Legendotes of Hyderabad

Legendotes of Hyderabad Author: Narendra Luther
Publisher: Niyogi Books, New Delhi
(Pp 258, ISBN 978-93-83098-17-0, Rs 995)

Here’s yet another art & illustrated book from the house of Niyogi Books. Printed on art paper with beautiful images from Hyderabad, the book is a treat for the eyes. The birth of Hyderabad is rooted in two legends. One is the early-teen love affair of Prince Mohammad Quli with Bhagmati, a beautiful singer and dancer. The other is the decree issued by him as the sultan of Golkonda that a new city should be constructed which would be a replica of heaven. It was earlier called Bhagnagar, after his beloved Bhagmati. Such legendotes, as the author calls them, form a chain of gripping snippets from the history of Hyderabad and the basis of this book. It is an interesting book and a collector’s item.

–Varsha Verma