C R Gowri Shanker
Old-timers recall that varsity was steeped in traditions and students were highly disciplined.
A rare photograph of students wearing the Deccani sherwani—a long coat in dark-colours along with a cap attending classes at Osmania University. This dress code was prevalent from 1918 well into the 1950’s. Women students wore salwar kameez and married women attending the university wore saris always covering their heads in keeping with the traditions.
Hyderabad: From 1918 and well into the 1950s, students at Osmania University wore the Deccani sherwani and pyjama or salwar kameez and saris (the latter for married women), almost like a school uniform.
In keeping with the times, women invariably had their heads covered. The Gandhi topi also made its appearance. The upper echelons of society wore western-style clothes.
In keeping with the times, women invariably had their heads covered. The Gandhi topi also made its appearance. The upper echelons of society wore western-style clothes.
As the university, founded by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, celebrates its centenary, its alumni and others recall the traditions associated with the University.
Ninety-seven-year-old Dr Hasnuddin Ahmed, a retired IAS officer who graduated with an MA in Economics in 1943, says that the sherwani was the norm. “It’s a long coat in a dark colour, not gaudy. We also wore caps. Students were highly disciplined and there was pin-drop silence in the class and the library” Dr Ahmed told Deccan Chronicle.
Mr Safiullah, a managing trustee of the Deccan Heritage Trust, says, “It was considered highly improper not to wear the traditional dress. Mr Shahid Hussain, former GPA of the Nizam Trust is coming out with a book on Prince Mukkaram Jah, Nizam VIII, and his close association with him.”
Prof H. Venkateshwarlu, special officer, Osmania University Centenary Celebrations, says from the University’s collection of videos and photographs it’s clear that the traditional sherwani was the preferred dress for male students.
“In the photographs we see male students in sherwani and women in salwar khameez. Boys and girls had separate classes. Courses started from intermediate and over a period of time, degree courses were added - BA, BCom and BSc in the Arts College - and subsequently post graduate courses were started,” he said.
Ninety-seven-year-old Dr Hasnuddin Ahmed, a retired IAS officer who graduated with an MA in Economics in 1943, says that the sherwani was the norm. “It’s a long coat in a dark colour, not gaudy. We also wore caps. Students were highly disciplined and there was pin-drop silence in the class and the library” Dr Ahmed told Deccan Chronicle.
Mr Safiullah, a managing trustee of the Deccan Heritage Trust, says, “It was considered highly improper not to wear the traditional dress. Mr Shahid Hussain, former GPA of the Nizam Trust is coming out with a book on Prince Mukkaram Jah, Nizam VIII, and his close association with him.”
Prof H. Venkateshwarlu, special officer, Osmania University Centenary Celebrations, says from the University’s collection of videos and photographs it’s clear that the traditional sherwani was the preferred dress for male students.
“In the photographs we see male students in sherwani and women in salwar khameez. Boys and girls had separate classes. Courses started from intermediate and over a period of time, degree courses were added - BA, BCom and BSc in the Arts College - and subsequently post graduate courses were started,” he said.
Students from the upper echelons of the society wear western outfits but cover their heads with caps while attending classes at the university.
Hyderabad still famous for its Urdu tag
.The Nizam’s rule was considered the golden era for the Urdu language.
Charminar
Hyderabad: Hyderabad is famous across India for its pearls, Charminar and biryani. And Urdu.
Due to the strong foundation laid by the Nizam, Hyderabad still stands on top of the ladder when it comes to Urdu literature and contributions by writers and poets.
Much of the credit goes to Osmania University, the brainchild of Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, which was the country’s first varsity with Urdu as the main medium of instruction in 1918.
Much of the credit goes to Osmania University, the brainchild of Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, which was the country’s first varsity with Urdu as the main medium of instruction in 1918.
The Nizam’s rule was considered the golden era for the Urdu language. Setting up of Os-mania University paved the way for students to pursue higher education, even medicine and engineering, in Urdu.
According to former OU professor S.A. Has-hmi, who was the key person in establishing the University College of Physical Education, ma-ny stalwarts from Hyderabad like P.V. Narasimha Rao, Marri Channa Reddy, K.V. Ranga Reddy, and Makhdoom Mohiuddin did their education in the Urdu medium.
According to former OU professor S.A. Has-hmi, who was the key person in establishing the University College of Physical Education, ma-ny stalwarts from Hyderabad like P.V. Narasimha Rao, Marri Channa Reddy, K.V. Ranga Reddy, and Makhdoom Mohiuddin did their education in the Urdu medium.
This is an indication that Urdu was not restricted to any particular religion and even Hindus pursued it earnestly.
Urdu lost its way after Hyderabad merged with Andhra to form Andhra Pradesh. The rulers shifted the focus towards English and Telugu. The transformation hit Urdu medium students very hard in the late 1950s, when they lost out on government jobs, acco-rding to Mr Qamar Jam-ali, writer and vice-president of Progressive Writ-ers’ Association (Urdu-Hindi).
The then government centred the selection around English, and job aspirants from Andhra who completed their education in English medium, having been under the British rule, outperformed Hyderabad students who did their education in Urdu medium.
“Although it was sidelined in the combined state, Urdu did not lose its significance in the all-India context. Writers from Old Delhi, Luck-now, Meerut have always acknowledged that Hyd-erabadi Urdu is the perfect language which does not mix Hindi or other languages. That’s why Urdu authors and writers from Hyderabad are respected in Urdu conferences, seminars held not only in India but across the world,” she said.
Urdu lost its way after Hyderabad merged with Andhra to form Andhra Pradesh. The rulers shifted the focus towards English and Telugu. The transformation hit Urdu medium students very hard in the late 1950s, when they lost out on government jobs, acco-rding to Mr Qamar Jam-ali, writer and vice-president of Progressive Writ-ers’ Association (Urdu-Hindi).
The then government centred the selection around English, and job aspirants from Andhra who completed their education in English medium, having been under the British rule, outperformed Hyderabad students who did their education in Urdu medium.
“Although it was sidelined in the combined state, Urdu did not lose its significance in the all-India context. Writers from Old Delhi, Luck-now, Meerut have always acknowledged that Hyd-erabadi Urdu is the perfect language which does not mix Hindi or other languages. That’s why Urdu authors and writers from Hyderabad are respected in Urdu conferences, seminars held not only in India but across the world,” she said.
Mr Moid Javed, head of the Urdu department, said they get students from across India and even foreign countries for Ph.D studies in Urdu because of its rich history in the language.
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| C R GOWRI SHANKER/MAHESH |
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