Muslim culture of Hyderabad

The Muslim culture of Hyderabad refers to the culture associated with Muslims of Hyderabad State, India. With its origins in the Muslim Bahmani Sultanate and then Deccan sultanates, the culture became defined in the latter half of the reign of the Asif Jahi dynasty in Hyderabad. The culture exists today in Hyderabad and among the Hyderabadi Muslim diaspora around the world, in particular, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.

History

The Deccan plateau acted as a bulwark sheltering South India from the invasions and political turmoil that affected North India. This allowed the Muslim-ruled state of Hyderabad to develop a distinctive culture during the Qutb Shahi dynasty and later the Asaf Jahi dynasty of the Nizams.

The Seventh Nizam was the richest man in the world in his period.

The Nizam was the Muslim ruler of the vast princely Hyderabad State. The capital city of Hyderabad was primarily Urdu-speaking Muslim until the Independence of India and subsequent rise to dominance of Telugu-speaking people of Andhra. The state's economy was agrarian, and Hyderabad was primarily a government and administrative hub, run mostly (but far from exclusively) by Muslims. The aristocracy, "jagirdars" and "deshmukhs" (wealthy landowners), and even minor government officials could afford to hire servants, usually also Muslims, in a social order similar to the class system of Victorian England. The Nizam allied himself with the British early on, with ensuing political stability. The Muslim upper and middle classes were free to concentrate on a care-free and leisurely lifestyle involving clothes, jewelry, food, music, literary arts, and other indulgences, little of which trickled down to the servant class, known as "naukar" (a word originally used for the Mughal Emperor Babur's closest feudal retainers).

The relative isolation of Hyderabad until Independence, its distinctive dialect of Urdu and the strong web of interconnecting family relationships that characterizes Hyderabadi Muslims sometimes leads to charges of parochialism from other Indian Muslim communities, but it also ensures a Hyderabadi Muslim identity endures among the Indian diaspora.

Language and literature

One of the most identifiable markers of Hyderabadi Muslim culture is the local dialect of Urdu. It is distinct by its mixture of vocabulary from Marathi and Telugu, as well is some vocabulary from Arabic, Persian and Turkish that are not found in the standard dialect of Urdu. In terms of pronunciation, the easiest way to recognize a Hyderabadi Muslim is their pronunciation of letter "qāf" (ﻕ) as "kh" (ﺥ).The most distinctive aspect about the city of Hyderabad is the fact that the local Hindu population also speaks Hyderabadi Urdu as their native language unlike their counterparts in the rest of the state regions of Andhra Pradesh (Andhra and Rayalseema) who speak Telugu.

Cuisine

Some famous Hyderabadi cuisine (dishes) that are served at weddings are: Hyderabadi Biryani, Haleem, Khubani ka Mitha, Gil-e-Firdaus, Double Ka Meetha, Luqmi, Dum ka qimah, Muthhi Key Kebabs, Mirchi ka Salan and Baghare Baigan.

Other popular food items are: Chakna, Tamate ka Kut, Khatti Dal, Dalcha, Shirmal, Rawghani Roti, Nihari, Pasande, Pathar Ka Ghosht, Dum Ka Murgh,Khagina, Katchi Biryani, Khichri and Qabuli.

Many Hyderabadi dishes are very sour. As a result, Hyderabadis are sometimes jokingly called "khatte" ("sour" in Urdu).

Clothing and jewelry

Khada Dupatta

The "Khada Dupatta" (standing veil) is an outfit composed of a "kurta" (tunic), "chooridaar" (ruched pair of pants), and 6 yard "dupatta" (veil) and is traditionally worn by Hyderabad brides. Sometimes the "kurta" is sleeveless and worn over a "koti" resembling a choli. The bride also wears a matching "ghoonghat" (veil) over her head. The accompanying jewellery is:

*"Tika" (a medallion of uncut diamonds worn on the forehead and suspended by a string of pearls)

*"Jhoomar" (a fan shaped ornament worn on the side of the head)
*"Nath" (a nose ring with a large ruby bead flanked by two pearls)

*"Chintaak" (a choker studded with uncut diamonds and precious stones)

*"Karan phool" (earrings that match the "Chintaak" and consist of a flower motif covering the ear lobe and a bell shaped ornament that is suspended from the flower. The weight of precious stones and gold in the "Karan phool" is held up by "sahare" or supports made of strands of pearls that are fastened into the wearers hair.)

*"Satlada" (neck ornament of seven strands of pearls set with emeralds, diamonds and rubies)

*"Ranihaar" (neck ornament of pearls with a wide pendant)

*"Jugni" (neck ornament of several strands of pearls with a central pendant)

*"Goat" (Shellac bangles studded with rhinestones and worn with gold colored glass bangles called "sonabai")

*"Payal" (ankle bracelets)

*"Gintiyan" (toe rings)

Sherwani

The Sherwani is the traditional men's garb of Hyderabad. It is a coat-like tunic with a tight-fitting collar (fastened with hooks), close-fitting in the upper torso and flaring somewhat in its lower half. It usually has six or seven buttons, often removable ones made from gold sovereigns for special occasions. The material is usually silk or wool. A groom may use gold brocade for his wedding sherwani, but otherwise good taste dictates understated colors, albeit with rich and textured fabrics. The sherwani is usually worn over a silk or cotton "kurta" (long shirt) and "pyjamas" (baggy pants with a drawstring at the waist).

The sherwani is closely associated with Hyderabad, although it has spread since to the rest of India and to Pakistan. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru adapted its design and turned it into his trademark "Nehru Jacket", further popularizing the garment.

Religion

Hyderabad has both Sunni and Shi'ah Muslims, the majority of them being Sunni. The Sunni Muslims mostly follow the Hanafi school of Islamic Jurisprudence, although there are a few who follow the Shafi'i school of thought and mainly reside in areas close to Barkas, the former Military Barracks of the Nizam, an area where the residents are mainly of a Yemeni descent (especially from Hadhramawt). The Deobandi Tablighi Jamaat is also active. Salafism is slowly becoming popular with educated youth due to its appeal as a purer form of Islam than the local popular custom. The political Jamaat-e-Islami is also visible in the Mehdipatnam region where its large main mosque, Masjid e Azizia, is located.

Religious knowledge and its propagation flourished under the Nizam with institutions like the world famous Jamia Nizamia (Jami'ah Nizamiyyah) of Hyderabad. The largest Mosque of Hyderabad, the Makkah Masjid gathers congregations of two hundred thousand and more on special occasions of Eid prayers and especially of Jumu'at-al Wida' ( the last Friday of Ramadan )

External links

* [http://sunninews.wordpress.com Sunni News ]
* [http://www.siasat.com/urdu The Siasat urdu newspaper published from Hyderabad]
* [http://www.siasat.com/english English version of the Siasat newspaper]
* [http://www.munsifdaily.com/ The Munsif Urdu Daily published from Hyderabad]
* [http://www.etemaaddaily.com/ The Etemaad Urdu newspaper also published from Hyderabad]
* [http://www.urdulife.com/musha'irah/sharif_pagal.html Audio clips of humorous Urdu poetry in Hyderabadi dialect, by Ahmad Sharif Pagal Adilabadi]
* [http://www.travelintelligence.com/wsd/articles/art_832.html Article on some aspects of life in erstwhile Hyderabad state]
* [http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00001526&channel=gulberg&threshold=1&layout=0&order=0&start=10&end=19&page=1 Account of a Hyderabadi Wedding ceremony]