June 2011 VANA PREMI

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Vol .12 JUNE - 2011 No. 6

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED FOREST OFFICERS

45
ANDHRA PRADESH
June 2011 VANA PREMI
VANA PREMI
Vol : 12 June 2011 No. 6

Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan Associate Editor : Sardar Navratan Singh

The Association of Retired Forest Officers, Contents
Andhra Pradesh(Regd. No. 557/1990)
President : Sri. S.D. Mukherji, I.F.S. (Retd.) 1. Editorial ..................... QMK 2
Tel : 23551065, 9885236493 2. Invitation ................... Secretary 4
Vice President : Sri. Krishna Bhoopal Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.) 3. A Pretty Daughter's Dilemma
Tel : 23743774, 9866307808 ,............................M. Kamal Naidu 5
Secretary : Sri K. Santokh Singh, I.F.S. (Retd.) 4. Two Dreams Come True
Tel : 27962929, 9848808101 ............................. R. Rajamani 11
Jt. Secretary : Sri. P. Upender Reddy, Dy. C.F.(Retd.) 5. Forest Management and Inclusive
Cum Treasurer Tel. 23342582, 9848754778 Growth ....................... S.D. Mukharji 13
Excutive committee members 6. How to Practise Corruption
1. Sri C. Subba Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9848018796 Successfully..............J.V. Sharma 16
2. 7. Roll of Honour .......... 21
3. Sri M. Padmanabha Reddy, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9849269105 8. Global forestry institutions call for
4. Sri J.V. Subba Rao, 9848486146 more Community-based forest
5. Sri A. V. Govinda Rajulu, 9440764611 management ............. 22
Editoriral Board 9. Theft of Extracted Teak Timbers
......................V. Santhaseela Babu 24
1. President : Ex-Officio President of Assn.
2. Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan 10. =$Hõ∆=∂ Hõ∆q∞OK«∞... =$Hõ∆=∂ Hõ∆q∞OK«∞
Tel : 40121132, 9849233624 .................................... Y. Rajendra 27
e-mail : qamar_asima@yahoo.com 11. Mother Nature .......... Smt. Y. Usha 28
3. Associate 12. Tiger Census : What lies beneath
Editor : Sardar Navratan Singh, the numbers .............. 29
: Tel : 23340585 13. Birthday Greetings ... S.S.S 33
4. Member : A.H. Qureshi, IFS (Retd.) 14. A History behind Street Names of
5. Convenor : Ex-officio Secy.of Assn
Hyderabad & Secunderabad
TARIFF RATES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS ........................D. Ramachandram 34
Back side of front and last cover page
(Colour) for one year ...................................... Rs. 20,000/-
Outer Cover half (Colour) for one year ........... Rs. 15,000/-
Inner Center Spread (Colour) for one year .... Rs. 20,000/-
Inner full page (B&W) for one year .............. Rs. 15,000/-
Inner half page (B&W) for one year .............. Rs. 10,000/-
Inner full page One Time (B&W) ....................... Rs. 2000/-
Inner half page One Time (B&W) ...................... Rs. 1500/- Totla pages 44
1
June 2011
EDITORIAL
World Environment Day:- Our Environment is
our surrounding. This includes living and non-
living things around us. The non-living
components of environment are land, water and
air. The living components are microorganisms,
insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds,fishes, plants,
animals and people.
The Earth systems are under threat. Global
warming, freshwater depletion, biodiversity
reduction, hole in the ozone layer - are all
examples of such threats. We cannot afford to
destroy the Earth systems. For better
environment, all its components should be
protected from pollution and the surroundings
should be clean. We need to take good care of
our land, water resources, forests and
atmosphere. It is also necessary to ensure a
balance between these resources and living
creatures, to meet our needs.World Environment
Day is a day that stimulates awareness of the
environment and enhances political attention
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and public action. It is on 5thJune. It was the day
that United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment began. The first World Environment
Day was observed during 1973. World
Environment Day is hosted every year by a
different city with a different theme.
It was the first occasion on which the political,
social and economic problems of the global
environment were discussed at an
intergovernmental form with a view to actually
taking corrective action. India is global host of
World Environment Day 2011 on 5th June. The
celebrations in our country on 5th June will be
part of thousands of events taking place around
the Globe, will emphasize how individuals
action can have impact with a variety of
activities. The Forest Departments and
Pollution Control Boards of various states will
take up different programmes on this day to
bring awareness in the public for the protection
of our forests and environment.
Environmental protection is a practice of
protecting the environment, on individual,
organizational or governmental level, for the
benefit of the natural environment and humans.
Due to the pressures of population and our
technology the biophysical environment is
being degraded, sometimes permanently. This
has been recognized and governments began
placing restraints on activities that caused
June 2011
environmental degradation. Since the 1960s
activism by the environmental movement has
created awareness of the various environmental
issues. There is not a full agreement on the extent
of the environmental impact of human activity
and protection measures are occasionally
critical.In order to completely change our
current environment and return it to its original
state, people must fundamentally change their
distorted moral notions, faulty behaviours, and
greed, so they can meet the requirement of the
universal moral standard. However, it is not easy
to change people’s notions. There is a Chinese
saying,“it’s easy to change a country; it is difficult
to change people’s habits.”
Anyone can organize an event on World
Environment Day and each of these individual
actions when taken collectively will go a long
way to securing important forest services for
generations to come.Every city, town and village
of our country will be the venue for this year's
global celebration of the environment, with a
myriad of activities over several days to inspire
Indians and people around the world to protect
our environment.The socio-economic pressures
on our country's forests are tremendous, and
unless we protect our forests it will not be
possible for us to live safely on this planet. We
have taken up tree-planting programme on large
scale to combat land-degradation and
desertification, including windbreaks and
shelterbelts to protect agricultural land.
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Central, State Governments and public should
take up the following to protect our
Environment.
1. Protect Forests including mangrove forests
and Wild life. Protect biodiversity of our
country, Implement forest and wildlife laws
strictly
2. Protect Lakes, tanks and other water bodies.
3. Stop diversion of Forests land for non-
forestry purposes like mining of Iron ore
which is exported and not used in our
country. Permit diversion of forest lands,
judiciously only when it is essential and in
cases when raw material is necessary, and
used in our country only.
4. Use renewable, solar, wind energy and
biogas,for production of Electricity.Use solar
energy for running of cars. Save power. Power
saved is power generated. Use CFL lamps,
and turn off lights and other electric gadgets
when not required.Use energy efficient
appliances. Use your electrical appliances
wisely.Imax theatre of Hyderabad has
become first green theatre of our country
by taking up production of power by solar
energy, follow it.
5. Use wind energy for drawing of the water
from bore wells or open wells wherever
feasible instead of using power.
6. Use reusable bags, Save water, go digital, use
internet banking, Use E-mails instead of
paper, have carpooling,and use your car
June 2011 VANA PREMI
efficiently 12. Put leaves in a compost heap, instead of
7. Stop polluting industries and vehicles.Use burning them or throwing them away
right type of fuel for our vehicles. Stop air 13. Buy products, which you can reuse. Maintain
pollution. and repair durable products instead of
8. Reduce waste production. (Presently annual buying new ones.
per capita waste production is 0.5 tons) Stop 16. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
burning of waste. Let us hope that our Governments and we
9. Reduce use of chlorofluorocarbons together will protect the environment and make
10. Use environment friendly cleaning our country as one of the best place on this
products instead of using toxic and planet to live. QMK
hazardous Products
11. Minimize the use of pesticides, herbicides,
and weedicides.

NOTICE
60th General Body Meeting of Our Association will be held
On Sunday 26th June at 11-45 AM in K.B.R. National
Park. All the members are requested to attend the
meeting with their spouses.
INVITATION
The Association of Retired Forest Officers, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad Congratulates the following Forest Officers,
who are retiring from service on attaining the age of superannuation on the dates mentioned against their names
and cordially invited to join the Association of Retired Forest Officers to keep in touch with their old colleagues and
to keep themselves occupied.
For further details they may contact the following – Sri K. Santokh Singh, Secretary Mobile Number…. . 984880810
Sri P. Upender Reddy, Jt.Secretary Mobile Number. 9848754778
Name of IFS Officer Date of Retirement :
5. Sri K.Thulasi Rao 30/06/2011
1. Sri M.Darshanam 30/06/2011,
6. Sri P.Eswar Reddy 30/06/2011
Name of S.F.S.Officer Date of Retirement :
7. Sri G.V.Ramana Reddy 30/06/2011
1. Sri N.Ram Prasad 30/06/2011
8. Sri K.Govinda Rao 30/06/2011
2. Sri A.L.N.Prasad 30/06/2011
9. Sri K.Sudhakar Reddy 30/06/2011
3. Sri P.Ashok Kumar 30/06/2011
10. Sri Y.Chalapathi Rao 30/06/2011
4. Sri Badusha Saheb 30/06/2011
Secretary
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June 2011
A PRETTY DAUGHTER’S DILEMMA
By
M. Kamal Naidu
Rambabu and his wife was a blessed couple, with
a comfortable job, and an elegant home. They
had a son and daughter. The son was settled in a
good job, and was married. The daughter Priyanka
was much younger to the son, and yet studying
at the prestigious St. Ann’s Convent, in
Secunderabad. She was growing up into a
charming and intelligent girl, though not a very
great beauty to topple the roving eyes. Yet she
carried herself very elegantly to catch the eyes,
more by her intelligence, rather than looks alone.
She was a case of beauty combined with brains.
She stood in the top three in the final exam at
her school.
Priyanka joined at St. Francis, Begumpet for her
graduation. She became the most popular girl,
being very good both at sports and in literary
events like essay writing and debating. She
represented her college at many elocution
competitions, and won many prizes. In her final
year at the college, she began socializing with
her friends on the weekends. Her parents felt a
need for her to socialize to build up her
personality. This was encouraged since Priyanka
knew her limits, and so did her close associates.
One day Priyanka attended the marriage
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function of her classmate Radha. All the close
friends were at their best in appearance and
outlook. The crowds at the marriage ceremony
were delighted to see this group of young friends,
and their gaiety. They were all very appealing.
Priyanka caught the eye of Ashwini, the son of
the family friend of Radha’s family. Ashwini
immediately fell head over heals on Priyanka,
and wanted to know more about her.
Ashwini was roaring rich. He was tall, fair and very
handsome. His father was a real estate tycoon.
Ashwini and his elder brother were the only two
sons, and their parents never had any daughter.
Ashwini’s elder brother was married, and the
daughter-in-law was virtually dotted on, and so
much so was never allowed to go to her home,
out of sheer love by her in-laws. She felt she was
virtually under house arrest. She had everything
that she wanted, but not the freedom from the
husband and the in laws. They would accompany
her wherever she wished to go, and gave her all
that she desired, and even more. It was at times
becoming disgusting. It was a case of a bird living
in a golden cage. She was happy, but far from
being satisfied. She longed to be freed of the
fetters.
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Ashwini made all possible enquiries about
Priyanka. He had some hitches that were a slur
for his settling down. He had been married
earlier, before he left for the States to prosecute
his higher studies in Engineering. While in States,
owing to some misunderstanding and
incompatibility, partly because of his
overbearing behaviour, the marriage broke up.
His wife remained back at States; very
comfortable settled to a lifestyle she desired,
happy with her own job and the active life-style
as a consequence. Ashwini became cynical and
egoistic, rather than learn from his failure to lead
a happy life. He did not make an effort to know
where he had gone wrong. He felt he gave her
all that she wanted, and there was no lacking in
anything. This was because he developed an
attitude that ‘money can buy anything’.
He came back to Hyderabad, and roamed around
in a Mercedes Benz, and spent lavishly on friends,
particularly to show off to the young college girls
at parties or in pubs, etc. He never had any
intention to remarry, but flirt around. This seemed
more fun. He was well known among a few of
Priyanka’s flirtatious friends, whom he feasted on
several occasions at many of the top hotels, and
presented costly gifts. It was a case of ‘ask, and it
shall be given’. It was therefore not difficult for
Ashwini to know all about Priyanka, her likes and
dislikes. He tried vigorously to get her to join at
some of the parting that he did through her
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friends. A major hitch for him was the caste factor,
and his age. Both were belonging to different
caste and he was well over thirty years, while
Priyanka was just twenty. He wondered as to
whether he could break through these barriers.
He however convinced himself that this should
not be a big disadvantage, if Priyanka got
interested in him. He even told her common
friends that he would even get her the moon if
she desired. He was infatuated; he just wanted
her at any cost, very immature for his age,
especially after having failed in the earlier
marriage. He knew her to be a simple middle
class family, with her parents being very
contended in all respect. She led a cautious and
responsible lifestyle, for her parents did not
indulge her in luxuries, which they did not desire,
nor could they afford.
One day he made bold to ask Priyanka directly if
she was ready to marry him, despite the age
difference. Priyanka told him that she never
applied her mind to this aspect. He however
persuaded her to think over, and virtually
pestered her through her friends to accept his
offer. Somehow Priyanka was feeling very
disgusted with the pestering, for she had great
intentions to persecute still higher studies, and
preferable be an executive in a company or the
government. She was clear about her intentions.
Ashwini was emphatic as to why she desired for
higher education when he had enough wealth
June 2011
to give her all that she desired for several
generations. At one point he offered to take her
on a world tour, traveling in executive class, and
staying in the most luxurious hotels. This was in
response to Priyanka expressing her lifetime
desire to see the world. However Priyanka was
not impressed by the offer and continued giving
him her cold shoulder, but he was persistent.
Ashwini was determined to have Priyanka. He
made bold to approach her parents directly, and
express his desire. Priyanka’s parents were
shocked when told that he had been asking
Priyanka since long, and had proposed to her
several times. He explained to them that
Priyanka was reluctant because she desired to
prosecute with higher studies, and appear for
the IAS. He told the parents in no uncertain term
all about himself, except his divorce with his first
wife. He explained his desire and confidence in
maintaining her in the highest standard of living,
to keep her happy with all her needs;
disapproving the need and benefit of further
education and a job thereafter.
Priyanka’s parents were happy with Ashwini for
his forthrightness. He was very handsome,
educated in States, and was a partner with his
father in the roaring real estate business. Besides
these assets, he was very soft spoken and
affectionate. Priyanka’s parents did not seem very
particularly about caste in marriage, provided
their daughter is interested in the boy. However
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they told him that they would get back to him
after discussing with Priyanka, for she never
mentioned about him to them even once.
That night at the dinner table, Rambabu enquired
Priyanka about Ashwini, and his proposal.
Priyanka flew into a rage at the mere mention
about him. She burst out asking, if they desired
to sell her to the neo-rich good for nothing; who
thinks too much about his wealth, which they
got out of sheer luck, because of a boom. She
mentioned of having met his elder brothers
wife, and his parents, and was not too impressed
by them, and their approach to life. She told her
parents the miserable life led by the elder
brother’s wife. She had no choice because of
absolute poverty of her parents, though she was
very beautiful, which were the only
consideration of getting married to her. The
father of Ashwini was too obstinate, and never
gave his own wife and sons any freedom to
decide anything. It was always his choice that
mattered. They were all dependent on his
fabulous wealth, the palace like house, posh cars
for each of them, and unlimited money to
squander without accounting. Priyanka felt all
these disgusting.
Ashwini expressed his desire to his father Sesha
Reddy. His father considered it as no problem
when told the girl’s father was merely a
government servant, and would easily accept
the match on seeing their luxurious style of life,
June 2011 VANA PREMI
and the fact they were so desirous of the girl as him was monotonous, in monosyllables, and
being their daughter-in-law. Where can they get one-sided.
such a wealthy handsome son-in-law, more
While returning back home, Priyanka became
particularly without having to shell out any
furious with her parents for accepting their
dowry.Sesha Reddy was even prepared to
invitation, and related her experience. Rambabu
perform the marriage in a very grand style and
also concurred with her that this match is not to
invite the top brass of the state to build up his
their taste. Rambabu told his colleague Ramesh,
own stature among the bureaucrats. Reddy
who had automatically become a via media and
approached Rambabu directly along with
spokesperson for Reddy that they were not
Ashwini. Rambabu seemed impressed with
interested in the match, as their daughter desired
Reddy. He had many common friends from the
to prosecute with higher education, work for
IAS and IPS cadre, including a colleague of
some time, and further there was too much of
Rambabu. He proposed a get together at his
generation gap between their daughter and the
residence along with Rambabu’s colleague
boy, which was not acceptable to her, especially
friend Ramesh, and anyone else Rambabu
in these times. She was firmly of the opinion that
desired.
she does not wanted to be dubbed as having
A dinner was organized at the weekend, for he married for money.
was a person of speed in all dealings, determined
Luckily for Rambabu, the inauspicious period had
to achieve anything he set his mind upon using
commenced from 15th December till mid-
his contacts, and money liberally. At the dinner
January. So Rambabu took it as a reason to refuse
while Rambabus were impressed with
talking anything about matrimonial during the
everything about the house, the décor and the
period. This did not appeal to Ashwini and his
dinner for the spread, Priyanka looked gloomy.
father, who were down to earth in matters of the
While Rambabus were kept busy by Reddy and
mundane. They pestered on, but refusal by
his wife, Ashwini kept Priyanka busy about his
Rambabu sent a negative message to the father.
imaginary rosy future. Ashwini took Priyanka into
Reddy presumed Rambabu was not enamoured,
his mother’s bedroom, were several sets of
nor interested. Ashwini who was pampered in
jewellery were displayed of different gems and
the belief that nothing is impossible was
designs, which glittered and sparkled, were
determined to pursue on. In the meanwhile,
mind-boggling. Priyanka felt disgusted and
Ashwini’s first wife Rupa got inkling on the latest
vulgar at the display, and the conversation with
advances being made by Ashwini, therefore she
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contacted Rambabu. She told all about Ashwini,
and as to why she divorced him within three
months of marriage. She felt that another girl’s
life not be ruined. She advised Rambabu to think
twice in the matter. Later Rupa’s parents got in
touch, and informed further about Reddy’s
bullying nature, and his looking down behaviour
towards them because of his foolish pride of
having become super rich. These facts reinforced
Rambabu not to go in for the match.
On the New Year day Ashwini rang up to wish
Priyanka and Rambabus. The call was received
by Ms. Rambabu. Ashwini after wishing for the
New Year asked very determinedly for a positive
answer of accepting his proposal. She replied
about Rambabu being determined that he
would take a decision only after 15th January.
Ashwini was becoming intolerable with his
father to do something urgently. His impatience
was becoming unbearable. His father asked him
to be tolerant as advised by Ms. Rambabu till
the 15th January. Ashwini was impatient and
threatened his father he would commit suicide
if he did not materialize the issue within a week.
His father failed, for it was not in his hands to
persuade Rambabu before the 15th because of
his beliefs. He also tried to convince his son that
probably Rambabu was convinced, and wanted
to fix an auspicious occasion, and so asked to wait
till after the inauspicious period.
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On 9th January morning at the breakfast table
Ashwini asked his father what he had done
regarding Priyanka. His father explained for him
to be composed and patient till the 15th January
as Rambabu desired. Ashwini was childish and
stubborn; he was lob-sided and imbalanced, and
did not understand the reality; he pulled out a
packet of potassium cyanide from his pocket,
and swallowed it in the presence of both his
parents, and his elder brother. Before they could
realize what he had done, and decide what they
should do, Ashwini started swooning and
vomiting. They rang up to their doctor, rather
than rushing him to a hospital. By the time the
doctor who lived nearby came, Ashwini was no
more. However they immediately rushed him
to the nearby Apollo hospital as advised by the
doctor. He was declared “brought dead”.
Police investigated the matter, and were told
that Rupa’s parents poisoned Rambabu’s mind,
so he backed out from the matrimonial alliance.
The police investigated with Rambabus, and
were told the whole story. Rambabus contacted
Rupa’s parents who had a very dim view about
Ashwini, as being very childish and immature,
self-cantered, and a victim of richness to believe
everything was possible with money.
One day Rambabu received summons from the
Criminal Court. He attended as a prosecution
witness. The Govt. Prosecutor wanted to tutor
Rambabu on the line he should testify. He
June 2011 VANA PREMI

wanted Rambabu to say that he backed out of
the alliance after hearing adversely from Rupa,
and thereafter her parents. Rambabu refused to
testify accordingly. He said they never played any
role in the decisions, since there was no decision
taken. The match was not discussed at all, for
Ashwini committed suicide before a decision
was taken. Discussion regarding the matrimony
was to be after 15th January. Ashwini was too
hasty to take such a decision on the 9th itself.
This had nothing to do with Rupa and her family.
The court session that day was stalled, seeking
for an adjournment by the GP.
Some 15 days latter a ‘Warrant of Arrest’ was
issued by the Criminal Court to Rambabu, as an
accomplice and abettor to the suicide of Ashwini.
Luckily Rambabu was on camp at Bangalore. He
had time to get an anticipatory bail by the time
he returned from camp. However he attended
the Criminal Court on the day fixed for hearing.
Rambabu had to stand in the box meant for the
accused to a crime along with Rupa’s parents.
Mr Reddy was determined to punish Rupa’s
parents; and Rambabu for not cooperating as a
prosecution witness for the death of his son. The
GP dragged on the case at the request of Reddy
every fortnight, stating investigations are yet in
progress, or he was held up in another important
official case in another court. The harassment
continued for both the families for over a year
and a half. The accused had to be present in the
court for no fault; Rupa’s parents because Rupa
divorced the deceased, and for informing
Rambabu; Rambabu for not materializing the
matrimony as desired by the deceased. The case
finally ended in an acquittal despite all evil
practices by Ashwini’s father. Truth triumphed
and proved that Justice prevailed. During this
time, while the case proceeded, Priyanka
completed her graduation and qualified for the
IAS. Her dream was fulfilled.

Once a boy in a school asked swami Vivekananda“to what

is religion?" the swami said "BE GOOD and DO GOOD
IS THE MESSAGE OF ALL RELIGIONS'.
(Contributed by Sri R.K. Rao)

1. Life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see ……

2. Life’s most urgent question is….what….are you doing for others.
3. While there is life there is hope……

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June 2011
TWO DREAMS COME TRUE
By
R.Rajamani
On the prodding of my dear forester friend
ShriR.K.Rao, I describe in the following piece two
experiences I had in the last over a year which
not only were dreams come true but also may
be of some interest to readers of ‘VanaPremi”.
The first was a visit to Silent Valley, about which,
if am not mistaken,another friend Shri Kamal
Naidu has already written in this magazine. I
cannot match his excellence to detail, but will
try to portray why it was a dream to visit what I
consider a holy place. In all immodesty, i must
first put down why I was keen to visit this Valley.
In 1980, there was a controversy on whether a
Hydroelectric Project should come up in Kerala
State which would submerge this Silent Valley.
This Valley was so described as there was peace
and silence all over it with only the chirping of
insects and the rustle of the wind through the
leaves of the gorgeous forest moderating the
wonderful silence. Well, Shrimati Indira Gandhi,
the then Prime Minister in whose office I had
the privilege to work, asked a Committee of
scientists to examine the issue taking into
account the ecological and other angles. The
report of the Committee did bring out that the
Valley was a tremendous pool of biological
diversity. But there was still a demand for the
extra electricity the Project would generate in
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the State. The matter was examined consulting
experts in the field of Energy, some of whom felt
the same amount of electricity could be
generated by a series of small turbines on the
western side of the Western Ghats which had
abundant rainfall and no submergence was
required. On this Shrimati Indira Gandhi
suggested the Project may not be taken up and
the proposal was dropped by the farseeing
Kerala Government which also went ahead to
declare it a National Park. This decision to
preserve this genetic diversity bank was
vindicated years later when scientists worried
about the onset of rust disease in paddy
cultivation and were looking for a rust proof
strain of wild rice, found it in the Silent Valley.
No wonder it became my dream to visit the
Valley, but it materialised only about twenty nine
years later, with the kind of courtesy of the PCCF
Kerala and his colleagues. I was touched by this
gesture as it is not often one can expect such
affection and hospitality after retirement. I went
to the Valley from the Coimbatore side of
Tamilnadu. The journey by car was up to a point
and thereafter by jeep on a rough mountainous
track which skirted several lovely coffee
plantations until the Gates of the National Park.
When we reached the top and looked at the
June 2011
Valley from a watch tower, I had to catch my
breath in amazement and wonder at not only
the greenery shrouded in low hanging clouds
but also the sight of a river gliding at the bottom
of the Valley with shimmering silvery colour. The
silence was perceptible and most welcome
after the noise and din of the towns we had left
behind and I was totally at peace with myself.
Thomas Hardy came to mind with the title of his
book “Far from the madding crowd”!
On to the next dream. Years back, ShriK.K.Nair,
now the doyen of the Forest Service and well
known to readers had exhorted me to visit the
teak plantation in Nilambur in Kerala called the
“Connolly’s Plot”.His fondness for me and gracious
description of me once as a ‘forester’ had always
been in my mind and I knew I should not miss
something which he had mentioned with some
passion. Finally, the day came a few months back
when with R.K.Rao I left for Nilambur. This place
is between Mudumalai sanctuary of Tamilnadu
and Calicut in Kerala. It is about a two hour drive
from Mudumalai. It nestles in the prime forests
of Western Ghats. Connolly’s plot, so described
after the Collector Mr Connolly, who with
ShriSethuMenon had planted 117 teak trees here
1. Live….as if you were to die tomorrow……
but learn as if you live for ever.
2. You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.
3. To have a good friend is one of the greatest delights of life.
12
VANA PREMI
in 1846, is on the other side of a river. Until
recently, the Plot could be reached only crossing
the river in a boat, but now there is a suspension
bridge, about 300 metres long, which safely takes
you across. When we reached the Plot and saw
the majestic Tectonagrandis trees, I very nearly
swooned with joy! The trees were tall sentinels
crying out to us from the distant past that we are
what we are because of years of care of the Kerala
Forest Department and sensitivity to the needs
of conservation of nature even if aided by Man.
The most impressive of the trees has a platform
now around it which we could scale and feel the
trunk. The tree is over 145 feet tall and more
than 15 feet in girth. We realised how small we
are in the presence of these giants when the
efforts of three of us with outstretched hands
could not encircle the tree.
My two dreams have been realised now but I
continue to dream and hope these treasures will
continue and inspire others in other places to
do similar things to demonstrate the sheer
beauty of Nature, which is the greatest ally of
Mankind, even if some ride rough shod over it in
the name of rights without responsibilities.
(Please see the last cover page for photo)
June 2011 VANA PREMI

FOREST MANAGEMENT AND INCLUSIVE

GROWTH
By
S.D.Mukharji.
“Today bamboo is liberated”, proclaimed the for bamboo in their community was a historic
Union Minister of State for Environment & Forests step.
Jairam Ramesh at a function at MundhaLekha
Last month, in an attempt to defy the forest
(Gadchiroli District) in the state of Maharashtra
department, Mendha villagers harvested and
on Wednesday the 27th of April 2011, when he
sold some bamboo. The buyers included
handed over to Mandha’s community leader
NamdeoUsendi, MLA and Sunita Narayan,
DevojiTeja a transit pass that would allow the
Director, Centre for Science and Environment,
sale and transportation of bamboo within the
who had cases filed against them for breaking
community.
the law. Mrs.Narayan received her transit pass
According to government, the Scheduled Tribes on Wednesday.
and Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Mr.Ramesh denied any rift between the MoEF
Forest Rights) Act/Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006
and the forest department and insisted that the
seeks to redress a historical injustice to Adivasis,
forest officials only needed to get accustomed
apart from entitling them to land ownership, also
to the FRA. He hoped that the forest department
gives community rights to collect, use and sell
and villagers would become equal partners in
bamboo as an minor forest produce (MFP).
sustainable forest management. Mr.Ramesh said:
The ministry had written to all States, asking ‘forest officials alone could not protect forest
them to include bamboo in the list of MFP and areas, local participation was essential. About
to take steps to help the community to sell it. 25 crore people lived of the forests, we cannot
Speaking at the meeting Mr.Ramesh asked the keep them out’. He also called for a change in
State forest department to respect the FRA. He the mental attitude of forest officers towards
said the department has not taken kindly to the adivasis and forest dwellers. The adivasis is not
idea that the power to issue transit passes for the enemy of the forests, he said.
the transportation of sold bamboo rests with
The picture taken on the occasion that appeared
gram sabha. He said recognition of the rights of
in ‘The Hindu’ shows union minister of State for
the gram sabha to sell and issue transport passes

13
June 2011
Environments & Forests Jairam Ramesh holding
a transit pass for bamboo along with Sunita
Narayan of the Centre for Science and
Environments and DevagiTofa, Mandha’s
Community leader. The picture of forest officers
was conspicuous by its absence, although top
forest officials were present in the function.
The State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,
AK Joshi, who was in the eye of a storm as instead
of taking this opportunity to show favour to the
forest dwellers and take pride in giving to the
people, he wrote to the government about the
loss of revenue and deprivation of bamboo to
the paper mills who were the beneficiaries of
the bamboo harvested from these forests.
It is difficult to understand why the foresters
continue to show more loyalty to the wood
based industries and concern towards the
revenue to State government when the Union
government is keen to empower the forest
dwellers, provide them incentives and get the
willing cooperation of the people to protect and
develop the forests. Traditionally the attitude of
the foresters has been conservative. This is
reflected by the designation of the forest
officers-Assistant conservator of forests, Deputy
Conservator of forests, Chief conservator of
forests and Principal Chief Conservator of forests.
The foresters are unable to change their mind-
set and not willing to take the forest dwellers
14
VANA PREMI
into confidence. The foresters continue to feel
insecure when ever they are required to
associate the people in the management of
forests. They feel, excepting foresters no body
else can save and develop the forests.
At a time when the country is talking of inclusive
growth and the government is spending
thousands of crores of rupees to provide
livelihood to the deprived population through
subsidies in food, health, education, etc., and
providing employment under various schemes,
the forest department is unable to take the
people in confidence who are forest dependent
and available to share responsibility to protect
and develop the forests. The rigid attitude of the
foresters has created a situation when no
government department is happy with the forest
department and finds it as an obstacle in dealing
with the developmental issues in forest fringe
villages.
It should be understood that in a democratic
country no government would support a
department that is against the people or wants
to keep the people away. The joint forest
management programme that was introduced
to take the forest dwellers as partners in forest
protection and development has not succeeded
as the forest officers could not accept the people
as their partners and its implementation has
remained half-hearted. Many officers blame JFM
for the loss of forest area and forest cover.
June 2011
May be it is high time when the government
should make the forest administration
responsible for overseeing the implementation
of all social sector and poverty alleviation
schemes of the government in the forest fringe
villages. The officers should be trained during
their entry into the service and also in-service
training for undertaking such social
responsibilities in addition to the protection and
development of forests. Today, the major cause
of poverty in India lies in its inability to deliver
the benefits that are meant for the poor people.
The leakages in the implementation of
programmes for the poor people-Public
Distribution System, education, health, National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and many
other schemes- runs in thousands of crores of
rupees each year. Many surveys have indicated
leakages going beyond fifty percent. Let the
forest department be given the mandate to see
proper delivery of the schemes to the people in
the forest fringe villages. Once the forest
dwellers find the forest officers helping them to
get the basic needs of their livelihood the image
of the department would undergo total
transformation towards the better. The forest
officers would be welcomed by the forest
dwellers and forest would be saved by the
people without asking.
There are several examples where the forest
dwellers, especially the tribal people, have
15
VANA PREMI
helped in improvement of forest protection,
especially the wildlife population, where
department has taken care of their livelihood.
For example, in the State of Andhra Pradesh in
the 2011 tiger census the tiger population has
shown tremendous improvement in the tiger
project area of Srisailam as compared to
previous census. This has happened basically as
about 600 Cenchus, tribals belonging to the
primitive tribal group, have been employed by
the project in the management of wildlife. This
improvement in tiger population is noteworthy
as the State has shown declining population in
all other forest areas of the State.
Similarly, in Perambikulam wildlife sanctuary, in
the State of Kerela, 250 tribal families have been
rehabilitated by employing them in various eco-
development projects, apart from taking care
of the education of school going children and
other amenities. This has shown remarkable
improvement in the wildlife population. Tiger
census of 2011 has shown 20 tigers as against
12 only in the previous census, an increase by
60 percentages.
Therefore, government would benefit both in
terms of sustainable livelihood to the poor forest
dwellers and improvement in the ecology and
environment by giving mandate to forest
department to take care of the forest dwellers
and associate them in the protection and
development of forests to the extent possible.
June 2011 VANA PREMI
Fiction:

HOW TO PRACTISE CORRUPTION

SUCCESSFULLY ?
By
J. V. Sharma
All those who know me do not disturb me in the afternoons irrespective of the season. They are
aware of my studiously cultivated habit of siesta. They are generally considerate not even to call me
on phone. It was a big surprise when Bechara forced his entry into my home on a very hot summer
afternoon and insisted on seeing me instantly. My wife did not relent until she presented me
physically before him in the drawing room.
It was the part of the day when even birds cannot be sighted. Bechara’s shirt was drenched in
perspiration. Age appeared to catch up with drooping shoulders and sunken eyes. There is lot of
discomfort on his face and he appeared visibly angry. I knew he is a patient of hypertension. I made
him sit for a while and gave him glassful buttermilk. Only then could I muster enough courage to
speak.
“You are very unfair to yourself. You don’t care for your health and not bother to take medicines. Is
this the time for you to venture out? It is not that you disturbed my afternoon sleep. With all your
ailments you are purchasing extra risk by moving in hot summer. I wish you are more careful.” I said.
“The boot is on the other leg. Rather, I should accuse you of being insensitive to the developments
that are detrimental to the society as a whole. How can you sleep when awful events are taking
place? Should we not be responsible citizens? You never lose an opportunity to tell the world that
you are a founding member of Forum for Good Governance.” Bechara exploded.
I realized that there is something serious on his mind. I said: “OK, what is the matter?
“It is hardly a month Anna Hazare broke his fast unto death on specific assurance from the
Government to bring in Jan Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption in the country. Your Chela Gopi is posted
as Commissioner of a money spinning Department. Is this the way to end corruption? He is a known
corrupt person. He was under suspension till recently. He is mostly seen going round the offices of
Commissioner of Enquiries. How can he be posted as Head of a focal department?”
Honestly, I was not aware of the developments. What Bechara said about the person is true. It is also
true that I knew Gopi since his initial forays into government service. Though I did not approve of his
actions, he used to visit me often. Sometimes he sought advice but followed it selectively. But he
always gave an impression that he was my Sishya. I said; “Look, those are administrative matters.
What is that I can do in his posting? I am a person retired from service 21 years ago. The Government,
16
June 2011 VANA PREMI
in its wisdom, must have considered it expedient to post him. You are looking for answers from me
which the Government alone can provide.”
Bechara: “We know the fate of RTI Act. Information under the Act is furnished only when it is not
inconvenient. No one bothers on the complaints made.”
I said I too am helpless and can do nothing. “My hands are already full with some issues of public
interest. I have neither the age, nor resources, nor time to look at new issues.”
Bechara is not the person to give up so easily. He said; “It is OK. But you can at least know how things
happened in this manner when the entire country is seriously debating on corruption. After all, it is
your Sishya who is the central figure. He should not disappoint you in sharing information.” Saying
this, he went away.
I thought there is no harm in knowing details. But, as I knew Gopi well, the matter must surely be a
murky affair. Gopi never subjected himself to the rules of the game as far as government service is
concerned. After his graduation, he was idle for some time hunting for jobs. He is intelligent,
resourceful, enterprising and adventurous. His desire was to net a good job. Delay in securing one
such job made him more determined and gritty. It was a clerical job he got first. That was the least
in his list of priorities. Nor could he refuse that job. He joined it reluctantly but was careful to keep
his frustration to himself. Because of his other positive traits, he became the blue-eyed boy of his
boss and soon he started exercising the powers of the boss, barring his signature. He prepared all
the orders but took care to obtain the signature of the boss on every order. Needless to say that
there was consideration for every order issued. After about six months, there were complaints and
enquiries resulting in prompt suspension of the boss as well as his trusted lieutenant.
Gopi did not bother about the happenings. He is financially more secure now and it made him
more courageous. Instead of wasting his time and energy brooding over the suspension and enquiry,
he intensified his efforts to secure a new job. Even before the disciplinary action culminated in
possible dismissal from service, he secured an appointment in a junior position in a regulatory
department. Now he is in a position to do favour himself than in his earlier avatar when he had to fire
from the shoulders of some other. He proved himself to be very efficient and there was a spurt in his
stock as well as finances. He is now more confident of his style of working and he believed that it
was his prerogative to follow the rules or not. Even as Gopi was merrily exploring the avenues of
profit, his boss changed. The new man is a stickler for rules. He detected grave irregularities on the
part of Gopi who was again required to cool his heals under suspension.
But worse the situation better the opportunity, for Gopi. His rule-minded officer and the suspension
were actually to help propel him to better pastures in times to come. He was kept under suspension
for more than six months and this provided him to prepare hard and secure selection as a Group I

17
June 2011 VANA PREMI
officer. His past experience provided him an ideal pitch to bat on more purposively with amiable
fielders and sympathetic umpires. He did not require changing the departments thereafter. There
is no looking back for him. His enterprising and resourceful attitude earned him induction into All
India Services. It is not that he did not get into trouble. In fact, his career and problems in service
always ran parallel. He has been under suspension on a few occasions and made ACB people go
round him frequently. Each time he got into trouble, it was a break for better for him; he either got
advancement in career or a favourable posting.
I then saw a point in what Bechara said. How could it be possible for Gopi to manage such a difficult
show?. None other than Gopi can unravel it. But, I am doubtful whether our old equation remained.
He is now a Commissioner and I, an old pensioner. I decided to take a chance.
I found his number and rang him up the next morning. He came on line. “Hello, Gopi, this is J. V.
Sharma, the retired forest officer.”
“Good Morning Sir, How nice to hear you after so many years. How is your health? How is madam?
How are children, Sir,” There was a barrage of questions from the other side. I did not miss the
cordiality in his tone.
After the pleasantries are over, I said; “Gopi, I would like to meet you. When will it be convenient to
you?”
“Sir, what? You are coming to me! No Sir, I am at your place today immediately after office hours.”
Gopi was at my home by 6 PM. “It is very long time since we met last. Congratulations for the new
posting.” I said.
“I have been following your articles in VanaPremi. You are harsh on corruption. I thought of seeing
you but decided otherwise as I knew you do not like all the mess I was going through. I know your
views on corruption but as for myself, I am what I am.”
I could nor but admire his bold expression. It made my job easy. Straight, we came to the subject for
discussion. I told him; “I intend writing an article in our journal on corruption. I would like to have
some inputs from you for all the experience you have in the field. Do you have any objection?”
“Not at all. I am not the one to practice corruption clandestinely. Every one knows about me. However,
I will be happy if it is a pseudonym in the story filed by you for reasons of modesty.”
“Fair enough. Let it be a Question-Answer session. How did this posting come to you? Did you ask for
it and try for it?”
“No Sir, I earned more notoriety than you imagined. The days I used to ask and try for plum postings
are over. Now, I am a sought after man. I am a commodity in demand. Though most of the people are
corrupt, it is difficult to find persons who practice corruption fearlessly. As for the present posting,
the Minister concerned informally requested the Chief Secretary to find an officer with the worst
18
June 2011 VANA PREMI
reputation. I was an obvious choice. He invited me to his home and made an offer. He accepted my
terms and the deal were struck. That is all.”
“So, you set terms. Did you?”
“It is so, Sir. Otherwise, how can he get an officer who can be transparent in corruption? Moreover, it is
a service I render beyond the call of duty.There shouldn’t be any scope for mistrust or misunderstanding.
I must have the liberty to have safety valves for myself. If and when the deal is terminated, it should be
smooth without bitterness and rancour. Above all, he must be prepared to comply with his part of the
unwritten agreement. It can’t be a one-sided affair. What I need to clarify here is that I have to double
both as a Commissioner in government department and also as a partner in a business deal.”
“Don’t you feel embarrassed for all the harm it causes to your reputation?”
“On the other hand, it is my greatest asset. A timid fellow who flinches under pressure is of no use to
people in high places who institutionalize corruption. I am fully aware of what others think of me.
Nor do I pretend to be a paragon of virtue. I can move freely in society without any burden on my
conscience. It improves my operational mobility.”
“I heard you were involved in some serious cases. How did you wriggle out of them? How did you
get promotions in the face of charges pending against you?”
“Sir, I do not know which cases you are referring to. I have always had cases against me. I patiently
wait for a favourable time to get them disposed. I bear no grudge against the officer who slaps a
case against me. I know he did what he is expected to do. I show a lot of courtesy and extend all the
respect to him. In course of time, he mellows down unconsciously. He may not help me in the case
but will not be keen to harm me either. If this is the equation I cultivate with one who put me in the
dock, my working relationship with others can never be bitter. Therefore the superiors generally
tend to be good to me.”
He went on to add;“You asked me how I came out of all the cases unscathed. I have a small institutional
set up to take care of my problems. I have a bright advocate who advises and helps preparing my
defence. I don’t pay him for each case. He has been my retainer for almost two decades. I pay him
every month whether I take work from him or not and pay even while I am under suspension. He
maintains my case files. So also I engage moles in every office where my cases are pending. I get to
know the developments even before they actually take place. At the Government level, there are
people in offices who are more loyal to me than to the employer. I do not have to worry on the
progress of my cases at different places because the course and time can be decided by me.”
“How is it all the disciplinary cases against you get ultimately closed? Will there be not one honest
officer who can take the case to a logical end?”
“My experience is that most of the officers are manageable. But many are timid. They are afraid of
19
June 2011 VANA PREMI
traveling the whole distance as I want them to. Such persons are of not of much use to me. Cases
against me are mostly serious. I must be patient enough until the officers capable of taking bold
decisions in my favour are at the helm. Standard practice is to allow cases lie pending for as many
years as possible. By this the gravity of the case wears off to a great extent. Mostly, cases against me
get closed on flimsy grounds. For example, I arrange for seeking clarification by the disciplinary
authority over a minor inconsequential aspect of the case and I also manage to send a reply which can
never be specific. It is enough to close the case as ‘conclusively not proved’. In respect of very serious
cases, I patiently wait for an officer of high degree of integrity. After he settles down in his seat, I
directly go to him and initially make a request for sympathetic consideration. I never question the
charges framed. I go to the extent of even orally admitting that there could be lapses on part. As my
visits become frequent, familiarity helps melting of ice. A sort of unexplainable easy and comfortable
equation starts materializing. When I am sure that my requests are no longer dismissed, I subtly
suggest it is only he who can bail me out and that he has to be kind. If I find that there is no negative
response to my suggestions, I proceed further. Or else I wait for another man to come. This process
ensures that no adverse decision is taken if not positive help.”
“I am always careful to test waters before I take the plunge. In real hard cases, even manageable
officers will shirk to help me and start bargaining on the quantum of punishment. It necessitates me
to go in appeal and find another officer who is bold to close the case. Honest officers of known
integrity can be useful at times if only the element of magnanimity can be invoked. They close serious
cases, not for money, but to appear kind hearted and magnanimous.”
“Offer of bribe from my side is always the last act of the play. There is another type among the officers;
they are generally honest and do not succumb to influence or pressure. But they secretly nourish
weakness for money and tend to indulge in corruption only once or twice in their career. Spotting
them is difficult and to transact with them is more difficult. In such cases, first I convince him that he
need not have to compromise his virtue a hundred cases and a one time favour will bring him substantial
pecuniary benefit with his reputation intact and it is a once in lifetime opportunity. I respectfully call
them ‘jackpots’.”
“Sir, I briefly explained a few of the situations I came across. There are several aspects and nuances in
the art of corruption and it is a subject by itself.”
I was amazed at his capacity and knowledge in the field. I asked him: “When are you retiring?”
“Why? Sir, you want to see me go soon. I have another 5 years.”
“No. It is not like that. I think the ‘Corruption & Corruption Management’ will become a part of
curriculum in the prestigious National Institutes of Management soon. You need not be idle even
after retirement. With all your expertise, you can be a great asset to find ways and means to contain
corruption.” I said.
20
June 2011 VANA PREMI

ROLL OF HONOUR
Mohd.SadiqHussain, Forest Guard, Luxettipet
Range, Mancherial division.
How dangerous is the life of a Forest Guard, who
works most of the time in forest unguarded, is
depicted by the martyrdom reached by
MohdSadiqHussin. He was in the habit of
performing his duties in detecting and reporting
forest offences in addition to preventing the
occurrence of infractions. He was an honest and
sincere worker. He least suspected that his life
would end at the hands of people against whom
he reported cases.
It was the month May 1991 when beedi leaf
collection was at its peak. He was in charge of
Peddampet beat in Luxettipet range. He
propmptly checked the beedi leaf collection
centres in his jurisdiction and passed on the data
on beedi leaf collection to his Range Officer. The
beedi leaf collection was coming to a close.
On May 23, 1991, SadiqHussain left for the range
headquartersLuxttipet to deliver the progress
reports of beedi leaf collection to the Range
Officer. He did so and was returning alone to
Peddampet. Some unknown persons kept
themselves in wait and at about 07.30 p.m.
attacked him at a place called Gollakota Cross
Road near Donabanda village. During the attack,
SadiqHussain sustained head injuries. There was
delay in arranging medical care. He succumbed
to the injuries and passed away on June 06, 1991.
The family of the deceased Beat Forest Officer
was sanctioned ex gratia amount and the widow
was paid an amount equal to the last pay drawn
till the date of superannuation if he had been
alive. Thereafter family pension was sanctioned
to the widow.
In the death of SadiqHussain, the Forest
department lost a disciplined and duty
conscious subordinate.
May his soul rest in peace!

News & Notes :

World’s tallest teenager: - MaleeDuangdee is the world’s tallest teenager. Malee is 6 feet 10
inches tall and weighs in at 287lbs, and she could still be growing.

This gigantic teenage [19 years old] girl from Thailand is exceedingly more than a head taller
than her parents. At the age of 9 Malee’s mother was concerned about her, because she was so
much taller than her peers. She took Malee to the doctor to make sure she was healthy. The
doctors found a brain tumour pressing on a nerve.

This was causing a hormone imbalance that keeps her growing. Now Malee has to have a very
expensive injection every three months to control her growth. Doctors aren’t sure how much
moreshe’llgrow. (Please see last cover page for photo)
21
June 2011
GLOBAL FORESTRY INSTITUTIONS CALL FOR
MORE
COMMUNITY-BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT
The leading international organizations working
to protect and manage the world's forests
arecalling for governments across the globe to
increase communities' role in forest
management. Doing so could contribute to
lifting close to a billion people out of poverty, as
well as improve the health and vitality of forests.
'The Collaborative Partnership on Forests' (CPF)
is comprised of 14 international organizations
specializing in the management, conservation
and sustainable development of all types of
forests. On the occasion of this year's Earth Day
on 22 April, the group has come together to
speak as one to send an unequivocal message: If
we are to see an end to global poverty and the
preservation of endangered biodiversity,
communities living in and near forests must be
involved in decision making about sustainable
forest management.
"People who live in forests and are highly
dependent on them for their food, fuel, and
medicines, are most often not those who control
the decisions on how these resources are used
and managed." says Julia Marton-Lef, Director
General of International Union for Conservation
of Nature. "Our work in countries across the world
has proven that strengthening community rights
22
VANA PREMI
over their own forests helps reduce poverty and
also benefits forest biodiversity."A total of 1.6
billion people depend on forests for their
livelihoods. About 1.4 billion of these live in the
developing world and 1 billion live in extreme
poverty. Recently-released data by IUCN and the
Global Partnership for Forest Landscape
Restoration show that approximately 1.2 billion
hectares of deforested or degraded areas could
be restored through better, locally-controlled
management.
Guinea is a prime example of a country that
could benefit from community forest
management, as it has long experienced
widespread environmental degradation and loss
of forests, largely due to illegal logging, land
clearing and poaching by people who rely on
the forests to eke out a living.
"We brokered a co-management agreement
between the local community and the
government andintroduced a programme to
improve incomes of people living in villages
around the forests" says Dennis Garrity, Director
General of the World Agroforestry Centre.
"Incomes dramatically improved, the pressure
on forests reduced, water sources flowed again
and tree cover is steadily increasing."The CPF
June 2011
has seen again and again that by increasing local
people's ownership in the management of forest
resources, communities are frequently in a better
position to start forest product-based business,
from which they can derive better incomes. Such
businesses include an array of activities,
encompassing everything from processing and
marketing of Shea nuts and butter in West Africa,
to community forestry enterprises managing
forest concessions in Guatemala. The ability to
build increased household wealth is critical as it
often results in improved food security,
investments in children's education as well as
increased engagement in community and social
improvement activities.
"When local people become equal partners in
the benefits and responsibilities of sustainable
forestmanagement, many opportunities open
up for them," says Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Director
General ofForestry at the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations. "Reliable
access to forestresources means they can
increase their cash income and engage in
developing sustainable enterprises.What's
more, there is a clear incentive to better manage
their lands to ensure the sustainability of the
forest resources."
The current international efforts to develop
mechanisms for reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation and
enhancing forest carbon stocks in developing
23
VANA PREMI
countries (REDD+) represent new possibilities
for local communities to benefit from
sustainable management and conservation of
forests. However, according to a book published
by the International Union of Forest Research
Organizations unless considerable progress is
made in securing the rights of local people to
access, manage, and benefit from forests it is
unlikely that deforestation and illegal logging
will be curbed." International Tropical Timber
Organization is another CPF member that
promotes a holistic approach to involving
communities in its various forestry projects
throughout the tropics, and sees such
involvement as a crucial link to improvements
in both livelihoods and sustainable forest
management. At the recent United Nations
Forum on Forests meeting in February, ministers
stressed the crucial role of local people,
including women, and local and indigenous
communities in achieving sustainable forest
management. "When you have ministers from
around the world recognize that communities
are vital for sustainably managing forests, it
becomes clear that the time to act is now,' says
Jan McAlpine, Director of the United Nations
Forum on Forest Secretariat.”If we don't see
wide-scale investment in locally-controlled
forestry we will ultimately fail in some of our
most important, and venerable goals, including
reducing poverty and ensuring sustainable
development for all."
(Contributed by Sri R.K. Rao, with thanks.)
June 2011
THEFT OF EXTRACTED TEAK
TIMBERS
By
V.SANTHASEELA BABU
I happened to work as Forest Range Officer,
GundlaBrahmeswaram Range between the
years 1978 to 1984. GundlaBrahmeswaram
plateau is in the heart of Nallamala Forests and
the Central Nallamala Road (C.N.Road) traverses
this part of the forest. The forests were once the
abode of natural Teak and also the most
successful Teak plantations raised during British
period right from the year 1930. The plantations
were raised in two series i.e;
GundlaBrahmeswaram and Ramannapenta. I
have already mentioned about the location of
GBM plateau, about the tough working
conditions prevailing there and about the
successful Teak plantations raised, only due to
the dedicated efforts of the Forest Officers of
those days, in my earlier article “An Arrester was
Arrested” published in September 2010 issue
of ‘VanaPremi’. It was a herculean task for the
staff to protect those valuable Teak plantations
from the onslaught of the smugglers due to the
isolated location of the plateau and also the
meagre staff who were to live there solitarily
leaving their families in the plains.
The smugglers were felling the Teak trees and
were removing a portion from the trunk to a
24
VANA PREMI
length of up to about 2 Mts., and rough dressing
on the spot and were taking away as head loads
by leaving the balance portion in the field. After
the staff locates the felling the residual top ends
were being salvaged and transported to the
Depot and sold in public auction. In view of the
persistent problem of protection, a decision was
taken to extract the Teak trees that have attained
a girth of and above 90 cms. at breast height.
Proposals were submitted and orders were
received for extraction of Teak trees in both GBM
and Ramannapenta series simultaneously.
Necessary budget was allotted and extraction
started. As soon as the timbers were being
transported to the Govt. Timber Depot,
Gajulapally, they were sold like hot cakes and
the upset price was shooting up by every
auction. I have involved all the staff of GBM and
Ramannapenta Beats in the extraction and
transport of the Teak timbers and a Maistry was
engaged to assist the staff.
The Maistry, by name James, who was engaged
in the extraction operations came to me one
day in the night and informed me that during
their visit to the plantation in the morning on
that day they found that some of the Teak timbers
June 2011
extracted departmentally in Ramannapenta
series were missing and that there were fresh
lorry tracks and some empty liquor bottles found
in the plantation. He brought me the numbers
of the logs that were found missing from the
plantation. He further informed me that the
Section Officer and staff have gone following the
lorry tracks and sent him to inform me about the
incident. I was taken aback on hearing this and
wanted to know as to who was behind this
operation.
The staff of Ramannapenta and GBM after they
perambulate their respective areas in their
jurisdiction will generally come back to GBM and
stay in the quarters available there during the
nights. The distance from GBM to Ramannapenta
is about 6 miles and they will not know if
something happens at Ramannapenta during
the nights. I have contacted my informers the
next day and I was informed that one Forester,
who was dismissed from service on account of
graft charges, along with another habitual
offender at Nandyal, were responsible for this. I
wanted to proceed to Nandyal and inform my
D.F.O about the incident and wanted to formulate
my line of attack on the situation. I was going on
my Bullet motor cycle along with my attender
and when I reached Nandyal and going towards
the Division office, I found the habitual offender,
said to have been associated with the dismissed
Forester, coming opposite to me walking.
25
VANA PREMI
Immediately I stopped my bike right before him
and he was startled to see me. I wanted my
attender to get down from the bike and asked
that person to come and sit on my bike telling
him that I wanted to discuss with him some
important matter. He was reluctant to get on to
my Motor cycle and on my persuasion he went
back pretending as if he is going to sit behind
me. But suddenly he started running on the road
and I immediately turned my bike and followed
him on my motor cycle itself chasing him.
Suddenly he took a turn in to a small lane and
even then I was chasing him and from the lanes
he went in to nearby fields. With great difficulty
I was balancing my bike and was going behind
him and he suddenly jumped in to a stream
locally called ‘chamakaluva’ and swam across and
went away to the other side of the stream. I was
unable to follow him and I had to retreat from
the scene. Since it was broad day light the
passers-by were staring at the incident and none
came to help me in nabbing him.
I received discrete information that the lorry
along with the Teak timbers was taken by the
dismissed Forester to Cuddapah and the timbers
were sold in a saw mill. I went to my D.F.O and
apprised him about the incident and also about
the information received by me and submitted
a preliminary report. After informing the D.F.O, I
reached Cuddapah and met the Forest Range
Officer, Cuddapah Range and informed him
June 2011
about all the happenings and about the
information on hand with me. Immediately he
laughed at me and said that I am knocking a
wrong door as no sawmill owner in his jurisdiction
is capable of involving in such clandestine
activities. However when I insisted on going
round the sawmills at Cuddapah, he
accompanied me along with his colleague who
was working as Forest Range Officer, DPAP.
All of us started going round and inspecting the
sawmills one after the other and to our
disappointment could not locate any produce.
After a series of inspections, when we went to a
sawmill, the owner of the sawmill took the Forest
Range Officer, DPAP aside and told him
something secretly. The Range Officer came to
us and said that the owner of the sawmill told
him that the agents of another sawmill located
nearby were talking to some local smugglers at
Gajulapalli Depot during the sales that were
recently conducted there and asked him to check
in that sawmill. Then all of us proceeded to that
sawmill immediately and inspected it. To my
fortune I could locate all the Teak timbers that
were stolen from the plantation as the numbers
painted by us were intact on them. Immediately
panchayathdars were summoned and a
panchanama was drafted and the statements of
the owner of the sawmill and other concerned
persons were recorded. After transporting all the
seized timbers to the Forest Range Office
26
VANA PREMI
premises and keeping them in safe custody, all
of us went and met the Divisional Forest Officer,
Cuddapah Division and explained him about the
fact of booking the case. The DFO said that the
case will be booked by the Forest Range Officer,
Cuddapah as the scene of offence is in his
jurisdiction and I shall be cited as a PW in the
case.
He finally told me that the case will be dealt
with in his Division only and the loss of timbers
in my DET Account can be accounted for as if
they have been recovered in this offence. I took
a letter from the Forest Range Officer, Cuddapah
about the recovery of Teak timbers along with
their measurements and the details of booking
of the case in his Range. After bidding goodbye
to my colleagues who cooperated with me in
recovering the Teak timbers and profusely
thanking them I returned to Nandyal and
informed my DFO about all the facts and
submitted a detailed report in the matter.
Thus it was possible for me to recover the
produce lost in the interior forests of
GundlaBrahmeswaram at Cuddapah at a
distance of about 200 K.ms. This was possible
only because of the strong informant network I
had established and also the unstinted
cooperation from my colleagues.
June 2011 VANA PREMI

By
Y. Rajendra

27
June 2011
MOTHER-NATURE
By
Smt. Y. Usha
We live in a "Modern World"
Where there is no place for "Old"
Instead of Sweet chirping of birds
It's the sound of ring tones of mobile we here
Instead of sweet fragrance of flowers
It is the smell of artificial perfumes
Instead of fresh air of the beautiful trees
It's the polluted air we breathe'
Instead of wonderful sight of gliding eagles
We see the roaring copters and aero planes
28
VANA PREMI
Instead of whispering and swaying of trees
We see the jumbled cables hanging everywhere
Because the trees are being cut down ruthlessly
The alarm bells are ringing
The tsunami and earthquakes are occurring
How can we expect a better future?
When the present is so bitter
No! The man can never take a step further
By suppressing our own mother nature
Instead, he should contribute something
To preserve nature, in turn to save future!!
June 2011
TIGER CENSUS: WHAT LIES
BENEATH THE NUMBERS
It is never easy counting secretive, solitary
predator, for decades, foresters studied
pugmarks and usually counted more tigers per
tiger.Then in 2002, Project Tiger (now National
Tiger Conservation Authority) and wildlife
Institute of India( WII) began replacing the
human error-prone pugmark census method
with a scientific estimation protocol.
It was a landmark initiative, Nine years later;
however, India’s tiger numbers remain equally
suspect. So far, more than Rs.22 crore has been
spent during two all-India estimation drives, in
2006-07 and 2010-11, to scientifically evaluate
the status of the tiger. And yet all the government
churned out were a few gospel figures for media
consumption. When the subjective pugmark
count method was junked, the promise was of
moving away from banal number games
towards effective monitoring.
Yet, the first all-India tiger estimation report said:
“These population estimates have high
variances, but since these estimates are not to
be used for monitoring trends, they should suffice
the need for converting a relevant ecological
index to a more comprehensible concept of
numbers”.
29
VANA PREMI
Numbers make headlines, more so when spiced
up by technical jargons. Sure enough, when
minister for environment and forests Jairam
Ramesh proudly announced the gain of 225
tigers last week, it made happy headlines.
Accounting for the Sunderbans figures (70) that
were not available in 2008, the minister preened,
the population gain was a healthy 295.
Lack of Scientific Rigour:
But the lack of due scientific rigour was soon
evident when on March 31, three days after
Ramesh had charmed the media, WII rushed to
correct its own presentation. An email from a
WII scientist to NTCA admitted that “there has
been a mistake in the computation of the
standard error for the tiger numbers for the state
of Maharashtra”, with a request for updating the
MOEF website. The Press Information Bureau
website, however, is yet to drop the incorrect
figures. To be fair, the WII-NTCA presentation –
status of Tigers in India, 2011 – the one Ramesh
appropriately put up on his ministry’s website,
does quote biologists Richard Hutto and Jock
Young: “Any monitoring program is a
compromise between science and logistic
constraints”. While the presentation stops at that
cryptic disclaimer, the ministry’s own records do
not. Back in 2006, an international team of
June 2011
experts led by John Seidensticker from the
department of conservation biology at
Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park in
Washington, DC did a peer review of the new
estimation method.
In its report, the team questioned the feasibility
of the exercise given that more than 40,000
forest units would have to be sampled, adding
that the new method, too, relied on the “integrity
of the primary data collectors, data compilers
and their supervisors”.
The words strangely echoed the NTCA’s own
justification for discarding the old pugmark count
method. The peer review also warned that the
genetic methods proposed in the census were
not “fully developed for this application” and that
there were not even enough GPS(global
positioning system) sets to map out the terrain.
For the record, the new method breaks down the
estimation process in three phases.
Phase one involves data collection (signs of tiger
presence, prey abundance and canopy status)
across the tiger landscapes. In the second phase,
satellite data is used to assess conditions of
habitat. Phase three requires camera-traps to
be set up in selected pockets for capturing tiger
images to identify the number of individuals in a
sampled area.
Next, the camera-trap data is extrapolated to
arrive at numbers for entire landscapes.
30
VANA PREMI
Faulty Camera – Traps
The observations in the peer review on the
challenges of logistics and integrity made
phases I and II seem suspect in the first all-India
estimation. Little has changed since. What is
the worse, phase III of the latest count was
compromised by too many malfunctioning
camera traps. WII purchased around 500
Moultrie camera-traps for the second all-India
estimation, out of which 300-odd malfunctioned.
The official stand remains that the manufacturer
replaced the faulty sets. Sources in the field,
however, report a different picture.
In Corbett, around 60 camera traps were
installed in two phases (pre and post-monsoon)
in 2010. Within days of installation, most
cameras reported an activation lag: when an
animal passed by, the camera would take several
seconds to recover from the sleep mode and
click an empty frame or only the animal’s hind
portion. Even if the faulty cameras were
replaced after monsoon, areas surveyed in the
pre-monsoon phase with faulty sets were not
covered again.
In Maharashtra’s Tadoba tiger reserve, around 60
camera sets malfunctioned when the pre-
monsoon camera trapping began last year.
While a WII field team returned with
replacements after monsoon. It barely spent a
month in the field. In some reserves, camera-
traps reached only in late October. Across the
June 2011
world, top institutes like International Snow
Leopard Trust use Reconyx camera-traps. In India,
camera trapping pioneer Dr.UllasKaranth has
used analogTrailmaster and later Deercam
camera traps.
Among the cheaper brands, Bushnell is believed
to be the most versatile. For reasons best known
to WII bigwigs, they chose to rely on Moultrie
camera-trap and its slow reaction. Maybe, our
Sarkariscientists expected tigers to stand still
and be counted in the national interest, but even
this piece of equipment did not make it to many
non-reserve areas. Not to mention the tiger-
bearing forests outside Protected Areas (PAs).
For example, no camera-trap was set up in
Tadoba’sKolsa range, let alone the areas outside
the reserve notorious for human-tiger conflict.
WII used about 100 cameras to cover just 120
square kilometres of Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam
tiger reserve in Andhra Pradesh. Only seven
tigers were identified in that area. Based on these
seven tigers in just 120 sq. km., somehow the
estimate extrapolated a figure of 60 for a 2342
sq. km-area of this reserve.
Analysis suspects if data was compromised, the
analysis was suspect, too. On the extrapolation
process, the 2006 peer review cautioned that
“there is also no detailed write-up of the
technical analysis, explicitly identifying the
analytical techniques to be used in each phase
31
VANA PREMI
of the frame work”.
As mentioned earlier, the 2008 report did accept
“high variances” in estimation. In simple terms,
it means different results at different estimation
attempts, resulting in unreliability.
Nevertheless, those unreliable estimates were
further extrapolated to larger areas for arriving
at “all-India” figures.
Former WII biologist K. Yoganand had pointed
out in 2008 how the official count only referred
to standard errors of estimated densities and
population sizes while offering a range of 1165-
1657 tigers. He said the report did not use the
appropriate confidence intervals, which if
standardized, would have stretched the limits
to roughly 900-1900 tigers, an embarrassingly
unreliable range.
Surprisingly, the estimation process has not
been made public in the last nine years. Only
one scientific paper – Can the abundance of
tigers be assessed from their signs? (2011) –
has been published and that too explains only a
part of the method. Clearly, after nine years and
more than Rs.22 crore spent, the promise of
robust science has not materialized. Instead of
quadrennial rituals, the ministry should have
opted for intensive assessment, using camera-
traps and DNA analyses, of all major source tiger
populations, allowing for timely management
inputs.
June 2011 VANA PREMI

For example, four years might be a bit too late Habitat Loss:
for realizing that a key tiger reserve like Kanha is But is there a case for celebration even if we
losing tigers as has been revealed in the latest accept the government’s figures
estimate. Given that NGOs like Aranyak unquestioningly? We may have achieved a 12%
(Kaziranga) or WWF-India (Ramnagar) did a good rise in our tiger population but lost almost 24%
job of estimate, the ministry could rope in more of India’s tiger habitat. Do 170 tigers more or
organizations for logistics and manpower. less really make a big difference? Carnivores
have high turnover and cats are anyway prolific
While the number game continues, it is
breeders.
important to note that the new protocol does
Habitat loss or fragmentation, however, is a long
not allow comparison of subsequent results. The
term, often irreversible, damage. Given
2008 report noted “these estimates are not to
adequate breeding forests, adding 170 tigers to
be used for monitoring trends”.
the national population is always a short term
Moreover, a number of tiger areas that were left
possibility. In comparison restoring tigers, to
out during the last estimation, have been
21,000, sq.km, of habitat lost since 2006-07 will
covered this time. Comparing the common
be next to impossible. That our conservation
areas assessed on both occasions, the WII-NTCA
efforts, while rusting up feel-good numbers,
report modifies the population growth to 12%
have actually conceded one-fourth of the tiger’s
or 170 tigers. Insiders, however, claim that the
home in just four years is the real headline of
13 new areas that have been added this time
this census.
account for a total of 288 tigers. If they are to be
(Courtesy-The Economic Times, sent by Sri M.
believed, this brings down the actual population
Padmanabha Reddy, with thanks)
gain to just seven tigers or less than 0.5%.

”Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have

exactly the same number of hours per day that were
given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother
Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and
Albert Einstein.”
(H. Jackson Brown, Jr.)

32
June 2011 VANA PREMI
Birth Day Greetings
We wish the following born on the dates mentioned
“ A very Happy Birth Day”
S.No. Name of the member D.O.B. S.No. Name of the S.F.S. Oficer D.O.B.
Sarva Sri Sarva Sri
1. Masood Ali Khan 06-06-1941 1. G.Rama Krishna Rao 06-06-1957
2. Dr.N.R.K.Rao 15-06-1943 2. G.Laxman 28-06-1963
3. V.Janakiram Naidu 08-06-1936 3. A.L.N.Prasad 07-06-1953
4. B.Malla Reddy 20-06-1937 4. B.V.A.Krishna Murthy 01-07-1967
5. V.Devachary 09-06-1946 5. B.VenkateshwarRao 08-06-1962
6. J.V.Sharma 20-06-1932 6. P.BadhushaSaheb 01-07-1953
7. T.Hanmanth Reddy 10-06-1943 7. M.A.Mabood 09-06-1955
8. S.Nauratan Singh 22-06-1942 8. P.Sivashankar Reddy 01-07-1963
9. Md.Rahamatullah 13-06-1946 9. M.BhaskaraRaju 10-06-1957
10. D.Ramnarayan 25-06-1950 10. S.Mustafa 01-07-1961
11. K.Rameshwar 14-06-1936 11. M.BhaskaraRaju 10-06-1957
12. K.Eshwarchand 30-06-1948 12. Y.ChalapathiRao 01-07-1953
13. M.V.S.PrakashRao 15-06-1944 13. M.SrinivasaRao 10-06-1961
14. N.Linganna 01-07-1941 14. P.Eshwar Reddy 01-07-1953
S.No. Name of the I.F.S. Oficer D.O.B. 15. T.Narasaiah 11-06-1955
Sarva Sri 16. K.GovindaRao 01-07-1953
1. Munindra 06-06-1960 17. V.Satish Kumar 13-06-1968
2. M.Bullaiah 01-07-1952 18. T.Narasimhulu 01-07-1959
3. N.Chandra Mohan Reddy 10-06-1961 19. QudrathMohiuddin Ahmed15-06-1955
4. Sitaram Gupta 01-07-1952 20. G.V.Ramana Reddy 01-07-1953
5. Mohan Chandra Parguain 12-06-1964 21. P.Ashok Kumar 18-06-1953
6. Basivi Reddy 01-07-1954 22. T.V.Subba Reddy 01-07-1957
7. D.Sudhakar 14-06-1954 23. M.Janakiram 19-06-1964
8. Dr.E.Narasimhulu 01-07-1954 24. K.Sudhakar Reddy 01-07-1953
9. P.MadhusudhanRao 15-06-1957 25. C.VenugopalRao 20-06-1960
10 Dr.K.P.Srivasuki 01-07-1956 26. K.TulasiRao 01-07-1953
11. Dr.B.V.Prasada Reddy 15-06-1957 27. Smt.T.Nagamaneswari 22-06-1974
12. P.V.Ramana Reddy 01-07-1957 28. J.HariBabu 01-07-1955
13. P.V.ChalapathiRao 19-06-1968 29. P.JacobBenerjee 24-06-1958
14. J.S.N.Murthy 01-07-1958 30. R.Mallappa 01-07-1954
15. A.Kishan 20-06-1955 31. J.VenkateshwarRao 24-06-1967
16. Smt.C.S.RamaLaxmi 01-07-1954 32. E.Mallikarjunaiah 01-07-1954
17. Dr.C.Suvarna 24-06-1966 33. Mrs.B.Praveena 25-06-1980
18. P.K.Sharma 01-07-1956 34. K.Somasekharam 01-07-1964
19. S.SriSarvanan 25-06-1973 35. K.Mohan 26-06-1964
20. K.Suryanarayana 01-07-1958 36. N.Vishnu Murthy 03-07-1953
21. Dr.Mohd. IliyasRizvi 29-06-1961 37. Smt.Ch.Balamani 26-06-1974
22. M.S.Devikar 02-07-1953 38. K.KhaderBasha 03-07-1960
23. Y.BabuRao 30-06-1958 39. Smt.P.Srilakshmi 27-06-1981
24. V.Venkataramaiah 03-07-1956 40. C.G.swamy Das 05-07-1954
25. SurendraPandey 30-06-1957 41. P.Ramakrishna 02-06-1972
26. D.K.Pandey 03-07-1956 42. D.Ravindr 02-06-1982
27. A.Anand Mohan 01-07-1957 43. N.Ramprasad 04-06-1953
28. M.Ravikumar 04-07-1957 44. G.satyanarayana 04-06-1954
29. Ashok Kumar Sinha 01-07-1965 45. Shaik Salaam 04-06-1963
46. K.Srinivas 04-06-1977
S.K.
33
June 2011
A HISTORY BEHIND STREET NAMES
OF HYDERABAD & SECUNDERABAD
By
D. Ramachandram
The street names of Hyderabad. In other words
names of the legends behind these place names,
not only make a fascinating reading, but also
reflect the 400 years old glory of its culture,
history and heritage. Each of these street names
reveals an interesting account not known to
many. These streets talk about their ancestors
and their contribution to the betterment of the
city and the society. And these places remind us
of our great departed souls, memorable events
and incidents. The street names of Hyderabad
and Secunderabad have a history and an
architectural individuality of their own, which
lend them the fragrance of romance. The history,
here, like elsewhere, is etched on its walls and
monuments, the deluge of heritage, which India’s
first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described
as the ‘Microcosm of Indian culture’.
Another peculiarity of these names, unlike the
names of places in any other city, is the addition
of suffixes such as gudas, bads, baghs, kuntas,
metlas, nagars and pallys.
The city which has an incredible and diverse
culture draws many names form the legends as
well as the unsung heroes of yesteryears. One
34
VANA PREMI
scratch at these street names and out comes
about 400 years history of this great Shahar.
Starting from 1497 AD till date, this place of
QutubShahis, AsafJahis, Moghuls, and the Nizams
has had its share of glory and gory. The names
listed here have been painstakingly compiled
from many sources, pieces of historical
information, memory of buzurgs and from the
modest effort of this author.
Hyderabad, the present name of our city was
once called as Bhagnagar which stands for ‘city
of gardens’. There appears to have been a
number of gardens in and around the city of
Hyderabad, such as Bashir Bagh, Amin Bagh, Bir
Ban Bagh, HardikarBagh, BaghLingampally and
Jam Bagh etc. Hence it was called as Bhagnagar.
But, according to ‘Mahanama’, compiled by
GhulamHussian Khan Jauhar around 1810 AD, the
city of Bhagnagar was named after the lady
Bhagirati, who was the queen of Ibrahim Qutb
Shah, who married her during his exile at
Vijayanagar. Bhagirathi, as narrated in Mahanama,
had purchased seven villages and laid the
foundation of the city of Bhagnagar. Hence, the
city was named after Bhagirathi, the mother of
Mohammed QuliQutb Shah, who decreed that
June 2011 VANA PREMI
his capital city should be ‘a replica of heaven on Secunderabad was also called the Residency
earth’. Bazaar at the end of the 19th century. It was also
developed to house British soldiers. In the early
Some of the Telugu contemporary works have
decade of the 19th century, the East India
different story to offer. Poet SaranguRammayya
Company had declared Secunderabad as an
named the city as Bhagyanagaramu or
important military base and a trading centre.
Bhagyanagara of Bhagirathi Pattanam (city of
Secunderabad is the abode for Secunderabad
good fortune). There is one more theory that
Railway Station, Head Quarters for South Central
suggests that Sultan QuliQutb Shah, the son of
Railways, Parade Grounds and many churches.
Ibrahim Qutb Shah and the founder of the city,
Kings Way, now Rashtrapathi Road (laid out in
named it after his beloved Bhagmati. However,
1936 to relieve congestion), James Street (only
one thing remains certain, whether he named it
existing thoroughfare before 1936 AD), now
after his lover or mother, local inhabitants
called the Mahatma Gandhi Road are part of this
popularly used to call it Bhagnagar and
great locality.
continued to call it so till the end of 17th century.
Charminar, synonymous of Hyderabad, is the
Later, probably it changed to Hyderabad, after
edifice of the four minarets. The awesome
the name of Hazarat Ali, a well-known Shia Imam.
rectangular structure built upon four grand
Yet another name in circulation around that time
arches by MuhammedQuliQutb Shah in1590-91
was FarkhundaBuniyad, which meant ‘the city of
is the legendary masterpiece in the city. Because
good fortune’, the literal Persian translation of
of this historical monument Char (means four)
the earlier Bhagnagar. And the same was also
minar (means minaret) the area around it gets
found inscribed on the AsafJahi coins. While local
its name from this great landmark.
people called it Bhagnagar, Khafi Khan a writer
in 1687 informed that the city was re-named as Originally it was called Mankal. Mohammed Shah
Hyderabad only after the death of Bhagmati. Bahmani of Gulbarga named the fort
Persians called it Aiderabad and Muslim nobility Mohamadnagar. Golconda, one of the most
named it Hyderabad. impressive fortresses in ruins in India, is probably
2000 years old. It was a picturesque city with big
Secunderabad, part of twin city, was formerly
gardens, broad thoroughfares and shops. That was
known as Lashkar to many old generation people
the reason why the famous historian Farishta
in the city. Lashkar meaning ’cantonment’ was
observed Golconda as an International
renamed as Secunderabad after
marketplace where merchants converged form
SikanderJahBahadurNizam III in 1806.

35
June 2011
Turkestan, Arabia and Persia. Two of the world
renowned diamonds the Koh-i-noor (weighed
787 carats, now 106 carats, it was valued at one
million sterling at that time, is now found its place
in the Imperial Regalia of British) and the so
called Nizam’s Diamond, both trace their origin
to this place.
Sitting smack in the centre of the city is Abids
also called Abid Road. It is one of the busiest
business localities in the city and undisputedly
the heart of the twin cities today. Bustling with
activity, it is quite simply the major shopping
mall in the twin cities. St George’s Church, the
130 years old church and one of the oldest in the
twin cities was built in a land donated by the
Nizam in appreciation of the services of European
community settled in the city in 1860’s during
the tenure of the Resident, Sir George Yule. Built
upon the patronage of the families of domiciled
Europeans in the city, it accommodates 500
people. With major establishments becoming
important landmarks like Chermas, Big Shot, the
famous TajMahal Hotel, Deccan Pen Stores,
General Post Office, Golden Threshold ( The
erstwhile residence of the Nightingale of India,
Sarojini Naidu, it accommodates a part of the
Hyderabad Central University. Owned by Sarojini
Naidu’s husband, Dr.MuthyalaGovindRajulu
Naidu, who after completing his higher studies
in London took a commission in the Nizam’s
Army as Major. The adjoining building which
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presently houses the Mysore Cafe was his clinic.
Even the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi,
during one of his visits to the city, stayed here.
The building was later donated by Sarojini
Naidu’s heirs, for the establishment of the
Central University), it is the hub of business
activity as well as a place to visit. Around the
early 19th century, a modern shopping centre
was developed in this place. The origin of this
street name is quite interesting. Abid was the
name of the owner of the first shop, Albert Abid,
Valet and Steward, a Jewish merchant in the area.
He was also an in charge to Nizam IV. Hence the
place is so called. According to another version,
Abids derives its name from the first
departmental store of Hyderabad, owned by
Abid Evans. Such was the popularity of this shop
that the whole place comprising business
centres got this name. However, the old,
particularly hailing from the Old City, still refer
to it as Abid Shop and Abid Ki Shop. Before
getting christened as Abid Road, the place was
known as Mustafa Bazaar. Mahboob Ali Pasha, the
sixth Nizam, on a visit to Calcutta met Abid Evans,
an American Jewish businessman. Impressed by
him, he had brought Mr.Abid to Hyderabad in a
royal train.
Abid set up a departmental store off the main
intersection in a building which is presently
known as Palace Talkies. Soon, the departmental
store, offering all and sundry merchandise
caught the imagination of the Hyderabadis and
June 2011
was turned into a major shopping centre, Not
only the Abid Store, but the whole place was
dotted with shops. Later, the main market was
shifted from the vicinity of Charminar to Abids. F
D Khan’s, which is one of the clothes stores at
Abids, had weathered the test of time to remain
in the reckoning. Popular for its uniform dress
material, F D Khan’s is synonymous with quality.
The shop was also the official supplier for the
staff of the palace during the days of the Nizam.
During the World War-II, when rationing on
clothing material was imposed, F D Khan’s was
appointed as official agents.
On Sundays and other holidays, book lovers drop
in here from all parts of the city to get a good
pick at bargain prices. In front of the closed
shutters of shops lay heaps of books, periodicals,
magazines and novels which attract people of
all ages. Hence it is also called as Abids Book
Bazaar. A treasure for the connoisseur of books!
Near Abids is Gunfoundry or Tope kasancha which
was built by a French General – Monsieur
Raymond. The entire lane opposite to
Mahboobia Girls School is known as Gunfoundry.
It was one of the several cannon and cannonball
factories set up in 1786. So the locality is called
Gundoundry. The locality houses headquarters
of famous State Bank of Hyderabad, inaugurated
on April 5, 1942 by Nawab Sir Aqeel Jung
Bahadur, the then Member of Commerce and
Industires, Nizam’s Executive Council, it was
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known as Hyderabad State Bank, which later
changed to State Bank of Hyderabad, which
brought name and fame to the city.
A couple of kilometers away from Gunfoundry
is Saifabad, the abode of the State Government
Secretariat, the Legislative Assembly (A blend
of Indo-Sarcenic architecture, this completed its
construction in 1913 to mark the 40th birthday
of NizamMahboob Ali Khan in 1905. One of the
most amazing features about this monument is
that it had costed only Rs. 19 lakh. The Public
Gardens where it is housed, one of the largest
city gardens in India, was thrown open to public
in 1864 AD. The site for the Public Gardens was
acquired by the Nizam’s Government in 1864
from Raja Balakrishna on the advice of Salar Jung
I. NizamVII used to be bestowed with Nazarana
(tributes in cash and kind) on his birthday. Iron
Bungalow, the oldest building in the Public
Gardens, is adjacent to a very beautiful mosque,
where the late Nizam used to offer his
JummekiNamaz (Friday prayers). Before the
opening of the Nehru Zoological Park, the Zoo
was located inside the Public Gardens and it was
here that the first Industrial Exhibition was held
in 1939 and which even today is an important
annual feature. The adjacent hill is called as
NaubatPahad. It takes its name from Naubat
(drum), beaten vigorously to announce the royal
Farmans (orders) during the QutbShahi and
Mughal days. Overlooking Gunfoundry, this is an
June 2011
epitome of a culture that is progressive yet
steeped in religion. The pahad is also known as
Drum Beat Rock. Adjoining the HussainSagar
Lake, the office of our elected representatives –
the Secretariat formed the residence of
NizamVII. Once a palace, it was built by Zafar-
ud-Doula Saif Jung, the Peshkar or Deputy of the
NizamVII. Hence the place came to be known
after him.
Intruding into Saifabad is Basheerbagh, the
commercial nerve centre, the locality famous for
Nizam College (110 years old, one of the most
coveted and prestigious colleges of the twin
cities, was established in 1887.
Dr.AghorenathChattopadhyay, father of Sarojini
Naidu was its founder Principal. The present
building, a summer palace of Nawab
MulkFakrulBahadur, was a gift from him to the
college). FetehMaidan, a saucer shaped
playground, the field of victory, is also referred
to as LalBhadur Stadium in present times. This is
where Aurangazeb pitched his first camp on his
victorious campaign against Golconda. In fact he
is the one who coined the name Fateh meaning
victory, after his triumph over Qutub Shah. From
1853 onwards Hyderabad’s rulers reviewed
military parades or played polo here. Now it is
the venue of cricket matches and political rallies.
(It has a seating capacity of 30,00 people), lady
Hyderi Club – the testimony to the pivotal role
played by women in Hyderabadi society then;
Gandhi Medical College, Mor Medical Hall (The
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pharmacy store where the rarest of the rare
medicines are always available. If a particular
medicine is not available in this store, means it
won’t be available in any other shop in the city)
and rooftop of the city – Babukhan Estate (this
17 storied glass colossal is known for its neat
maintenance and houses 699 offices plus the
modest office of the author, Solus Media!).
Basheerbagh acquired the name after Sir
AsmanJah Bashir-UddoulaBahadur, a Paigah
noble, a proud owner of a garden located there.
The present site where Nizam College is located
was earlier called AsadBagh which meant Lions
Garden. It was also known as MotiBagh, the
garden of Jasmine, and even today the main
college building wears its pristine look with the
crest of Unicorn.
Within close proximity to Basheerbagh is
Hyderaguda, which houses MLAs (Old MLA
quarters), Appollo Diagnostic Centre, CDR
Hospital and a horde of schools. The name
Hyderguda originated after Hyder Ali, the Taluqdar
collector who owned the land, formerly owned
by WaheedUnnisa Begum, wife of Nizam V.
A little ahead of Hyderguda is Himayatnagar
which was baptized after Prince of Berar and the
eldest son of Nizam VI – NawabHimayat Ali Khan.
This street is famous for Hyderabad Stock
Exchange, Telugu Academy, Dr. P. Shiva Reddy’s
Eye Hospital (the famous Ophthalmological
surgeon, who has Guinness Book of Record and
June 2011 VANA PREMI
Limca Book of Record to his credit). A locality that came up around the Residency
(Kothi) is Chaderghat, one of the principal
Couple of kilometres from Himayatnagar is
suburbs of the city. The locality was so-called after
BaghLingampally, known for LIG, MIG, HIG
an anicut across the river which formed a
quarters and Ambedkar College, Sundaraiah Park,
‘Chaddar’ or a ‘sheet of water’. Chaderghat Bridge
SundaraiahVignanaKendram and library. The old
or Oliphant Bridge was built by Col. Oliphant
people in the locality inform that the area used
during the reign of NizamNasir-ud-Daulah. It was
to be full of fruit garden belonging to the Nawab,
mainly a European/Eurasian colony dominated
that is why the prefix ‘Bagh’. The place was a small
by European style of architecture, including the
village called Lingampally which had a tank
Christian churches and missionary schools.
where queens used to have their bath.
Close to the southern bank of the Musi, off the
Population exploded, city grew vertically and
highway to Vijayawada is the 100 years old
horizontally. The greenery vanished over a period
Malakpet Race Course. It has been regarded as
of time and concrete structures replaced them.
one of the finest race courses in the country.
The migrants started occupying every inch of
Named after Malik Yakoot, loyal servant of Sultan
available place. The people lived on the bank
Abdullah QutubShahi, the first races were held
(kunta) of a big tank or lake. So the place was
here, way back in the winter of 1879. The Nizam
called as Nallakunta.
VI and his nobles were frequent visitors to this
Like Lingampally village there was one more
place. With a swimming pool for racing horses, a
village called Chikkadpally. The present
training school for jockeys, it is the most modern
Musheerabad, known as Central Jail, was
race course in India.
formerly a part of Chikkadpally village, presently
Further down is Saidabad named after Syed Mir
nerve centre of shopping and cultural activity
Mommin, the Prime Minister of Golconda in
(TyagarajaGanaSabha is situated in this locality).
1591. A few kilometres away from it is
Musheerabad was a part of the Jagir presented
Saroornagar – the land that was granted to
by Nizam II to NawabArastuJahMushir-Ul-Mulk,
SuroorAfzaBai, the wife of Hyderabad Prime
who constructed a palace and a garden in 1785
Minister – NawabArastuJahBahadur. He built a
and named them after himself. Azamabad, the
palace, a tank and called it Suroornagar, which
oldest industrial area in the city (whereas the
means a ‘city of happiness’. The intitial ‘Suroor’
other industrial clusters such as Balanagar,
over generations became Saroor, thus you have
Sanathnagar, Kukatpally are quite recent) is
Saroornagar.
located near to this place.

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Situated far from maddening crowd of the city is to Maisram, a hilly locality where the Army had
Vanasthalipuram, considered to be the biggest its barracks. It is because of these barracks the
colonies of Asia. This two decades old colony, in place adjacent to Maisram is called Barkas. There
the beginning of the 19th century, was a densely are 15 mosques, a CRPF Group Centre, CRPF
wooded area boasting an abundance of wild KendriyaVidyalaya, BaghSharfuddin, etc. worth
animals and was the famous hunting ground or mentioning in this locality.
Shikargah of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Hence it is
The area around the AshoorKhana became
named as Vanasthallipuram. This once beautiful
famous as HussainAlam. Raza Ali Khan, the
grassland today regarded as ‘janasthali’ with over
Dewan of Hyderabad in 1670 was given the title
a lakh population in about 42 colonies in and
Nekh-Nam-Khan. After his death, a village named
around this locality, this soon has become the
Nekh-Nam-Khampally has now become famous
preferred colony by many employees both
as Nampally.
private and government. Mahavira Harina
MoazzamJahi Market, one of the largest markets
Vanasthali – deer park, the Vipasana Mediation
of retail trade in fresh fruits and vegetables till
Centre, the Venkateswara Swamy temple and the
recently, was named after NawabJahBahadur, the
Somnatha Kshetram are some of the attractions
son of Mir Osman Ali Kham NizamVII and the
of this area.
President of the City Improvement Board. The
Barkas is yet another rich colony situated south
market building which completed its
of Hyderabad of Arabic speaking businessmen.
construction in 1935 was inaugurated by Mir
With fruit vendors, gulf money and mosques, this
Osman Ali Khan NizamVII. The other big
area full of thick forest in the beginning of 17th
wholesale market for vegetables is Mir Alam
century is today flushed with dinars, dirhams.
Mundi, which was christened after Nawab Mir
Most of the residents in the locality have pucca
Alam, Prime Minister of
RCC buildings, electronic household gadgets
SikanderJahBahadurNizam III.
and other phirangi appliances. During 1724-
The city of Hyderabad has a number of bazaars
1948, it became a focal point for the Nizam’s
and mohallas. The biggest mohallaDabeerpura
dynastic rule. It was in 1812 Nizam felt the need
is called after Abdul SamadDabirio-UI-Mulk, a
to modernize his army which comprised of
scholar and noble man. Begum Bazaar famous
Mughal army, irregular troops, regular army, the
for wholesale grain and other business was the
French Corps, Russel Brigade, Maisram army, etc.
piece of land gifted to public to conduct trade
In April 1887, JamaitNizamMahboob raised a
by Humala Begum, wife of Nizam Ali Khan
regiment called Maisram Regiment and moved
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June 2011 VANA PREMI
Bahadur. So it is called Begum Bazaar. Every fish caught from river musi was sold here. There
Thursday there used to be a special market is one bazaar in Hyderabad, which no visitor can
called ‘JummeRaatKa Bazaar’, a tradition that is ever miss. That is Lad Bazaar. Historians have
continued even today. various versions about it. One version records
that, the doors in this bazaar were painted in a
A lot of markets mushroomed around Begum
shade of red. Another says that it is a corrupted
Bazaar like MoazzamJahi, Siddi Amber, etc. Area
version of ‘Lary’ from AbdurRazzackLary, the
near the British residency was called as
General, who valiantly defended Golconda on
‘Residency Bazaar’ but after 1933, the land was
the eve of Moghul invasion. Hence it is so called
restored to NizamVII, who named it as Sultan
as Lad Bazaar. The bazaar is famous for its bangles
Bazaar. Nizam V donated some land to the grain
and bridal ware.
merchants to store and sell their grains. This area
came to be known as Afzalgunj. Somajiguda with the spacious Raj Bhavan is
named after a pandit called Sonaji, employed in
Siddiamber Bazaar is called after Siddis -the Afro-
the Revenue Department, who resided in this
Arabs who sold amber or perfumes. They also
area. Slowly, Sonaji became Somaji. Khairatabad,
served as cooks and palanquin bearers. Noor
the thickly populated area is named after
Khan Bazaar was called so after Noor Khan, the
Princess Kahiratunnisa, daughter of Sultan
ablest administrator in the country who on the
Ibrahim Qutub Shah. The area which is on south
request of the Nizam II came to Hyderabad from
western shore of HussianSagar was chosen as a
Lucknkow. There was a knight, who was honoured
location to construct the residence of the
by a land grant by Nizam I, for his role in
Princess who was not keeping good health. The
suppressing a revolt. The place came to be called
ruler in the fond hope that the greenery and
after him, Ghansitmian Bazaar. Esamia Bazaar is
climate of the lake shore would restore the
named after a British loyalist InidanEsamaiah,
normal health of the Princess and asked his son-
who stayed near the area. Over a period of time
in-law, HazratHussian Shah Wali, an eminent
Esamaiah Bazaar had gradually become Esamia
engineer to construct a residential palace, a
Bazaar, Hotel Haridwar situated in this locality is
mosque and a tank which is now called after him
synonymous to the name of its place.
as HussainSagar (or the Tank Bund) as it is
Troop Bazaar was a market place for a British
commonly called was built on a tributary of the
regiment after 1857 attack. It is a corrupted form
Musi during the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in
of Troop Bazaar. Chappal Bazaar, near Kothi, is a
1562. The bund which links the twin cities of
word derived from Telugu chapalu or fish. The

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June 2011 VANA PREMI
Hyderabad and Secunderabad today houses Moghulpura is another area where Moghuls set
world’s tallest monolithic Buddha Statue, 33 camp. It was formerly called Da-e-ra-Mir Momin,
statues of legendary personalities, Lumbini Park as it had burial grounds, donated by Mir
and Boats Club where the famous OK Dingy Mommin. After the Moghuls left, a man named
National Boats Regatta takes place. Incidentally, Zabberdast Khan got Tabarrukaat from Ajmer
Tank Bund is the only picnic place available and placed it here and called ‘Khaja-Moin-Ud-
within close proximity to the people in the city Din-Chiste-ka-chilla’, a name still in use.
(off late, the place has become a venue for Tank
Pathergutti is so named because the entire area
Bund Tamasha on public holidays). The famous
was made of granite stone. Lallaguda, also known
200 years old Hanuman Temple, Vijay Marie
as ‘Little England’ (like a street – Little India in
Hospital and The Institution of Engineers (India)
Singapore, where there is concentration of
(One of the largest professional bodies in the
Indian settlers) with majority Catholics living
world, it was set up in November 1938.
there was fortified village development by
Inaugurated on November 15, 1938 by Sir Akbar
ThaniatUnnisa Begum aliasBibiSahaba, favourite
Hyder Nawaz Jung Bahadur, the president of the
queen of Nizam II. He constructed a palace and a
Nizam’s Executive Council, it contributed its mite
garden near Moula Ali, under the supervision of
to the development of the State in general and
Lalla, one of the best architects of Hyderabad.
the city in particular. Presently, the centre
Originally called Tahniat Nagar or Bibinagar, it
disseminates information on 15 disciplines of
came to be called Lallaguda after her death.
engineering. Later this institute was renamed as
Then there are places named after communities
VisvesvarayyaBhavan, after the famous engineer
like Banjara Hills, BiderWadi, BaildarWadi,
whose services were enlisted by the then
Brahmin Wadi, KumharWadi, MehtarWadi and
government after the devastating Musi floods in
ChaknaWadi (is derived from a dish prepared
1908) are famous landmarks of this locality.
from the intestines of sheep). Gowliguda is
After the Nizam captured Golconda in 1724 from
named after the gowlis or milkmen. AC guards
the Moghuls he camped near the fort in a village,
or African Cavalry guards mainly comprised of
which was renamed Asifnagar. Abdul Hassan
Abyssinians, Somalis and European Officers and
TanaSha on one of his visits to his Prime Minister’s
were a gift to Nizam VI from Raja of Wanaparthy.
house was attracted to a landscape and its
They formed the Nizam’s guards on State
proximity to Mir Jumla Tank. He immediately has
occasions. They established a camp around 1910,
a palace built here and called the area Sultan
to the West of Lakdi-Ka-Pul and the area got
Shahi.
christened as AC Guards.
42
June 2011
Banjara Hills was once the rugged home of a
gypsy tribe from distant Rajasthan who left home
to follow the fortunes of warring armies,
performing daring deeds that they sing about
even today around campfires. One sees them
occasionally in Hyderabad, the women
gorgeously attired in bright flashy skirts, silver
glints at throat, ear and nose, and heavy ivory
bracelets click on golden brown hands. Thus the
place surrounded by fascinating rock formations
called as Banjara Hills.
Lakdi-ka-pul - there is no authentic information
on how the area derived its name. However,
according to a popular legend, a bridge with
wooden poles (lakdi) was built across an old pond
and so it was named Lakdi-ka-pul. Despite the
construction of a concrete bridge and the lake
vanishing, the name still continues to be in use.
Lakdi-ka-pul comprises towering structures and
a cluster of hotels and presents a picture of chaos
and confusion. It is major centre for commercial
and cultural activities. The cultural nerve centre
of Hyderabad – the RavindraBharathi
(constructed on a small hillock overlooking the
Legislative Assembly, it is the theatre frequented
by cultural czars and is a major tourist attraction.
It is the first theatre established in the country
to commemorate the centenary celebrations of
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The foundation
stone was laid in 1960, it has 1,104 seating
capacity), Directorate General of Police, Ranga
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Reddy District Collectorate, Niloufer Hospital
(founded by Princess Niloufer, wife of Prince
MoazzamJah, the second son of the seventh
Nizam, the last of the AsafJah rulers in April 1949,
it is the first hospital to set up a separate
‘Neonatal’ unit. It provides treatment for women
and children) and Mehdi Nawaz Jung Cancer
Hospital (Founded by the late Nawab Mehdi
Nawaz Jung, a legislative luminary and a
dedicated social worker in 1952, it has a capacity
for about 110 inmates. It was formerly known as
‘Baithul-a-Mazureen’).
Masab Tank is a distorted version of Maa-Sahaba
Tank. Maa-Sahaba was a title endowed on Hayat
Bakshi Begum, wife futubhahi VI. The ‘Talab’ or
tank was built by Khanum Agha, Qutub Shah V’s
mother, but it become famous after his wife as
‘Talab-e-Maa-Sahaba’. The upgraded ‘Maa Sahaba
Talab’ got anglicized to Masab Tank.
The royal families also lent their names to
various streets. Begumpet owes its name to
Bashir-Unnisa Begum, daughter of Nizam II, who
married a Paigah noble and received the land as
part of dowry. Kulsumpura near Karvan was so
called after Kulsum Begum, the daughter of
Muhammad Qutub Shah.
PuranaPul or Old Bridge is the most famous of
the four bridges of Hyderabad. It was built in
1578 by Sultan Ibrahim Qutub Shah, the king of
Golconda. Tavernier, the celebrated French
June 2011 VANA PREMI

Jeweller, traveller and historian, wrote of this Sookhe Mir Ki Kaman was named after a lean
‘bridge of love’ when he visited Hyderabad in man. Gunge Nawab Ki Deewadi was named after
1676: “At Bhagyanagar you cross the river over a a dumb nawab. Karvan, one of the oldest places
bridge no less beautiful than the Pont Neuf at in Hyderabad was a trade centre and had two
Paris”. sarais (guest houses) or Inns for the visiting
businessmen. Hence the name,Karavan for the
Tarnaka, is derived from ‘Tar’ which means ‘wire’
place. Mirpet, Muminpur, Muminpet, Dair-e-Mir
and ‘Naka’ meaning ‘guard room’. It was thus called
Mumin and Mir Chowk are named after Mir
because the Nizam barbed the area and put up
Mohd. MominAstrabadi, who was, the, architect
a guard room to protect his fruit gardens in the
of new city of Hyderabad in 1591 AD. He was
area. Though the tar and naka have disappeared,
also a prominent Iranian in the city.
the boundary still exists in the form of Osmania
Thus Hyderabad, with its twin city Secunderabad,
University Campus. Tarnaka once a fruit garden
presents a fine picture of Muslim and Hindu
has now turned into the cradle of intellectuals
cultural coexistence and the convergence of the
pursuits with a number of research institutions
past and the present, as well as the coming
like CCMB, NIN etc.
together of north and south India in its
Similar to Tarnaka, there are streets like Golnaka,
population, monuments, modern buildings,
Chatrinaka. But, the origin of these names is not
bazaars and way of life. Long live Hyderabad.
known. Probably, like Tarnaka, these places must
(The author is a freelance journalist, publisher
have had some guard rooms. Hayat Nagar, 16 kms
of books and managing partner of Solus Media.
away from east of Hyderabad was built by
This article is a part of the ‘Best of 9 years’ series,
HayathBakshi Begum in 1626. This was the small
and is reproduced from the original which
village, where the ceremony of the first tonsure
appeared as a four part series in the July to
of Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shah was celebrated
October 1998 issues of Primetime Prism. All
by his mother, HayathBakshi Begum, on a very
facts and figures are as on the original date of
grand scale of twelve days in 1631. May be
publication.).Editor’s note: - This article was
because of Hayat Bakshi Begum, the place was
written in the year 1998 and there are many
thus known as Hayat Nagar.
changes now.
Apart from these, other interesting pieces of
history behind these places is one Saheb Ki Galli,
named after a man who was perpetually irritated.

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