Hyderabad can be said to be among the few Indian
cities that have preserved the cultural heritage. The Nawabs of Hyderabad are as well
remembered as those of Lucknow and Awadh. Hyderabad invokes a sense of nostalgia among old
residents for its culture, fine arts and sophistication in manners.
Much more than anything, Hyderabad presents a true picture of secularism. Muhammad Quli in
this light declared, "there is no difference between Islam and Kafir for me because
the basis of all religions is love". This secularism and its composite structure in
due course created the ethos of Hyderabad. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru had rightly described
Hyderabad as a "microcosm of Indian culture" and the famous poet Faiz compared
Hyderabad to the "Garden of Eden".
We shall in due course throw light on nawabi, Qutub Shahi and Deccani cultures of
Hyderabad …
