Topics for discussion: Nizam, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Defence of India, Hyderbad
Deccan Chronicle, 1st June 2014, Sunday Edition, Page No. 9, published an extract from a book titled: HYDERABAD IMAGES AND MEMORIES, Text by A.T. Jayanti, Hard Cover Rs. 2,000/- and soft cover Rs. 1,500, pp 160. Deccan Chronicle seems to be the publisher of the book.
D.C. gave the title THE RICH LEGACY OF NIZAMS to the excerpts. The excerpts contained some succulant anecdotal texts worth reading.
The book seems worth reading, particularly by the students, aficionados and connoisseurs of Indian History. It has great educational value. But for a 160 page book the price tag is very high, considering that printing and publication of photos have become very easy and that there is no need of manual composing or block making. I hope the author and publisher will endeavor to reduce the price and make it available to all the Indians. They can have a separate dollar price for exports.
If price is not reduced, there is also a danger of somebody scanning it and placing it on internet for free distribution, though it may be a piracy. If such persons reside in remote country with bizarre laws, it will be difficult to claim compensation. Better to maximise profit by following the economic text book principle of MR = MC. Rising the turnover by reducing price will equalise the MR with MC.
About Nizam's polygamy
The excerpts did not throw much light on the popular belief that Nizam had 3000 wives. Of course, the published photo is good.
About Princess Niloufer establishing the Niloufer Hospital for Women
The anecdote is very good. Though I lived in Hyderabad for about a decade, I could never hear the underlying story behind the Niloufer Hospital.
About Mr. Osman Ali Khan donating 5000 kgs. of gold to Defence of India Fund, when approached by Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965.
I am delighted to read that a Nizam notorious for his stinginess donated 5 tons of gold to Defence of India. The info. is more delightful because the same Nizam was coerced through Police Action to join Indian Union by the Hard Taskmaster Sardar Vallabhai Patel, because Nizam became a hardnut to crack.
However, I am unable to guesstimate the circumstances which motivated Mr. Nizam to be so extra-ordinarily generous. Karl Marx said that most human relationships are financial, monetary and pecuniary. My mind tried to contemplate on what Late Nizam was expecting from the Government of India to reward him for the extra-ordinarily huge donation. I do not expect Late Nizam to be influenced by Bhagavad Gita which tries to convince people to perform their karmas self-lessly and surrender all the fruits of their actions to the Supreme God. My ugly mind and Marxist thinking say that there might have been some real hidden motive behind it.
(To revise this post, if there are objections from readers).
