The ‘City of Pearls' and nawabs have an enduring appeal. The fabled kings who quickstepped into history and their palatial palaces are legendary. But there are many unanswered questions about how the city grew over the years and the visionaries who shaped it. Now one can find answers to all this and more at the City Museum.
A first-of-its kind museum which sheds light on hitherto little known things was inaugurated by Prince Muffakham Jah, grandson of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, here on Sunday.
Fittingly, the programme to mark the opening of the City Museum was held at the Jubilee Hall in Public Gardens which was constructed by the seventh Nizam on the occasion of his silver jubilee celebrations.
Extension
The City Museum is actually an extension of the HEH The Nizam's Museum situated in Purani Haveli. Through maps, artefacts, photographs, illustrations and written material it seeks to capture the exciting development of Hyderabad from the 13 century to present times. Visitors can get a pictorial history of 50-odd city mohallas through a touch-screen kiosk in Urdu, English, Hindi and Telugu.
“This is just a beginning. We will keep adding more articles and research study in the days to come”, said Mr. Jah. In his brief address, he said museums often came up with new themes to sustain and attract visitors. But this is the first museum which tells the story about the growth of Hyderabad. “It took two years of extensive research and consultations to establish the museum,” Mr. Jah said.
The foundation of Hyderabad, he said, was believed to have been laid in 1591 but early archaeological evidence conforms the evidence of continuous habitations dating back to much early times.
He congratulated Anuradha Naik, museum architect, for narrating the story of the city in a knowledgeable, attractive and attention-grabbing manner. Chief Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur, who released a souvenir, hoped the City Museum would become a trendsetter for other Indian cities to emulate. Chandigarh has one such museum, he said.
