By VVS Laxman
Apart from our victories with the
Indian cricket team, the greatest joy I have derived from my travels is when I experience the genuine warmth and admiration with which people talk about our city of Hyderabad.
I consider myself blessed to have been born here, and to have grown alongside the city. From being traditionalists, we have now embraced the modern without sacrificing our innate values. Modernism hasn’t come at the expense of the essence that defines Hyderabad. That’s something we all can take great pride in.
During my early years, Hyderabad was a quiet place dotted by lots of greenery, plenty of parks and numerous playgrounds. Like so many of us, I too was witness to the evolution of the city as a major
IT destination once the information technology boom hit our country, and Hyderabad became one of the most preferred choices for various reasons.
Hyderabad’s hospitality is legendary, and as people from different parts of the country and the world came here to make a life for themselves, we welcomed them with open arms and an inclusivity which makes us unique. In my early days, despite my vegetarianism, I could feast on the wide range of both Hyderabadi and South Indian food. Today, with the influx of people from all corners of the globe, the choice of cuisine has mushroomed beyond imagination, immediately putting newcomers at ease. We are still the land of Irani chai and tie biscuit, but if we so desire, we can pick from the most exotic of cuisines as well.
I am particularly delighted at the rapid strides we have made in the fields of education and medicine. Our academic institutions are second to none, and because we offer exceptional healthcare at affordable prices, Hyderabad also attracts medical tourists in their thousands.
Alongside education, technology and healthcare, we have improved our sporting infrastructure exponentially. The plethora of sporting champions to have come out of Hyderabad in various disciplines, particularly in the last three decades, is testament to the systems we have in place. When I see Sania, Saina, Sindhu, Mithali and Gagan light up the world stage, I feel a warm glow. We are all Indians first, of course, but we are also Hyderabadis and to see many of our own dominate their respective disciplines is wonderful.
We owe a massive thank you to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation for ensuring that despite growing numbers, Hyderabad continues to be a clean city. Having said that, I would appeal to my friends to be more patient and disciplined when it comes to road sense. Everyone is in a hurry, but with a little consideration and empathy when we are behind the wheels, we can make our great city even better. I for one can’t wait for metro rail service to commence operations which, I feel, will ease our traffic woes to a great extent.
Charminar and Golconda Fort remain our greatest attractions, and the most obvious confirmation of Hyderabad’s growth lies in the Outer Ring Road and our beautifully maintained airport that is easily among the best in the world. The historical monuments and modern infrastructure perfectly sum up the coexistence of the ancient and the modern, and symbolize everything that Hyderabad is.
