City of Hyderabad, or Bhagyanagar, was named after a
local dancer named Bhagmati. Md.Quli Qutub Shah loved
this lass who lived in a cottage in the village of Chichlam,
where the great edifice of Charminar stands.
Legend has it that the young Sultan rode out from the Golconda Fort to meet his
beloved, braving the flood waters of the river Musi. He then re-christened her
Hyder Mahal, and thus the name Hyderabad came into being. The seed of cultural
tolerance and cosmopolitanism too were seemingly sown at the inception itself.
During the early part of his reign, Golconda became famous for its diamonds,
steel and printed cloth. Commercial activity drew merchants from Asia and Europe,
Hyderabad's fame, strategic location and Golconda's legendary wealth attracted
Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, who captured Golconda after a long siege.
In 1687, it was annexed into the Mughal empire, with Asaf Jah as part Prime Minister
of the Deccan. As the Mughal empire began to disintegrate and decay, Asaf Jah
proclaimed himself the master of Deccan. This marked the end of the medieval
period in the history of Deccan. The end of Mughal hegemony also marked the definite
establishment of the Asaf Jahi rule.
The State and Dynasty so founded by Asaf Jahi I witnessed many eventful things
in the evolution of Hyderabad State. He instituted the title of Nizam, which
had become since then dynasty title of successive rulers of the State. He thus
became the founder of the House of the Nizams.
In 1798, a subsidiary alliance for military and political cooperation was signed
between the Hyderabad Nizam and the British East India Company. Thereafter, an
area north of what is now the Hussain Sagar Lake was established as a cantonment.
After the Nizam Sikander Jah, the area was named as Secunderabad.
The Asaf Jahi dynasty, ruled by the Nizams, continued until the State was merged
into the Indian Union in 1948, after the Police action against the then Nizam,
who refused to merge with the Indian Union.
Hyderabad, significantly, was the largest Princely State in India, with its own
flag, currency and coins, postal system, railways and even its own radio.
After the reorganization of States in 1956, Hyderabad city was merged with the
new State of Andhra Pradesh, carved out of the composite State of Madras and
the city became the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Though the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are twins, they are different
in their layout of buildings, the style of life and the very atmosphere. The
cities present different fusion of cultures one been the capital of princely
state and the other under the direct rule of British till 1948.
People of the Twin Cities are proud of the history and heritage, their unique
blend of cultures, the relaxed pace of life, and lifestyle, and their cuisine.