Romancing Hyderabad

It was difficult initially to draw danseuse Sonal Mansingh out, but once she came forth, she flowed on, like a well-orchestrated dance movement, graceful and articulate.
Her tryst with the city has been long and sustained, spanning across three decades. To get her perception of the city which has come a long way since her first visit, we asked her what it was like then, and before long we get an avalanche of detail on the Hyderabad that was. ���It was very different then, and I have very fond memories of staying with my late friend Hashmi Mehdi and his family who lived in a house surrounded by rock formations which I don���t see much of now. The city���s ecology has changed so much,��� she laments. But then excitedly adds, ���I remember visiting the Charminar and shopping for antique jewellery and sarees. Some of the exquisite paithanis are still with me.���
Talking about her stronger link with the city she offered little-known fascinating historical details! Interestingly, her grandfather was one of the five governors (of the Central Provinces and Berar) of India in 1947. After the Police Action, when Sardar Patel and the Nizam of Hyderabad refused to go to Hyderabad and Delhi respectively to sign the accession to the Indian Republic, her grandfather invited both to Nagpur. ���It was then that the Nizam signed the instrument of accession and was so happy with my grandfather���s diplomatic suggestion, that he presented him with a sword given to him by Aurangazeb himself,��� she says sounding quite amazed herself! She reveals proudly ���The sword is now with my brother and is an important link for me with Hyderabad.���
Cutting to the present, we asked about her dance projects and she said she���d completed one in Tanjore called Shalangai Naadam ( sound of ankle bells) which she choreographed and presented against the backdrop of the Tanjore Palace. Her next is a music and dance festival which will be organised by her institute. The high point is that a new award Jeevan Ratna will be presented by Gulzaar saab to Dr Sitakant Mahapatra, who is perhaps one of the most internationally translated poets after Tagore.
On a parting note, we asked her if she had a message for the people of the city and she promptly said: ���It was in Hyderabad, that Quli Qutub Shah fell in love with Bhagmati and their love flourished and endured. I hope and pray, that this kind of relationship between the people and communities will endure and blossom always.���