? Man need shelter. Shelter means house. Why people have so many houses? Do they live in all those houses at the same time?

After some time I realize that I passed school decades ago. I am no more a school going kid. It is bad habit to read such school text books at this age. Such questions are called silly questions by grown up people in India. I abruptly shut that window of my mind and pick up the latest issue of law reports and start trying to understand what really our grown up people do and how our courts undo their actions.

After reading law reports, I regret why I grew up. I start realizing how amazing is the world of text books and what is written in it.

Computers & Computers

The other day I was reading some prospectus and other related material for admission in engineering colleges in Maharashtra. I would have never bothered about these colleges but this time my younger dotty is one of the aspirant. So I have to read all this! I believe that there are only 5 or 6 engineering colleges in Maharashtra who really teach something substantial of the subject for which the students have taken admission in that college. Of course "my college" i.e. VJTI, Matunga, Mumbai, is one of them and I am very proud of that. After reading all that material, this is what came to my mind:

What is the difference between Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Computer Systems, Information Technology etc. etc.... blah blah blah. Do they really have academically qualified and experienced teachers to teach all this in its real sense to our kids?

I passed with Mechanical Engineering way back in 1981; so for me all this is nothing more than "computerwallhs". :)

CET

At last the "D Day" is tomorrow; the day on which MH-CET is to be held. Thousands of boys and girls shall appear for the exam. In fact to test their memorizing power and luck rather than to test their knowledge and the score shall open the gates for them for various professional courses! Best Luck to all kids. I am on driver's duty for the whole day because my younger one is one of the candidate for the exam! I sincerely believe that parents too deserve "Best Luck" from one and all because they (particularly moms) do all the ancillary things and provide entire "logistic support"! :)

Ilot Sancho

Ilot Sancho... a prized place of pirates of olden times where they buried their loot.

Its an tiny island just few feet off the cost line of the main island. The gap is visible here.

Here the full view of Ilot Sancho.

and this is me!! In my typical Sunday dress!