Oh! Hyderabad!

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Oh! Hyderabad!

(Reminiscences)

Author:

Subrabharathi Manian

Translated Tamil by

P. RAMGOPAL

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Table of Contents

About the Author

About the Translator

Foreword

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Dedication

Dedicated to my friend Thoorigai Chinnaraj

About the Author

Subrabharathi Manian is an established Tamil writer... He is a recipient of the prestigious Katha award from the President of India and has written more than 200 short stories and 15 novels. He is the editor of the literary magazine Kanavu and is bringing it out successfully single handed for more than thirty years. Focussing on the trials and tribulations of the downtrodden and on the migrations of people who go in search of jobs, particularly of the young girls, his writings question the stubborn silence of the society about their pathetic conditions.

Manian’s Oh! Hyderabad! is different from his other books. It is a collection of reminiscences. They tell usabout the people he moved with during his stay in Secunderabad. Usually autobiographical sketches are boring by nature as they mainly focus on the writer himself. But, Subrabharathi Manian is an exception. In these sketches, he puts himself in the backstage and allots the characters the front stage. That’s why the book is never boring and demands repeated reading. Now and then, he, with dexterity and diligence, sprinkles his personal touches be they his book exhibitions or the unavoidable quarrels between husband and wife. It seems he suggests a way to escape from these inevitable incidents, temporarily of course, to run away! There is a paradoxical pathos when he returns back every time to face the subdued wrath of his wife! (Don’t we all destined to do the same?). Each anecdote begins with a ‘personal’ touch and then soon enlarges to sketch different types of people with their positive and negative sides. The result is every anecdote becomes colourful, bubbling with life!

If you ever visit Secunderabad’s Monda market your eyes voluntarily and instantly look for Ranganna amidst the buffaloes there or if you visit the VisaBalaji temple, you will immediately remember Balathiripura Sundari. Whenever you eat chicken, if you have already read the book, you can’t help remembering N.T. Rama Rao the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and who also acted as Lord Maha Vishnu- the guarding god according to Hindu mythology- in many films. On seeing him in films as god, thousands of people worshipped him in their real lives as Maha Vishnu, the Saviour incarnate. But the real N.T.R.?

Oh, he was feasting on three chickens every day for his breakfast at the odd hour of 3 a.m! There lies the lively magic of Subrabharathi Manian in caricaturing. No doubt, as an autobiographical sketch Subrabharathi Manian’s Oh! Hyderabad! Is a unique piece of good literature!

About the Translator

Ramgopal is a retired professor of English. He translates works, both fiction and non-fiction from English to Tamil and vice versa. He began his work in translation with Bava Chelladurai’s book 19 D.M Saron. He has translated a couple of books by Subrabharathi Manian. Along with his wife, Ms. K. Chandra, who is a retired professor of Physics, he has brought out Tamil translations of the Tell Me… series published by Sapna Book House. Recently he has translated Mr. Velliyodan’s, (a young and distinguished writer in Malayalam) Kadal Marangal under the title The Trees of Sea. Ramgopal can be reached at [email protected] or through his cell: 9965412116/9865838207.

Foreword

My memories of Secunderabad go back to the early eighties where I had stayed for a fortnight twice. When time permitted between my academic works in libraries we visited historical monuments like Charminar and Golconda Fort and Salar Jung museum. Otherwise I was confined to the libraries of Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (now EFLU) and The American Study and Research Centre. The vast campuses of CIEFL and the Osmania University which lay on our way to ASRC were very impressive. I also recall our visit to a house in a ‘dusty’ street in the thickly populated Old Hyderabad where we were treated to Hyderabadi biriyani.

But none of these do you find mentioned in Oh, Hyderabad of Subrabharathi Manian. It revolves round parks where literary meetings were held; it portrays the squalor and poverty the common man endures; it delineates characters the author encountered in minute details. The pen pictures of these men and women stir up varied reactions in you when they are accompanied by a brief sketch of their background. There are prominently literary giants like Na. Pa. and Asokamitran casually mentioned as if they were part of the author’s daily life.

Do you get any picture of the author? Yes, of course. His passion for the mission of taking contemporary literature to the few Tamil readers present in the twin cities, his persistent efforts to conduct book festivals against all odds and the emotional reactions arising out of domestic quarrels are expressed in a lively, sometimes touching, manner.

One wonders how the author had remained in that dusty place for so long. The word ‘dusty’ occurs often in the narratives but used with a sense of humour. The Fever Hospital area where his office was situated, the place where he resided, the parks where his meetings were held are vividly portrayed. His adventurous attempts to enter the vineyard of an important political leader from Tamil Nadu (you know who) are hilariously narrated.

The pen pictures of his friends like Velayutham, the Fan Club companions and the pavement book seller, Prakash of Osmania General Hospital are unforgettable.

Oh, Hyderabad invites you to a feast of a variety of narratives and you can never miss the personality of Subrabarathi Manian unobtrusively peeping over your shoulders.

S. Vincent

Preface

The Unique Face

Writer Subrabharathi Manian had resided in Secunderabad, one of the twin cities, for eight years. He was employed in the telecom office in Hyderabad. This book speaks about his experiences during his stay In Secunderabad.

Man is a talking animal, it is said. Going from one place to another, yet to another and so on is called migration in English. Crows don’t go far away from their nests. On the other hand, doves, cranes and storks go away for kilometers and then return. Subrabharathi Manian is a migratory bird. He was born in Tirupur and from there he had gone to Conoor, Hyderabad, Pollachi, Udumalpet and to other places. Each man has his own unique face. Still, everyone has many faces behind the one face that is seen by others.

Subrabharathi Manian’s foresight is clearly visible in this book. Everyman has a limited relationship with others who are his fellow travellers in his life. Subrabharathi Manian has succeeded in bringing out lively the uniqueness of his relationship with others. This could be felt as one reads his book.

Oh Hyderabad! Is a collection of 24 essays. These provide a live commentary on his experiences during his stay in Secunderabad.

Everyone has his own unique experiences. But Subrabharathi Mania has the skill to sketch them out in writing. This book is a good example. He knows that Amirthan of Rasi Cements, Mani of Rama Naidu Studio and Na. Kathirvelan would read his views about them. He has the rare courage to meet them in person even after describing their character including their shortcomings. It seems that he has taken things in a lighter vein.

When someone raises the question, Where has Ranganna gone? He could not be seen for days!, the reply is always, I am amidst the buffaloes in the Monda market. If it is found that one of the Monda market buffaloes is missing, then it means that Ranganna is not there!

This paragraph alone bears testimony to Subrabharathi Manian’s skill in sketching out characters. Monda market is a popular and important vegetable market in Secunderabad.

The power of his memory, recalling every incident and every person, from conducting book exhibitions to running the literary magazine, Kanavu is astonishing. Even after thirty years, Kanavu is still alive!

He talks about Chilkur Balaji temple, the visa Balaji temple! I also have a similar experience. When I read about Subrabharathi Manian’s experience I just wondered how the same type of experience could have happened to both of us!

It’s a surprising piece of information that N.T.R. would eat three full chickens in the early morning!

The dense longevity of my friendship with Subrabharathi Manian has crossed many years!

I still recall the pleasant Sundays I’d spent with his family. I’m very much grateful to him for those pleasant times. This collection has strongly stimulated those memories! The title Oh! Hyderabad (Reminiscences) is apt!

As writer Ashokamitran belonged to Secunderabad, he has written hundreds of short stories, two novels including The Eighteenth Parallel focussing on its life. Subrabharathi Manian has