It's Numaish Time, Folks!

Malls and multiplexes may have taken Hyderabad by storm. But gargantuan crowds still flock to the Nampally Maidan annually in January – February to participate in the old world charm that it hosts. That is the magic of the mela that Hyderabadis fondly call Numaish.

In its 69^th year now, the all India industrial exhibition is as much a part of Hyderabadi culture now as Biriyani. One that started with just 50 stalls in 1938, the ‘Numaish Masnuaat-e-Mulki’ has sure grown beyond the wildest dreams of its founder, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam. This year, there are close to 2500 stalls with participation from our neighbouring countries as well. However, Pakistan, one of the most frequent participants, is missing in action.

The exhibition has a plethora of choices for shoppers. There are dedicated sections for anything you can think of - Bengal cotton sarees to Kashmiri Pashmina shawls, dry fruits to electronics, leather goods to ceramic ware – with a minimum of ten to fifteen stalls in each one. In case you run out of cash in between the shopping spree, just pay a visit to the SBI ATM near the exit. Most Numaish shops still believe in taking paper money for their goods!

The mini-train that takes riders for a journey through the exhibition ground attracts kids and elders alike. There are other joy rides like giant wheel as well. Multiple food courts, chaat bhandars, ice cream parlours and juice counters help you cool your heels when tired of walking at length.

Visitors form a diverse bunch here – some are regulars, some are first timers. All have a good outing for a cheap price though. The entry fee is just Rs. 10 per head. “This is my sixth time here. Though many of the products are available outside, this is like a one stop place for everything under the sun. They often give good bargains too,” says Geeta Rao, a resident of Hyderguda. The Exhibition Society uses the ticket income to support over 18 educational institutions in Hyderabad and surrounding districts thus reaching 35000 students.

Numaish is eagerly awaited by sellers as well. They travel from different parts of the country for four to six weeks of hardcore business. “This is the money spinning time of the year for us. Hyderabadis spend a lot here. It seems more like an emotional connect than a budget decision,” quips Alam Khan, a carpet seller from Kashmir. Many other sellers backed Alam’s opinion that the effect of recession has waned considerably.

The advantage of Numaish is, of course, bargain prices. Follow the mantra that ‘bolne ka daam’ is usually the double of ‘dene ka daam,’ and you are sure to land some good deals. Even if you intend only window shopping, there is every chance that you will fall prey to the sheer variety available. Give yourself an opportunity to do so. The deadline is February 15^th!

Mayakkam Oxymore Takes Hyderabad By Surprise

It was indeed surprising - a very pleasant one; for it is not something that Hyderabad has ever witnessed before. Non conformist dance interwoven with magnificent use of light and sound resulting in 90 minutes of pure magic – that was Mayakkam Oxymore in one line for you.

Sangeeta Isvaran, the lead dancer and choreographer combined her expertise in Bharatanatyam with some street style and finished it with some fine ballet moves too. Sangeeta, an alumnus of Sarojini Naidu School of Performing Arts, UoH, respects tradition. “But classical forms have to grow and be connected with society,” she said. Her co-dancers Lakshya Rajesh, Thilagavathi Palani and Nancy Boissel complemented her perfectly in the dramatic journey that ventured to explore the feminine self.

The world famous hip hop graffiti artist Marko 93 painted the stage with multiple hues as the dancers performed. This style, which puts to use coloured LED bulbs and wands, was developed by Marko himself. The real time projection of lights mixed with the images on the screen and the performers on the stage produce a splendid effect of optic dynamics.

Cyrille Brissot loves rendering music through computer. His addiction with technology came live on stage when he produced an array of sounds that was far from the soothing dance accompaniments that we are used to. Mind you, it was not a playback of a pre-recorded piece. They were reactive sounds produced live based on expressions of dancers who often improvised while on stage. He is also the one who co-ordinated Marko’s light, Sangeeta’s moves and his sounds by switching among multiple softwares, cameras and consoles.

Mayakkam was performed at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre on 14^th January in connection with Bonjour India. It is a festival organised by France across Indian cities from December through February to reaffirm its friendship through cultural association.

Many among the audience were heard saying that the performance was highly abstract and confusing. It is bound to happen because, as a city, we are only waking up to alternate forms of entertainment. But if the instinct to deconstruct and demystify is kept aside, nobody would have a disagreement on the awe they experienced through the performance.

Destruction Of Differences Is The Death Of Democracy – Dr. Dibyesh Anand

Being seduced by Hindu Nationalism without being aware of it is a huge threat that young Hindus face today, said Dr. Dibyesh Anand while delivering a lecture on ‘The Myth of Tolerant Hindus’ on January 6 in connection with the Centre for Integrated Studies (CIS) Lecture Series.

Dibyesh, who is a Reader in International Relations at the Centre for the Study of Democracy at University of Westminister, London, also emphasized that the attempt of Hindu Nationalists to make Muslims live on Hindu terms is against the spirit of democracy. The day differences become undesirable, democracy comes under serious threat.

The speaker, who has authored a Routledge publication called ‘Tibet: A victim of geo politics,’ said that an attempt to study Gujarat riots led him almost naturally to Hindu Nationalism. Use of identity politics by creating a Hindu Self and a Muslim Other and an extreme reductionist approach of representing all Muslims in a stereotype of terrorism prove that any theory of ‘tolerant extremist Hindus’ is farcical. “Coining terms like ‘Love Jihad’ for inter-religion marriages does not romanticize their cause at all,” he said. He also confidently mentioned about the Gujarat riots that any violence of such scale is impossible without state complicity.

While concluding, he said that democracy is not about majority rule, but protection of dissent and minority. Dr. Sheela Prasad led the discussion that followed.