New Delhi: The release of Daneesh Majid’s book The Hyderabadis at the India International Centre ignited a sharp discussion on history, memory, and identity. The event marked the 77th anniversary of Operation Polo, when the princely state of Hyderabad was annexed in 1948.
The book captures ten stories from that turning point to the present day, focusing on ordinary families. Former R\&AW chief A.S. Dulat, academic Mujibur Rehman, journalist Dinesh C. Sharma, and author Ruben Banerjee joined Majid on the panel. Wajahat Habibullah, India’s first Chief Information Officer, surprised the audience by claiming that former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was ashamed of his Muslim heritage, linking it to his view of the Nizam’s rule as tyrannical.
Majid explained his motivation to write, saying Hyderabad’s Muslims shifted from being a ruling minority to a numerical minority in democratic India. He recalled advice from Siasat.com editor Mir Ayub Khan to highlight not only achievements but also the struggles faced by Muslim families after the annexation.
Dulat stressed that Hyderabad’s culture extends far beyond its clichés. He highlighted its pluralism, saying Hindus and Muslims traditionally shared deep friendships. Journalist Sharma noted that while the creation of Andhra Pradesh diluted Hyderabadi culture, the city’s multilingual legacy preserved its tolerant spirit.
Not all responses were celebratory. Habibullah compared Hyderabad’s inter-community relations unfavorably with Lucknow. Historian R. Mahalakshmi criticized the absence of women’s voices in the book and urged Majid to include them in future work.
