City-based Rose Wood Inlay artiste Luqman Khan was presented with the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay Viswakarma Award during an event organised by the Crafts Council of Karnataka at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bengaluru recently.
Crafts Council of Karnataka Chairperson Mangala Narasimhan, former Additional Chief Secretary Chiranjeev Singh and Crafts Council of Karnataka Treasurer Mir Shafi Farooq were present on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery>Photo News / August 31st, 2024
While Shah Rukh Khan talks a lot about his work, there are still some cool things about his life that many people might not know.
Shah Rukh Khan (Instagram)
Hyderabad:
Shah Rukh Khan, often called the Baadshah of Bollywood, has been a dominant figure in the film industry for many years, capturing hearts worldwide with his immense fan following. While he talks a lot about his work, there are still some cool things about his life that many people might not know.
One such lesser-known fact is about his childhood name and how he spent his early days in Hyderabad.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Name Was Abdul Rahman First!
During his appearance on The Anupam Kher’s Show—Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, Shah Rukh Khan shared a surprising detail about his childhood. King Khan disclosed that his Nani (maternal grandmother), had initially named him Abdul Rahman during his early years.
Shah Rukh Khan Childhood Pic (Image: X)
When asked by Anupam Kher if he knew anyone named Abdul Rahman, SRK replied, “Main jaanta kisi ko nahi hun lekin meri jo naani thi…aur unhone mera naam bachpan mein Abdul Rahman rakkha tha (I don’t know anyone but my maternal grandmother had named me Abdur Rehman in childhood).”
“Hann matlab kahi register nahi huwa lekin woh chahti thi ki mera naam Abdul Rahman rahe. Mujhe ajeeb sa laga abhi aap socho Baazigar starring Abdul Rahman in and as kuch jamta nahi. Shah Rukh Khan in and as Baazigar zada better sound karta hai (The name wasn’t registered anywhere but she wanted me to accept the name Abdul Rahman. I felt weird. Just imagine Baazigar starring Abdul Rahman in and as. It wouldn’t sound good. Shah Rukh Khan in and as Baazigar sounds better,)” he said.
Watch the video below.
source: youtube.com / The Anupam Kher Show | द अनुपम खेर शो | Shah Rukh Khan’s Work-Life Balance
‘Spent 4 years of my life in Tolichowki’
In a previous interview, SRK also mentioned being adopted by his grandmother due to the absence of a male child in the family at that time. He explained, “I was adopted by my grand mother because they did not had a boy in their family at that time. So, when I was born to my mother they adopted me. They used to live in Tolichowki, Hyderabad. I spent about 4 years of my life here. Then we shifted to Banglore. My mom was missing me so she took me back from her mother and we moved to Delhi. My mother’s house is in Hyderabad and my whole mother’s side of the family stays here.”
source: youtube.com / Shahrukh Khan Emotional Words About Hyderabad | Unseen Video | Manastars
SRK’s maternal roots in Hyderabad
Image Source: Twitter
Shah Rukh Khan was born on 2 November 1965 into a Muslim family in New Delhi. His mother Lateef Fatima Khan, who was a social worker, was born in Hyderabad and was the daughter of a senior government engineer. His father Meer Taj Mohammed Khan (a Pathan), was an Indian independence activist from Peshawar.
Image Source: Twitter
His Upcoming Projects
On the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan will start shooting for ‘King’ with Suhana Khan around the summer period. It is going to be directed by Sujoy Ghosh. After the wrap up, the actor will be all involved in Pathaan 2 and Tiger Vs Pathaan.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Rasti Amena X / February 28th, 2024
A view of the Indian Bank headquarters on Rajaji Salai / Photo : R. RAGU
The Indian Bank recently launched its commemoration of its 100th year of business. But this month’s centenary is that of the collapse of Arbuthnot & Co., out of whose ruins there arose the Indian Bank.
The story of Arbuthnot’s and the bank that it ran has been narrated in this column before. Late last year, as the centenary year began, one part of it – the legal proceedings that followed – were narrated in detail in “the first full-length book on this spectacular financial catastrophe”, The Fall of Arbuthnot & Co., by Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasan (EastWest Books). Today, I recall some of the key dates involved in the death of one bank and the birth of a new one.
It was on October 20, 1906, that P. Macfadyen, Arbuthnot’s correspondent and associate in Britain, committed suicide. On October 22, Arbuthnot’s petitioned the court to be declared insolvent and The Hindu reported that “a regular panic had taken hold of (the disappointed Creditors) and a rush was made to the High Court… “
V. Krishnaswami Aiyer, a young vakil at the time, taking his cue from a letter that had appeared in The Hindu, got together eight other like-minded persons and on November 2, 1906, they sent out a circular inviting the public’s views on the possibility of starting “a Native Bank in Madras”. Encouraged by the response they got, they called a public meeting on December 2 that was attended by 28 of the leading citizens of Madras. Out of these and subsequent deliberations emerged The Indian Bank Limited, registered on March 5, 1907 and opening its doors in Parry’s building on August 15th that year.
That Indian Bank was the second Indian bank to be established in Madras.
The first, the Madras Central Urban Cooperative Bank, was established on September 16, 1905. Other Indian banks, however, had been founded in the Madras Presidency before these two. They included the Tanjore Permanent Fund, now the Thanjavur Bank, started in 1901; the South Indian Bank, started in Tirunelveli in 1903; and the predecessor of the present City Union Bank, Kumbakonam, in 1904. Also predating the Indian Bank were the Canara Banking Corporation, Udipi, now the Corporation Bank, and the Canara Hindu Permanent Fund, now the Canara Bank, both started in 1906.
The eight who signed the circular Krishnaswami Aiyer drafted were :
H. Mohamed Abdul Azeez Badshah Saheb, Senior Partner of the firm with the same name andHony. Consul for Turkey; Muraleedoss; T. Seetharama Chetty, Senior Partner of Moses & Co.; M.A. Kuddus Badshah Saheb; M. Jamal Mohideen and Co.; V. Bashyam Iyengar, High Court vakil and a former Judge of the Court; and P.R. Sundara Iyer, High Court vakil.
When the Bank was floated, its first Directors included four of these signatories – Seetharama Chetty, Azeez Badshah, Muraleedoss (Ramdoss) and Krishnaswami Aiyer.
Their fellow Directors were Lodd Govindoss, C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar, a High Court vakil at the time; Dewan Bahadur M. Adinarayanan Iyer, retired Deputy Settlement Commissioner; and two Nattukottai Chettiars, Rm.M.St. Chidambaram Chettiar and Dewan Bahadur S.Rm.M. Ramaswamy Chettiar, representing the community which substantially funded the Bank.
Ramaswamy Chettiar was the elder brother of Annamalai Chettiar who was to receive the title Rajah and who was to play a major role in the bank in his later years.
Of the 74 Directors of Bank up to nationalisation in 1969, thirty were Nattukottai Chettiars.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu – The Metro Plus Chennai, Online edition / October 09th, 2006
Dr. Hafeez Rahman, Chairman of Sunrise Hospitals, will be honored with the prestigious 15th Manappuram Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award. The award ceremony is set to take place at the Le Meridien Hotel in Kochi on June 9th. With this accolade, Dr. Hafeez Rahman will join the exclusive Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF), the world’s richest club, where members have a minimum asset threshold of 1000 crores (Indian Rupees).
The FICF is a distinguished guild of MBA awardees, celebrating exceptional business minds. It aims to leverage their ideas for societal betterment, standing as an inspiration for entrepreneurs by representing outstanding business achievements and excellence, while actively contributing to social causes.
A globally renowned laparoscopic surgeon, Dr. Hafeez Rahman began his career in 1992. He founded the Sunrise Group of Hospitals in 2005, which now operates branches in both the UAE and India. Sunrise Hospital, a tertiary care multi-speciality hospital and prominent laparoscopic center in Kochi, is well-known for its community outreach programs in schools, villages, and civilian bodies, promoting preventive medicine and healthy lifestyles.
Previous recipients of the MBA Award include notable figures such as Shri V P Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukkas, M A Yusuf Ali, Shri T S Kalyanaraman, Shri P. N. C. Menon, Mr. Gokulam Gopalan, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Mr. M P Ramachandran, Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Sabu M Jacob, Dr. Viju Jacob, Dr. A V Anoop, Dr. Varghese Kurian, and Adv. Dr. P Krishnadas.
Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright
source: http://www.uniquetimes.org / Unique Times / Home> Business> Featured> Latest News / May 21st, 2024
Building a modest fashion empire is no cake walk. But 24-year-old designer, Shanaz Rukshana, the force behind The Hijab Company (THC) has been creating waves across the globe.
pix01
Chennai :
Building a modest fashion empire is no cake walk. But 24-year-old designer, Shanaz Rukshana, the force behind The Hijab Company (THC) has been creating waves across the globe. On the sidelines of the brand’s website launch, the young designer talks about expanding her clientele and her unique line of Hijabs.“The thought of breaking barriers and making the traditional Hijab both fashionable and affordable, was in the pipeline for a long time,” says Shanaz, who started THC in 2017.
With not many clothing stores catering to fashionistas like Shanaz, she decided to take up the task of adding style and sophistication to the traditional Hijabs, herself. “I was flooded with requests from women of all age groups asking for Hijabs that matched their outfit for an occasion/event. So, from fabric, colour, and embellishment to embroidery, I began exploring, experimenting and customising it. Everything is handpicked,” she explains.
Shanaz started catering to women in India, Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai. “After an exciting year of catering to all our clients, we have launched a website. This way the reach will be more. Anyone who wants to try their hands on some affordable modest fashion clothing can satisfy their needs,” she shares.
While many countries are rapidly moving away from outdated tropes and catching up with the trend of modest fashion, India’s response has been lukewarm.
But, Shanaz says she sees a bright future. “Fashion influencers are taking to social media to spread the word, and women want to explore more. Gone are the days when black was the go-to colour and burqas were what women wore to events. People have become open to the idea of experimenting and adding a pop of colour to the rich tradition and culture,” she says.
Shanaz believes in being open-minded in fashion, and otherwise. “We respect the views and suggestions of our customers, and work on projects keeping them in mind. Trends keep changing, so our line of Hijabs change accordingly. We have a mixed bag of exclusive Hijabs that are a reflection of our in-house fashion and also in line with the current trend,” she shares.
From georgette, soft chiffon with pearls, textured cotton to Jersey Hijabs, they make it all. Hijabs with pearls customised on different fabrics are in-house specialty. “The fabric is picked according to the weather of a city. We make sure it suits different climatic conditions. But, if a customer is inclined towards a specific material, we customise it,” she says.
The industry is seeing a world of change, especially with older women encouraging youngsters to explore different styles. “Since more people are travelling and are taking inspiration from places, people, and social media, there are no limitations. Progressive times are here and it is exciting to experiment,” she says. Shanaz dreams of expanding and opening physical stores across the globe. “It’s certainly a dream and a goal that I am working towards,” she adds.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Chennai / by Roshne Balasubramanian / August 30th, 2018
Walking through the by-lanes of Royapettah and neighbouring areas, historian Kombai Anwar reminds us of the rich history of Kanchens of Madras.
photos: wikipedia
Chennai :
A few months ago, through a decade-old documentary film, Other Song by writer and filmmaker Saba Dewan, I was introduced to a haunting thumri, Laagat karejwa mein chot, phool gendwa na maar (My heart is wounded, don’t throw flowers at me) by Sangeet Natak Akademi award recipient Rasoolan Bai. The film did little more than just trace the life and times of the thumri exponent. Through her lens, Saba attempted to rediscover strains of the original version of the said thumri, but with the lyrics, Laagat jobanwa mein chot, phool gendwa na maar (My ‘breasts’ are wounded, don’t throw flowers at me), documenting how the words of several such thumris have been changed over time to fit into the rather ‘sanitised’ cultural prism of the society.
In a fading canvas about beguiling melodies, a lost thumri and forgotten life, Saba brushed myriad hues of Rasoolan’s long-lost identity of being a tawaif (a courtesan who performed music and dance) and that of the forgotten existence of her ilk in the country. As I travelled along with Saba, through the bylanes of Lucknow, Muzzafarpur and Varanasi, collecting memories of a handful of former tawaifs and those from the lineage now living in anonymity and poverty, a parallel pursuit made me cognisant of the once-thriving (now non-existent) Kanchenwada — a locality which housed the kanchens (the elite among the tawaifs) — in the heart of Chennai. City-based academic and historian Kombai Anwar, who, over a decade ago, began his research on the tawaifs of Madras, walks us through their rich history and how they became an integral part of the cultural fabric of the city for almost three centuries.
A royal wedding “Years ago, when I was drafted into historian late S Muthiah’s Madras Gazetteer Project to write about the city’s Muslim history, I came across how Nawab Ghulam Ghouse Khan, the last Nawab of Carnatic, took Jahangir Baksh, a tawaif or Kanchen, as his second wife in 1848. This was unlike any royal wedding and it fascinated me. While I was aware that the history of the Arcot Nawabs was often interspersed with the richness of Hindustani arts, the depth of it remained unchartered,” he shares. The century-odd-old royal wedding of the titular Nawab drew an inquisitive Anwar, who then lived in Royapettah, to learn more about the tawaifs. “I used to take several walks in the neighbourhood, talk to old-timers and make inquiries about the tawaifs who once resided in the area. But, it was only after two years of waiting, did a door finally open. I was introduced to Makbhool Hussain, an elderly man who used to play the tabla for the kanchens who lived in the Jani Jahan Khan Road and it was conversations with him and a few other former residents and old-timers, that helped me put pieces of the city’s history and that of its tawaifs together,” shares Anwar.
In the 18th Century, Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah moved his durbar from Arcot to Madras. The court’s Hindustani musicians and dancers too followed him to the city, marking the beginning of the tawaif culture in the city, says Anwar. Over time, the locality next to Amir Mahal became the cradle to several kanchens. “A predominant number of dancers and musicians originated from Hubli-Dharwad and that is perhaps where the name Kanchen wada, which, in Marathi, means a locality or traditional complex, came about,” he details. But, it was not until about two decades after 1855, when the British East India Company annexed the Carnatic kingdom (and auctioned off the then official residence of the Nawabs — the Chepauk Palace), did the Nawabs of Arcot move into the Amir Mahal. “While curating an Arcot Nawab trail, I found a street named ‘Gana (music) Bhag Street’ adjacent to Star Theatre. So when the Nawabs lived in Chepauk Palace and the rest of the nobility along the Triplicane High Road, that could have been the neighbourhood where the courtesans were housed before they moved closer to Amir Mahal,” he suggests.
Stigma and survival The kanchens, known for their excellence in dance, music, poetry and their adab (etiquette), were held in high esteem that sometimes, those belonging to rich families, used to send their children to the Kanchenwada, to learn etiquette. “Kamala Bai, Haseena, Radha Bai, Nayab Jan Bai, Nazeeraa Banu, and Baby Bai, are some of the tawaifs, whom the old-timers remember fondly. And like their patrons, the tawaifs too belonged to different faiths and religions,” says Anwar, recalling his meeting with a former tawaif in Bengaluru. “She described in detail about how the entire street — from Zam Bazaar to the other end of the road, used to be dotted with vehicles to attend the mehfils or music gatherings,” he shares, elaborating about the lanes that once echoed with the ghazals of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi and Mirza Ghalib. Eventually, with films beginning to influence society, the kanchens too sang popular Hindi songs from Mughal-e-Azam (1960) to Kohinoor (1960) to keep up with the changing needs of their clientele.
But with cinema growing as a new avenue for entertainment, it had, by then, began catalysing the decline of patronage for the kanchens due to which, many stepped into the celluloid. From Nasreen Banu, a kanchen who migrated from Delhi to Madras post-partition, dancing in Paigham (1959); Baby Bai making a guest appearance in Gharana (1961) to Hindustani musicians like Ustad Ahmad Hussain Khan playing the sitar for Tamil film music composers, the performers of Kanchenwada, over time, began finding different platforms to flourish. However, with the showbiz booming and social values changing, the Kanchenwada was threatened of its survival. “Several moral drives began stigmatising them and in many ways, they were at the receiving end of harassment. The anti-nautch movement in the late 19th and 20th century, like its effect on the Devadasi system, had an impact on the tawaifs too. When cases were filed to deprive them of their practice, Kamala Bai, a kanchen from Madras, engaged MA Ghatala, a High Court lawyer, to represent them in the case. In 1958, the court ruled in their favour and this victory was celebrated with a party for Ghatala at a house near the Music Academy,” tells Anwar.
Despite the legal win, the tawaif culture in Madras, which thrived even over a century after Ghulam Ghouse Khan’s passing, came to an end when one of the leading performers, Baby Bai moved out of the Kanchenwada to get married and start a family. “Many others followed suit and by the 1970s, the 250-odd-year-old tradition in Madras came to an end,” says Anwar. Now, the Mir Bakshi Ali Street, Mohammed Hussain Street and Jani Jahan Khan Road, which once used to turn iridescent by its opulent patrons and come alive with the rhythm of the tabla and dholak, echoes of the harmonium, sarangi, sitar, and the jangles of the ghungroos, is dotted with bachelor mansions and shops, drowning its past in the cacophony of horns and traffic, leaving no trace of Kanchenwada.
Need for documentation With the wealth of academic scholarship on the subject in Madras close to zero, Anwar shares that the original research, which not only offers depth but is also sensitive to the complex cultural legacy of the tawaifs, is the way to preserve the stories of the community. “Here, we are talking about a community in Madras with a rich cultural history but nothing much has been done to document it. This is a reflection of our own poor history of documentation. For instance, Madras had a vital role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, but how many of us know about it? We need more serious researchers and academics who dig deep into such under reviewed aspects,” he shares.
As for the tawaifs of Madras, whose lives are now almost erased, the efforts of people like Anwar and Saba are, perhaps, the beginning of a long journey in searching for and documenting not just a forgotten tune but of a tradition lost in time.
Learning etiquette The kanchens, known for their excellence in dance, music, poetry and their adab (etiquette), were held in high esteem that sometimes, those belonging to rich families, used to send their children to the Kanchenwada, to learn etiquette.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Chennai / by Roshne Balasubramanian / January 19th, 2021
The trade, commerce, politics, and history of south India have been shaped by several powerful individuals and families.
The proprietor of the mica mines examines the accounts at the Kuddusabad camp
Chennai :
The trade, commerce, politics, and history of south India have been shaped by several powerful individuals and families. Among the names that made it to the list, the Badsha family — members of the Urdu Muslim mercantile elite — were one of the leaders in extending business relationships to places like Arabia, Egypt and Japan.
In a tete-a-tete with the fourth-generation descendants, Faiz Badsha Sayeed and Faud Badsha Sayeed, we find out more about perhaps one of the oldest families to establish a strong base in Triplicane, their life in the Madras Presidency and their omnipresence in south Indian history.
Hand-drawn carts were taken up hills and through jungles to reach the mica mines
By 1819, Haji Mohammed Badsha Sahib established their family firm — a textile company, Messrs H Mohammed Badsha Sahib & Co.
By the early 20th century, the family also became leading importers of Manchester cotton goods and exported indigo, tamarind, mica and Madras cotton piece goods to Britain. “He was one of the richest businessmen in South…he was also giving and god fearing. If we, his great-grandchildren are doing well in life, I believe it is because of all the good deeds our ancestors did,” he said, adding that his great-grandfather, was also known as ‘Mallikutujar’, the head of merchants.
He hands us a picture of a man clad in a tunic and turban, and says, “That’s our grandfather, MA Khuddus Badsha Sahib, the seventh son of Haji Mohammed Badsha. My grandfather and his brother Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib, were born in the building located in Vallabha Agraharam Street — the Broadlands lodging house which was previously the Turkish Consulate in Madras. Our great grandfather built it in the 1800s,” shares Faiz with a child-like enthusiasm.
After H Mohammed Badsha Sahib’s retirement in the early 1870s, his sons took over his business. The duo, Abdul Azeez Badsha and Khuddus Badsha, served as the Consul and Vice-Consul at the Turkish Consulate in Madras and were popularly known as the ‘Badsha brothers’ and epitomised leadership. “My grandfather purchased the area constituting Triplicane-Wallajah Road, Khas Mahal – ‘The Old palaces of Nawabs’ while Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib purchased the entire Gemini complex. Some of the fourth-generation descendants still live in and around the area,” he says.
Faiz shares that Khuddus Badhsa owned a piece of land in Mecca. “Unlike Azeez Badsha, my grandfather never performed the Haj but, he sent my grandmother along with my father to perform the Haj. After they returned, she fell ill and requested my grandfather to build a tap in the zamzam well in Mecca. After a lot of back and forth through telegrams, the tap was finally built and shortly after that, my grandmother passed away. That was probably her last wish,” he says.
He hands us a sheet which reads, ‘No more loyal subject of the King-Emperor or more respected Member of the Mohammadan Community will be the guest of the Madras government at Delhi for the Imperial Coronation Durbar’. “Our grandfather was invited to the Imperial Durbar between the late 19th century and early 20th century. He, along with his brother, actively took part in several organisations and they were philanthropists,” he says. The Government of India even conferred Azeez Badsha Sahib with the title of ‘Khan Bahadur’ in recognition of his public services.
From being the trustee of the Madras Port Trust, vice-president of the South Indian Chamber of Commerce to the vice-president of the South Indian Athletics Association, Khuddus Badsha wore many hats. “He was also one of the founders of the Indian bank,” shares Faud.
Khuddus Badsha bought thousands of acres of land across the south. While some were turned to cultivation lands or passed on to the next generation, most are under court litigation. “After land reforms and the abolition of zamindari system, a huge portion of the land was taken by the government,” he says.
Over the years, the descendants have shown little evidence of their past glory, living a simple and unassuming life. “My father and his siblings took to other professions.
He was a doctor and one of his siblings was a barrister, who was tutored by Dr Radhakrishnan!
We have our daily jobs and live a normal yet happy life. We have learned to work hard and be giving, especially towards those who are less privileged,” shares Faiz.
Mica business Khuddus Badsha possessed several ‘Shrotriems’, ‘Jaghris’, diamond mines and was a pioneer in the mica industry. He owned mines in Pinnamitta, Chennur and Khuddusabad, a village in Nellore district named after him. “Mica exhibitions were curated, and he also ran a Mica showroom in Triplicane. The Wallajah Mosque compound is where the factory/mica workshop manufactured mica daily basis. We even found bits of Mica in the house’s well,” shares Faiz.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Chennai / by Roshne Balasubramanian / September 27th, 2013
Step into a time capsule as we walk you through the four-generation history of Triplicane’s Broadlands hotel, which was once the Turkish Consulate in Madras.
Chennai :
On an evening rush hour, I am standing amid the choked Triplicane high road — a concrete jungle with nothing but chaos, that’s often romanticised as ‘glorious traffic’. Trying to find my way to a famous heritage hotel, a haven for weary travellers from across the globe, I walk across the ‘burqa’ shops and hotels and a few minutes later, I reach ‘Broadlands’ lodging house, located in the quaint Vallabha Agraharam street. Standing in front of the facade of the unassuming building erected in the 19th century, we are welcomed by a board mounted on the wall right above the sit out, which reads: ‘Welcome, Namaste! Traveller!’.
As soon as we enter the building, it seems like we have stepped inside a time capsule — multiple courtyards, shutter windows and doors, stained glasses from a bygone era, antique furniture, crumbling lime plaster walls and a comforting blue, green and pink paint give us a welcoming taste of its old world charm. An enthusiastic staff member welcomes us and while we wait to meet its owner, the friendly banter of the guests keeps us engaged.
Clad in a red t-shirt and jeans, Krishna Rao, the third generation owner of the lodge welcomes us in. “My grandfather was from Andhra but had strong business ties here,” he says. According to Krishna, the building came into the family’s possession as part of a business deal or a bank auction. “Unfortunately, most Indian families have neglected to educate the next generations about their origins and history. So, what I know of this building’s history is very limited,” he explains.
Krishna Rao’s family came into possession of the building in 1951 from the ‘Badsha’ family, post which it was converted into a hostel and later into a lodge. “Law college students used to stay here when it was a hostel. Many even went on to become Supreme Court judges in the 90s and 2000s. This building is now a part of our family’s legacy and we haven’t changed anything here. Everything is intact, just like how we got it. With occasional maintenance and renovation work, the building is in great condition,” he beams as he walks us through the building.
Paintings and photographs from travellers are mounted on walls and as we progress from one courtyard to another (of a total three), it’s evident that the house gets bigger as we go further. “The current entrance of the building used to be the back or servant entrance before we took over the building. The main entrance opens to the big mosque but, we have always kept that closed. That’s why this part of the building is bigger,” he explains as we go up the labyrinth staircase.
“We really don’t know what the original history of the building is. Perhaps the previous owners could shed light on that,” he says, as we stand on the terrace of the building, watching the sunset, with a view of the big mosque, LIC building, Secretariat and Raheja Towers.
As questions of the larger part of the origin of the building shroud us, Krishna Rao offers us the number of a 66-year-old Faiz Badsha Sayeed, a fourth generation descendant of the Badsha family.A couple of phone calls later, along with Krishna, we land at the house of Faiz, in Triplicane.
Seated in the hall with a stack of old photographs, a trade book about the family’s Mica business, Faiz along with his elder brother Faud walk us through the history of the building, which once was a link between Madras and Turkey. The now Broadlands was once the ‘Le Consulat de Turquie a Madras’ or the Turkish Consulate in Madras! Faiz narrates, “Our great grandfather Haji Mohammed Badsha Sahib is where the family root began. He was a very ‘normal man’ but, he got lucky when a piece of cloth, possibly indigo dyed, fetched him a fortune from Britain.”
The history of the building which once opened its gates to foreign dignitaries is lost somewhere in time. “We are old and there’s only so much we can recollect about its history. We hope that the next generation takes it up and tries to document more about the heritage of the building and the family,” says Faiz, as he shows us a vintage picture of the consulate in all its glory, taken from the main entrance. “It’s funny that we have never been inside the building. We would like to visit Broadlands someday,” smiles Faiz looking at Krishna as he gives an affirming nod.
Trivia
Haji Mohammed Badsha went on to become one the richest businessman in South India and founded the Messrs H Mohammed Badsha Sahib & Co, a leading textile firm. “He was the one who built this building back in the 1800s. It was also his personal residence and my grandfather MA Khuddus Badsha Sahib and his brother Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib were born in that building,” shares Faiz about his grandfather Khuddus, who was the seventh son of Mohammed Badsha. “He was also one of the founders of the Indian Bank and served as the Vice-Consul at the Turkish Consulate in Madras. This is just the tip of the iceberg Berg, he wore several hats,” beams Faiz.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Travel / by Roshne Balasubramanian / March 24th, 2018
