Hyderabad

One side of the Partition that doesn't get much attention is the many "Princely States" that existed within what is now India and Pakistan. There were many Princely States that together held a significant proportion of India's population. It took some negotiation and coercion but all of the Princely States eventually agreed to join either India or Pakistan. One of the former Princely States is still an issue today between the two countries. It is Kashmir, in the far north.

I have wondered if India's former Princely States inspired those "homelands" that South Africa created in the 1970s. Has anyone else used "Bophuthatswana" as a password?

The greatest of these Princely States was Hyderabad, which is today the name of a major city in India. The final ruler of the Princely State of Hyderabad was the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. He was legendary for his personal wealth and all that he did for Hyderabad. One school that he founded has produced CEOs of both Microsoft and Adobe. He was on the cover of Time Magazine in 1937, listed as the richest man in the world. The Princely State of Hyderabad had a fantastic collection of jewels that was later purchased by the Government of India and is put on display periodically.

This is a look at the city of Hyderabad today.

Hyderabad is the central city of southern India and was founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. Hinduism is the majority religion in India but Hyderabad has a significant Moslem population and there is a large statue of Buddha on an island in the artificial lake that was constructed at the city's founding.

Hyderabad was captured by the Mughals and became the center of what was known as a princely state. The ruling dynasty was known as the Nizams of Hyderabad. Upon the independence of modern India, most princely states joined either India or Moslem-majority Pakistan. Hyderabad initially resisted being a part of the united country.

Hyderabad hosts the headquarters of many international companies in India. Another thing that it is known for is diamonds.

Golkonda Fort was constructed by the founders of Hyderabad, and was the first part of the city. Nearby is the Qutb Shahi Tombs of the Nizam rulers.

There are multiple scenes following. To see the scenes, after the first one, you must first click the up arrow, ^, before you can move on to the next scene by clicking the right or forward arrow, >. After clicking the up arrow, you can then hide the previews of successive scenes, if you wish.

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Charminar means "four minarets or towers". This landmark of Hyderabad and of India was constructed when the city was founded. I think it has inspired many other structures. Nearby is the Chowmahalla Palace.

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The Salar Jung Museum is India's version of the Louvre, a great art and artifact museum.

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This is the area of Hyderabad around the Sama Saraswati Gardens.

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Hyderabad has a well-known film industry. The following scenes begin in Annapurna Studios.

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Hyderabad Public School in Begumpet was founded by the Nizam Osman Ali. In 1937, Time Magazine did the story on him as the richest man in the world, when Hyderabad was a princely state. This is the school that has produced CEOs of both Microsoft and Adobe.

Other than the Nizams another prominent family of Hyderabad was the Paigahs. They owned Falaknuma Palace.

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These scenes of Hitec City, modern Hyderabad, begin in the Inorbit Mall.

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