Ever since he released his book ‘White Mughals’ in 2002, author William Dalrymple’s re-telling of the love story of James Achilles Kirkpatrick, a British dignitary, and Khair-un-Nissa, the granddaughter of Nawab Mahboob Ali Khan, has piqued the interest of many. And word on the internet that a movie is being made on his book has also gotten many readers excited.
Mr. Dalrymple, who was in the city a week ago, spoke over phone to YUNUS Y. LASANIA about the upcoming projects, including a documentary and the movie version of his eponymous book on Hyderabad.
Are you making a movie on ‘White Mughals’? And could you also tell us about the documentary you are making for the BBC?
The documentary is a one-hour special for BBC. It tells my journey of discovery, of finding the love story. I was in Hyderabad for that, and it will be released in September. And I don’t make movies, I write books. However, Frank Doelger, a producer of the show ‘Game of Thrones’ is making a movie on the book.
Are you also part of the movie-making team? And at what stage is the production as of now?
I had the option of being involved in the beginning. However, I am only advising the team. There’s a play on ‘White Mughals’ as well, which will be staged by Tim Supple, who is one of the best theatre directors.
There was also word that an anonymous person has donated a million pounds to restore the Residency building in the Koti Women’s College premises. Could you tell us more about it?
I met the man, and he did not want his name out. He read ‘White Mughals’, he wrote a cheque for a million pounds to the World Monument Fund (WMF) to restore the building. I have nothing to do with that as it is being looked after by the WMF.
You have talked about Hyderabad’s heritage buildings being neglected in the past. Also, it should be noted that the INTACH award-winning monuments this year are not in the protected lists of the government. What do you think should be done?
India has a problem with that. Many important buildings here fall under the category of not being protected. In Britain, for example, we have English Heritage, the British counterpart of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and there are also listing laws that do now allow private owners of old important buildings, like Grade-1 or Grade-2, to take them down. India needs something like that.
When did you first come to Hyderabad? And between then and now, what changes have you noticed?
I came here first in 1997. It is a mixed picture. There have been some remarkable projects undertaken as well. Like the Salar Jung Museum, which is much better than it was before, and the Chowmahalla and Falaknuma palaces, are examples of what can be done.
However, the negatives are the small unprotected monuments in the Old City. Every time I visit, there are concrete buildings in their places. Hyderabad is one of the most historical cities in India. There is a lot here, but much has also been lost.
