The Centre’s activities started with the celebrated writer William Dalrymple’s inaugural lecture on the important topic of Syncretic Civilization of the Deccan held on 11th September 2012. The lecture has broken new ground in terms of historical scholarship and speaks about many finer nuances of Deccan’s syncretic culture. It was pictorially illustrated, translated into Urdu and brought out as a monograph in both English and Urdu. It also forms the first publication of the H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies.

The second event was organised on Deccani Miniature Paintings on 27th November 2012 in which the internationally renowned artist Jatin Das gave a lecture on the said theme. According to him the Deccani Miniature Paintings carry the influence of Persian and Kalamkari arts. They are distinguished by the absence of ornate border but at the same time have brilliant colours. He firmly opined that the master pieces of this art form should be saved and restored for posterity. Dr. Salma Farooqui, Director of H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, presented a historical perspective of these paintings in the form of a powerpoint presentation.

Former Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri. M.M. Pallam Raju laid the Foundation Stone of the H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies building on 31st December 2012. Describing the Deccan as a ‘unique geographical location with a unique history and culture’, he said that the Centre for Deccan Studies will play an instrumental role in inter-disciplinary research of the region. He also suggested that a museum should come up at the Centre to display everything distinctively Deccan.

The Centre invited Prof. Rudi Matthee, Munroe Professor of History from the University of Delaware, USA who delivered a lecture on Historical Connections: Iran and the Deccan on 9th January 2013.

The Centre for Deccan Studies in association with Spic Macay and the Australia-India Council also organized a talk by John Zubrzycki, a critically acclaimed writer journalist presently the world commentary editor at the Australian newspaper in Sydney on Weaving Together History and Biography of the Nizams on 1st February 2013. Mr. Zubrzycki said there was tremendous development in education, industry, economy and business in the state of Hyderabad under the Nizams which was unparalleled and stressed the importance of conserving the rich heritage of Hyderabad.

The Centre completed a major research study titled A Cartographic Profile of the Deccan which has put together 135 maps and nautical charts produced by map-makers, hydrographers and foreign travellers some as old as 900 years and some as young as only a 100 years in 10 different languages - Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, German, Italian, Latin, Catalan, Chinese and Arabic. Janab Najeeb Jung, Lt. Governor of Delhi released the book in English and Urdu versions on 20th September 2013 at Hyderabad. The book gains significance and has generated lot of interest since there is no historical atlas of the Deccan till date.

Keeping upto its mandate, the Centre has also organised a play Quli Dilon ka Shahzaada on formation of Hyderabad by the famous Qadir Ali Baig Foundation on 13th February 2014 at 7 p.m. at the amphitheatre of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University. The play, in Urdu language, featured the legendary love story of Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah and Bhagmati in the form of a dialogue accompanied by choreographed shadow dance, period sets and costumes, live Qawwali with nazms and Urdu/Persian verses written by Prince Quli Qutb Shah himself. The play lasted for 65 minutes and was well attended by an audience of over one thousand which included distinguished personalities from different walks of life.

The Centre held an important awareness meeting on 3rd June 2014 on restoration of Qutb Shahi Tombs in which Ratish Nanda, the noted Indian conservation architect who is leading the works at the Qutb Shahi Tombs heritage complex as the Project Director of Aga Khan Trust for Culture gave a presentation of the ongoing works. The discussion forum was presided over by the former Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Mohammad Miyan. It was attended by eminent conservation architects, heritage experts, engineers, and academics, representatives from the US Consulate, administrators, bureaucrats, media persons and social activists interested in conservation and heritage management.

10-Day Archaeology Workshop

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies in association with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, New Delhi jointly organized a 10-day Archaeology Workshop at Qutb Shahi tombs from 24th November to 3rd December 2014 for the students of the Dept. of History, MANUU to introduce the undergraduate students to archaeological methods and train them in public archaeology and cultural resource management. During the workshop, the students were taught about archaeology and its techniques by eminent archaeologists, historians and conservationists. The workshop provided the students with detailed knowledge of the concepts, methods, and equipments of archaeology as well as management of archaeological heritage.

The students were made part of the excavations that are being carried out by Aga Khan Trust for Culture to trace the layout of the royal necropolis complex that was built in the 16th century. These excavations are aimed at unearthing the pathways, water works and gardens which were part of this complex. During the practical sessions the students were trained in locating an archaeological site, establishing survey parameters, exploring the contents of the site, evaluating the data collected and documenting the findings. The students also performed the duties as tourist guides and guided the visitors to Qutb Shahi tombs.

Mr. K.K. Muhammed, renowned archaeologist and Project Archaeological Director of Aga Khan Trust for Culture, delivered a series of lectures on various aspects of archaeology like types of archaeology, exploration, excavation and conservation of archaeological sites, human evolution, migration patterns, nature of settlements, dating methods, pottery types, artefact identification and bone analysis, etc.

Prof. Sanjay Subodh of University of Hyderabad explained the technology of hydrology and hamams of the Qutb Shahis which is a testimony to the advanced hydrological and thermodynamic engineering skills of the builders. Prof. K.P. Rao, renowned archaeologist and professor of History at the University of Hyderabad explained the worldwide phenomenon of erecting huge stone monuments called ‘megaliths’ which is an intriguing aspect for archaeologists. He also explained the usage of technology in archaeological excavations by giving an example of how Geographic Information System (GIS) is helping in digital mapping of archaeological sites. Mr. Ch. Babji Rao, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Hyderabad Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India explained archaeological source material, aims of archaeological excavations, dating methods, grid patterns, etc.

Release of A Lexicon of Deccani Terms

The H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, keeping up with its commitment to research and value added empiricism in academics came out with its second research work titled A Lexicon of Deccani Terms, wherein an attempt has been made to give an alphabetical listing of terms that have been used in Deccan’s domain of knowledge with their meanings. The book was released by Janab Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Hon’ble Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Govt. of India in the presence of Prof. Ved Prakash, Chairman, University Grants Commission and Prof. Mohammad Miyan, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and other distinguished guests. The book has listed out around ten thousand words and terms in various languages associated with the Deccan from Urdu, English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Prakrit (terms related to the Satavahanas, later rulers and Kakatiyas), Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil (terms related to the Vijayanagar period), Kannada and Marathi.

International Scholar Joins the Centre

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies entered into an international collaboration with the Association for the Study of Persianate Societies (ASPS) for a Travel cum Research Grant ASPS/MANUU VISITING SCHOLAR FELLOWSHIP in 2013. Dr. Karen Ruffle, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Religious Studies, University of Toronto, Canada was selected as the inaugural research scholar for the fellowship for 2014-15. She will be attached to the Centre for a period of six months and would be working on the project proposal Somatic Shiism: The Body in Deccani Shii Material and Ritual Practice.

ICOMOS Meeting

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) India, the scientific advisor to UNESCO on world heritage matters, held their Annual General Body Meeting at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad on 22nd March, 2015. ICOMOS constituted a Working Group on Training to formulate an approach document for the H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies for setting up of a Documentation Centre and Conservation Studio for heritage management at the Centre. This would include establishment of archives, library, museum and a laboratory for scientific investigation

Release of Trading Network of the Deccan

The research study titled Trading Network of the Deccan offers a fascinating narrative of Deccan’s trading practices since ancient times. Comprising of five chapters the research study focuses on the complex world of the Indian Ocean, origin of mercantile communities, movement of material commodities, emergence of ports and trading centres on the eastern and western coasts of the Deccan, trade routes and the support of the Deccani States towards trade. The research study was released by eminent jurist and writer Janab A.G. Noorani and the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, MANUU, Dr. Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz on 21st January 2016 at MANUU campus.

Lecture by Janab A.G. Noorani

Mr.A.G.Noorani, eminent jurist delivered a talk about a very crucial period in Indian history that changed the destiny of a State – Hyderabad – that was envied the world over. The lecture was titled Relations between Delhi and Hyderabad 1947-1948. He said while referring to the events and circumstances that prevailed between 1947 and 1948, the former Princely State of Hyderabad was a tragedy in the making from the very beginning which could have been avoided by not putting into action Operation Polo or what is popularly called Police Action. The lecture was held on 21st January 2016 at MANUU campus.

Lecture and Powerpoint Presentation by Dr.N.Taher, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Hyderabad Circle

The H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies organized a lecture by Dr. N. Taher, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Hyderabad Circle on the theme of Personality of a Monument: A Case Study of St. Augustine Complex in Deccan’s Old Goa on 22nd September 2016. The lecture was significant for it encompassed facets of different disciplines such as archaeology, history, genetics, and chemistry reflecting the multi-disciplinary character of academics that the Centre focuses upon.

International Symposium on Networks in the Deccan on 30th-31st January 2017

The H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies organized an international symposium on the theme Networks in the Deccan on 30th-31st January 2017. In an India whose historiography is dominated by North-Indian studies, recognition of the many cosmopolitan connections of the Deccan is reassuring to scholars and Deccani enthusiasts. It not only displays remarkable heritage of the region, but is a testimony to Deccan’s intellectual life of today.

The overarching theme ‘Networks’ was chosen carefully to encompass historical, cultural and commercial connectivity in the region. What resulted was a celebration of diversity that aims to establish enduring linkages with various faculties working on dynamic aspects of the Deccan. The convergence of scholars, both Indian and foreign, from multiplicity of backgrounds who have an intensive understanding of the Deccan – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa threw up many new themes of research in the Deccan like the sluice system in medieval Bijapur, military techniques used in warfare, use of forts other than for defence purpose, commercial and cultural links with South East Asia, positioning of artisan communities etc.

There were talks and presentations ranging from locating Deccan in the global context emphasizing the periodic wars and the shifts in which ethnic-religious groups held power, the talks in art history, architecture, commerce, and language which show the interplay of communities and the synthesis of multiple traditions that characterizes the Deccan in between and perhaps even during the conflicts.

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies and Association for the Study of Persianate Societies jointly organized a one-day seminar on the theme Revival of Historic Water Management Systems in the Deccan on 1st November 2021. The seminar threw new light on water harnessing technology prevalent in the Deccan. It was chaired by Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, MANUU and the chief guest was Shri Arvind Kumar, IAS Special Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Government of Telangana & Director General, National Institute of Urban Management (NIUM). The seminar was coordinated by Prof. Salma Ahmed Farooqui, and Dr.A Subash, H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU.

A Two Day Webinar on the theme Socio-Cultural Assimilation and Creation of Native Identity Through Food Practices (With Special Reference to the Deccan) was organised by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) under their current year’s 2019-2020 alumni award competition on the theme of social inclusion and economic development on 16th and 17th December 2020 in the online mode. The webinar had a host of speakers with wide ranging expertise on the various topics presented by them. Eminent academicians, culinary experts, food lovers and researchers enriched the deliberations with their knowledge and created a platform for debating academic and societal issues concerning integration of various social groups through their respective food variants and food practices leading to cultural assimilation and creation of native identity. Prof. Salma Ahmed Farooqui, the recipient of the Fulbright-Nehru alumni award and Professor, H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU coordinated the webinar. She was assisted by Dr.A Subash Assistant Professor, H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU.

A workshop was held on 10th March 2021 of project Samatha, an AEIF Fulbright Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Project sponsored by US Department of State for 2019-2021 titled Gender Sensitization and Training of Teachers in Government and Private Schools in Low Income Areas. It’s an inter institutional collaboration between Dr.Himani Gupta, Managing Trustee Managing Kriti Social Initiatives Hyderabad, Prof. Aparna Rayaprol Dept of Sociology University of Hyderabad, Prof. Salma Farooqui H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies Maulana Azad National Urdu University Hyderabad, Prof. Usha Raman Dept of Communication University of Hyderabad.

Special Lecture by Prof. Betül Başaran The online Special Lecture by Prof. Betül Başaran, Professor of History and Coordinator of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at St. Mary’s College of Maryland was organised by H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies on 31st January 2022. The lecture was a preview of Prof. Betül Başaran’s research on the legacy and impact of Princess Niloufer (1916-1989) and primarily focused on politics, religion and agency of Muslim women in pre-modern Hyderabad state. She spoke about “ethical patrimonialism” which challenged the existing social structure of those times and supported the Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan’s modernising agenda. The crux of her lecture was to bring out the role of elite women as global active agents empowering the underprivileged women for better social status, education and medical facilities.The lecture was well attended by academicians and prominent people from across the world.

Rock Walk-cum-Workshop The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies and the Society to Save Rocks, Hyderabad organised a Rock Walk-cum-Workshop on 20th March 2022 (Sunday) with the objective of bringing awareness among the students of MANUU about the rich rock formations in the campus which have been notified as heritage rocks. These rocks also formed natural ponds and are home to a variety of flora and fauna that need to be protected for posterity. The walk was followed by lectures on geological diversity of the Deccan and the rich rock legacy of the region by Prof. A.C. Narayana (Dept. of Geology, University of Hyderabad), Ms. Kobita Dass Kolli (Botanist), Prof. Praveen Raj Saxena (Dept. of Geochemistry, Osmania University). Speaking to the students, Prof. Fatima Ali Khan, President, and Ms. Frauke Quader, Secretary and their team from the Society to Save Rocks said the aim of the walk is to preserve and protect the spectacular ancient granite formations of the Deccan Plateau. The Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, MANUU, Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan said on the occasion that such activities among the student community should be encouraged. The walk was coordinated by Prof. Salma Ahmed Farooqui, Director, and Dr. A. Subash, Assistant Professor, H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU.

World Water Day In collaboration with the School of Sciences, the H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies celebrated World Water Day by organizing a program on the theme “Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible” which was held at DDE auditorium, MANUU on 22nd March 2022. This program was organised as part of Series 2 of the Historic Water Management Systems in the Deccan with a special focus on Bidar, Bijapur, and Aurangabad. The first of the three lectures on the occasion was delivered by Dr. Govindankutty, Assistant Professor of Geography, Government College, Palakkadu, Kerala on the theme Deccani Qanats: Historic Urban Water Supply Systems of Medieval India where he traced the evolution of qanat system in Deccan. The second lecture by Shri Vedakumar Manikonda, Chairman, Deccan Heritage Academy, Hyderabad and Governing Council Member, INTACH, New Delhi on the theme Conservation of Historical Water Bodies in Hyderabad City threw light on water system and loss of water bodies in Hyderabad city. The third lecture was by Dr V.M. Tiwari, Director NGRI and IICT on Heli-borne Geophysics: A Boon in Making the Invisible Groundwater Visible who spoke about the dependency on groundwater for various human activities. Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, MANUU, in his presidential remarks focussed on the important task of saving water to meet the challenge of water scarcity.

Online Lecture

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies organized an online lecture on “The Architectural Splendour of Hampi” by Shri. T.M. Keshava, former Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bengaluru Circle on 14th June 2022. The seminar threw new light on the architecture of Hampi. Under the Vijaynagara regime, the Hampi flourished and became one of the largest cities in the medieval era. The speaker took the participants through the breathtaking architecture details of the city. The majestic temples, aquatic structures, pillared halls, and royal complexes were well explained through the slides. While most of the buildings in the Hampi region were Hindu temples and complexes that predominantly followed the South Indian or Dravidian style of architecture, among the ruins are also the remains of Jain, Indo-Islamic and Buddhist constructions.

Historical Play

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, Maulana Azad National Urdu University organised a historical play ‘Savaan-e-Hayat’ on 3rd October 2022, 7.30 pm at Open Air Auditorium as part of the Silver Jubilee Year celebrations of the university. The play was performed by the internationally acclaimed Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation and is based on the biography of Queen Hayat Bakshi Begum, who ruled Golconda in the 17th century. The play saw a massive audience and was full house attended by students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the university and a very large august gathering of eminent people from the city. The chief guest of the event was Janab Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Minister of Home, Government of Telangana while Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan sahab, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, MANUU presided over the program. In his address Janab Mohammed Mahmood Ali spoke about the cultural ethos and peace loving nature of the people from this region which has been inherited as a legacy generation to generation. Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan started his comments by saying that he has seen a play of such high calibre after several years and he specially thanked Centre for Deccan Studies for taking the lead in bringing to the university such a fine cultural event.

Interactive Meet

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies has organised an interactive meet with on the theme “Marmaduke Pickthall’s Hyderabad Connection” by Mr. Samuel Bartlett is Ph.D Scholar at Royal Holloway University of London working under the supervision of Prof. Francis Robinson on 17th October 2022. The meet was attended by scholars, faculty and history enthusiasts.  The session was interactive and new information came to light about Marmaduke Pickthall and his contribution to Islamic culture and his Hyderabad relationship.

MoU between H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH)

The H.K.Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) have signed a MoU on 06.06.2023 to jointly work on the emerging area of science and heritage with a long-term vision to develop sustainable interactions between the institutes in the areas of technology interventions for tangible and intangible heritage documentation, and its preservation and dissemination.

Webinar

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU have signed a MoU with Society for Indian Ocean Studies (SIOS), Delhi on 16.11.2022. The SIOS is a think tank comprising eminent bureaucrats, academicians, technology experts and senior retired defence personnel. As an initial collaborative program, the Centre organised twin lectures (online) on Indian Ocean littoral on 07.06.2023. The first lecture was by Ms. Hema Devare on “A Dialogue in Textile Traditions between the Deccan and South East Asia”. This was followed by another lecture by Prof. Radhika Seshan on “Ports and Hinterlands: Connecting the Deccan and the Indian Ocean World”.

Inauguration of Omar Halidi Hall and One Day Conference on “Revisiting Brand Hyderabad’s Cultural Legacy”

H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies and the U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad jointly organised the inauguration of the Omar Khalidi Hall and a conference on “Revisiting Brand Hyderabad’s Cultural Legacy” on 15.06.2023. It marked the celebration of the birth anniversary of Dr. Omar Khalidi as a befitting tribute to his scholarship on Deccan. The Omar Khalidi Hall has huge collection of books, manuscripts in different languages donated by the Khalidi family that stays in the U.S. A large number of eminent personalities from Hyderabad, faculty, and researchers attended the conference.

In the inauguration of the Omar Khalidi Hall and the conference that followed, Ms. Jennifer Larson, USCG Hyderabad said “it was an honour to inaugurate the Omar Khalidi Hall, and dedicate the Hyderabad born American scholar’s rich collection of rare books to the library at H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, MANUU.” She also said, “I congratulate the MANUU staff for their amazing work preserving his legacy.” In his presidential remarks, Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Vice Chancellor, MANUU spoke about the nostalgia that the book collection evokes in the people of Hyderabad and the value it will hold for researchers who are working in various fields of Deccan studies. 

Two-Day Workshop on “Reading Inscriptions and Manuscripts of the Deccan”

The H.K. Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies has organised two-day workshop on “Reading Inscriptions and Manuscripts of the Deccan” on 20th & 21st February 2024 for the post-graduate students and research scholars of Departments of Persian and History of the University. The inaugural session was chaired by Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Kalyani and University of Allahabad and Honorary Vice Chancellor, Noble International University, Toronto, Canada. The eminent speakers at the workshop included Prof. Syed Najaf Haider, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Dr. Muntazir Ali, Assistant Epigraphist, Archaeological Survey of India, Nagpur Circle; and Dr. E. Siva Nagi Reddy, Historian, Epigraphist and CEO PLEACH India Foundation. Fifty students have been registered for the workshop which was aimed at teaching them about various aspects of cataloguing and imparting practical training in transcription, collation and critical editing of inscriptions and manuscripts of the Deccan. Prof. Shugufta Shaheen, Officer on Special Duty-I, MANUU was the Guest of Honour for the valedictory session. She also distributed certificates for the students.