Hyderabad Mornings: A Symphony of Sights and Sounds

Interestingly enough, the flower ‘Tangedu’ has rags to riches fairy-tale. It was elevated to a prominent position as the ‘State Flower of Telangana’, India when the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh was separated and a new 29th state called ‘Telangana’ was carved out in 2014. Just as the Tangedu, the rise of Telangana State has been phenomenal since the bifurcation as it is top ranked of all the Indian states with the highest per capita income in 2022-’23 because of its futuristic vision in less than a decade. The state has also attained nearly half of its gross earnings target for this fiscal 2023-’24. The real estate particularly in the capital city of Hyderabad has recorded a tremendous growth of 260% in the luxury housing segment during the first nine months of fiscal year 2023 – 2024 but most importantly, Hyderabad is renowned not just for IT services but also a focal point for electronics manufacturing, emerging technologies, defense as well as aerospace sectors. 

A cool yet an eventful morning in the city of pearls unravel sights and sounds that may be ignored by laymen unlike a keen observer whether indoors or outdoors. Though sparrows are on the verge of extinction especially in Hyderabad, these few inherit crevices or roofs of buildings as proud occupants little realizing that they trespass roof spaces. While owners are mindfully oblivious of their presence, their offspring turn mischievous by playfully scaring them off with high pitched voices just as shrill whistles of a train; few at times venture to thoroughly search their straw build nests out of curiosity as undercover agents. It’s also a significant time for these little smart birds to start a family once again unlike humans. Canines take cover under the wheels of lined up vehicles to rest and avoid being caught by dog catchers. Even if a stray catching van launches its attack, they instinctively make long strides towards escape routes with tails tucked between legs, pricked ears and dilated pupils barking peculiarly thereby sending distress signals to the neighboring dogs so that every dog has its day. Once they sense the lurking danger is gone, they re-enter into their respective lanes from nowhere by sniffing the van route with uneasy calm and extra alertness until they regain their cool to live yet another day for intermittent brawls with neighbors. On the other hand, the dogged persistence of dog catchers’ efforts mostly goes in vain as they don’t mean business while each street is almost teemed with a pack of dogs despite complaints against strays keep pouring up in the municipal corporation.

A confluence of white, red and yellow flowers deck and transform the city’s landscape. The White flowers of chandni spread across bushy plants only to be plucked and gently dropped on puja thali (tray/container) or on the left cupped hands of devotees to offer daily rituals. The red trumpet shaped budding pomegranates is in fine contrast with Tangedu: Indeed, these flowers bring morning tranquility though passersby unintentionally fail to gaze at them. While some fall on the cars lined up majestically in front of a row of gated flats as if a VVIP were paying a visit to the neighborhood but the stark reality is that they lack parking lots: a bleak reminder to a dense modern city wrestling for space. On the other hand, the rhythmic sweeping and spraying of water in front of houses or flats that look like box houses add to the sunrise chorus. A handful of laymen with newspapers jostled at a tea stall over a stimulating sip of hot drink that eventually kick starts their first spell of the day. Vegetable vendors conveniently trespass the rims of the roads of city centers to trade for meager profits in order to make a living though at times have to pay a price to a traffic policeman for breaking the law. Despite a negligible loss and stoic resistance, they enliven the vicinity with a hustle and bustle that resembles a mini-mart. 

A small garage sits behind a busy up street with some old vehicles dumped beside an open empty space waiting to be scrapped anytime but the verdict seems to be like ‘so near yet so far’. Perhaps the owner has other intentions as he may be pondering to resurrect them using artificial intelligence. Porter mini trucks chug up and down the streets to transport mineral water swiftly break the intrinsic silence of the sunless morning with its deafening noise that may irritate a neighbor or two, the next door.  A solitary dove perched on a branch of a neem tree beside the garage though pensive for a while is mindful of the rumbling digital life. A temple bell that rings now and then at the corner of a street resonates with spiritual ardor is in striking contrast with a quiet majestic church on a working day though strollers on their way to respective destinations come to a stand still for a while to pay obeisance to their respective Gods which is typical of Indian culture. The general public rushes to indulge in a usual pattern of another hectic as well as an unpredictable day. 

As the morning leisurely moves about like an unhurried procession on a festive day, the sun comes out of hiding to rise and shine as the intensity of sights and sounds swell: Hawkers trumpet, vehicles honk, school children scuff their shoes with burdened faces, and many such as far as the eye could see. The momentum picks up as the city dwellers make provisions for yet another day’s toil until twilight.  Thus life goes on and on in Hyderabad, the pride of Telangana which is the youngest state of Digital India.