Hyderabad - Its History & Heritage

The Diamonds of Golconda: History, Famous Gems, and Forgotten Fortunes 🪨 Origins of Diamond Mining in Golconda Ancient Beginnings India was the only known source of diamonds until the 18th century, and the Golconda region in the Deccan Plateau played a central role.  References to diamond mining in this region appear in ancient Sanskrit texts as early as 300 BCE , highlighting its longstanding importance in global gem history. 📖 Source: Southern Jewelry News The Diamond Belt of the Deccan The diamond-rich region historically known as Golconda spanned over 210 miles in length and 95 miles in width , covering large parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh .  This area included legendary mines like Kollur and Paritala. 📖 Source: GIA 4Cs 👑 Qutb Shahi Dynasty and the Rise of the Diamond Trade Strategic Rule (1518–1687) The Qutb Shahi dynasty , which ruled from Golconda, transformed the region into a powerful political and commercial hub.  Their admin...

Sughra Humayun Mirza (1882–1958), also known as Begum Sughra, was a pioneering Urdu novelist, social reformer, and traveler from Hyderabad, India.  Picture Credit uniquelytelangana Introduction  Sughra Humayun Mirza is recognized as one of Hyderabad's first female novelists, having authored 14 major novels.  ( Sughra Humayun Mirza - Wikipedia ) Pic credit -  Siasat Picture Early Life and Education Born in December 1882 in Hyderabad during the reign of Nizam Asaf Jahi VI, Sughra hailed from an educated Shia Muslim family. Her father, Dr. Safdar Ali Mirza, was a Captain-Surgeon in the Nizam’s Army, and her mother, Maria Begum, was a renowned scholar of Arabic and Persian. Sughra received home tutoring in Persian and Urdu, fostering her literary interests from a young age. ( Begum Sughra Humayun Mirza: Renowned Urdu Novelist And A Social ... , Hyderabad’s Sughra Humayun Mirza has set an example via dedicated work ) Literary Contributions S...

History of Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad, India: Founded in 1866 : Initially established as Afzal Gunj Hospital during the rule of the 6th Nizam , Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Pasha. Farman (Order) of the Seventh Nizam of Hyderabad Deccan, dated the 26th of Shaban 1336 Hijri/ 9th June, 1918,sanctioning an amount of Rs 18 lakhs, Osmania Sicca, towards the construction of the Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad.Image - courtesy of the Telangana State Archives. Renamed in 1910s : The hospital was later renamed Osmania General Hospital after Mir Osman Ali Khan , the 7th Nizam, who envisioned a modern medical facility for the public. Inaugurated in 1925 : The current building, known for its Indo-Saracenic architectural style, was completed and inaugurated in 1925 under the Nizam's reign. 1925 - interior view.  Pic Credit - MIT Dome Designed by Vincent Esch : The iconic structure was designed by British architect Vincent Esch , also known for designin...