Hyderabad: Rare manuscripts and documents pertaining to the history & heritage of Bahmanis kingdom are lying scattered in the area and in private possession. There is an urgent need to obtain and preserve them, as they contain invaluable research material.
Haroon Khan Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies (HKCDS) shall take a lead in this direction. Eminent Scholar, Prof. Mohd. Suleman Siddiqui, former Vice-Chancellor, Osmania University expressed these views today at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) while delivering the keynote address in the inaugural session of two national seminar on ”Bahmanis and their Contribution to the Deccani Polity, Society, Economy, Culture and Literature”.
Dr. M. A. Sikandar, Registrar presided over.
Prof. Siddiqui while referring to his own research and field work, described how volumes of rare manuscripts related to Bahmanis era got spoiled due to negligence of private custodians. He also expressed the need to preserve the documents and manuscripts of Asif Jahi’s dynasty of Hyderabad.
Prof. Siddiqui, who had served as the first Registrar of MANUU, gave detailed description of Bahmani kingdom’s Gulbarga Phase (1347-1422) and Bidar Phase (1422-1538).
The first one was influenced by North Indian traditions and the second one bore international hall marks, he said. Persian architecture is prominent at Bidar. Prof. Suleman Siddiqui, an expert in Islamic Studies, suggested that HKS-CDS shall at least organize two seminars every year.
Mrs. Rani Indira Dhanrajgeer, Eminent Scholar & Ambassador of Deccani Culture in her brief address described India as country which welcomed every nationality with an open arm. She also donated Rs. One lakh to the Centre for it’s research and academic activities.
Dr. Mohd. Abdul Qayyum, Archaeologist, Prof. Ashraf Rafi, noted Urdu Scholar and Prof. M. N. Sayeed, Ex-Chairman, Karnataka Urdu Academy, Bengaluru also spoke.
Earlier, Prof. Mohd. Naseemuddin Farees, Director, HKCDS & Seminar in his welcome address described Bahmani rulers as Secular who continued the local traditions and laid the foundation of “Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb” (Pluralistic Culture). Their legacy needed to be revived, he said. Prof. Shahid Naukhez Azmi, Joint Director, Centre proposed vote of thanks.