The Year Hyderabadis decided that they will not ‘take lite’

Hyderabadis are notorious for being laidback and proudly spouting those two magical words — ‘take lite’ — no matter what the crisis at hand. It’s a mantra that makes sure they stay bindaas. But 2019 was different. mana Hyderabadis shook off their apathy and took to the streets on many an occasion to march, protest and rally for change. From demanding a safer city for women to forcing the government to think twice before felling trees or wiping out forests to even raising a voice for the all but forgotten Musi, Hyderabadis came out in droves and made their voices heard.And as much as we love our city’s take lite vibe, this new ‘wokeness’ is worth cheering for!

#HyderabadisForFuture: when students rallied to demand climate action
Calling for action against the rapid loss of green cover, city students and green activists took to the streets in November, as part of the worldwide #GlobalClimateStrike, started by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg

#MakeHydSafeAgain: Justice for Disha
The horrific rape and murder of Disha, the Hyderabad-based veterinarian that sent shockwaves across the country, prompted thousands of Hyderabadis to hold candlelight vigils and rally on the streets to demand justice for Disha. Men and women came together to call for better laws and safer streets

#RallyForMusi: A vow to make Musi flow again
Hundreds of Hyderabadis, including members of several civil bodies, students and professors, marched together in remembrance of the people who lost their lives in the 1908 Musi river flood and also had a riveting discussion to revive the historic river, which is deteriorating due to excessive pollution and systemic apathy

#TreeCheers: 960 banyan trees on the Hyderbad-Chevella-Bijapur highway get new life
City-based environmental activists brought together over 35,000 Hyderabadis, land owners and village panchayats, and fought relentlessly for 960 banyan trees, which were to be axed for a road widening project on the Hyderabad-Chevella-Bijapur highway. The project was stalled and some trees were also translocated

#RunForRocks: Over 250 Hyderabadis ran to protect Fakhruddin Gutta
In a bid to get Telangana government to stop the drilling work that was destroying the famed 2,500 million-year-old rock formations at Fakhruddin Gutta, over 250 environmental activists embarked on an awareness run

#SaveNallamala: When city-folk united to protest against uranium mining in Nallamala forest
Hundreds of denizens unitedly raised their voice against the proposed uranium mining in the pristine Nallamala forest, which is spread across several districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and is home to the Amarabad Tiger Reserve and Chenchu tribe