'Brand India the biggest story'

Ad guru Mohammed Khan on his royal roots in Hyderabad and more...
When Mohammed Khan was greeting the Maharaja of Baroda, at the reception of the Indian High Commission in London, with an elaborate aadab, someone asked, "are you from the Maharaja's family?" He aptly replied, "Yes I am." He explains, "Most old families of Hyderabad have a unique style of doing the aadab." He is the grandson of Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad, the erstwhile Prime Minister of Hyderabad, and he traces back his roots to to Raja Todar Mal, emperor Akbar's finance minister.They were hereditary Peshkars in the Nizam's court in Hyderabad. Khan continues to carry the legacy of Hyderabadi tehzeeb across the globe, even while he's at home in Mumbai. In town on a regular visit, Hyderabad Times got into a tête-à-tête with him...
Brand India has become a hot topic of discussion, today. What does it mean to you?
Brand India is the biggest story of our time. And it's a 'people' story. In art, fashion, cinema, medicine, literature, technology, education, business or any other field, Indians are making it big. Even Indian managers are in great demand, today. I think it's come to a point where the world is rushing to have a stake in India's success story.
What do you have to say about the major business mergers that India was involved in, considering, you have been part of some these, yourself?
Mergers are a necessary evil. In today's business environment, you're either big or you're dead. The biggest challenge for top managements is to manage the different cultures that come together.
Pictures speak a thousand words. That seems to be the anthem most advertisement agencies are chanting. But you hold on to a view that lays a strong emphasis on words...
Man invented language to communicate, so how can you do without words in the communications business? The advertising business has been hijacked by the art directors, whereas earlier, copywriters ruled the roost. But things are changing. Copy is making a comeback.
How has Hyderabad changed in the recent past?
Hyderabad is among the few Indian cities to be developing at such a rapid pace. But the traffic menace is a real botheration. My father was one of the first people to build a house in Banjara Hills and you didn't see a car on the road until you reached Lakdi ka Pul.
Also, I was extremely disturbed to hear about the recent bomb blasts. Some of the old Hyderabadis who live in London are devastated to hear about it. These things never happened here before.