The Fall of Golconda

(In the late seventeenth century, 'Zindapir' Alamgir Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor finally conquered Qutub Shahi Sultanate after a prolonged and pyrhhic siege of Golconda, finally realizing the Century old fantasy of direct Mughal Imperial domination over Deccan, however short lived. In his own words after the fall of Golconda...)

 

Aurangzeb at Siege of Golconda - from A.Truschke's book

Day in and day out, the flames of ambition kept me alive, 

and the lust for conquest is a desire that made me thrive.

What disdain men had for me, despite me brimming with competence

and what mockery women made of me, when I simply abhorred the opulence!

 

O Proud Princes of the Deccan, look how I smashed your pride, 

as my Mansabdars and Musketeers persisted and tricked.

The Diamonds of Krishna are of no value to the Shahs of South, 

as my cannons chipped your fort, brick by brick, in a battle so foul!

 

When strength deserted my troops, I carried on and on and on, 

Patient and pious, yet I imposed my imperial will for a cause long forgone. 

In future, My travails and travels would be laughed upon,

But the legacy of the Great Mughals is not forlorn!

 

 

Poem - The Fall of Golconda 

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Friday, 29th of January, 2021.,

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, 

Palakollu,.

At the Museum

The Central Hall

Inside the Central Hall

Located on Bandar Road of Vijayawada, Bapu Museum (formerly Victoria Jubilee Museum) stands like a blast from the past. It was almost ten years ago that I chanced upon this building. The sad thing was that this was always under renovation/off limits, perpetually so. But, I got to visit this underrated museum on 3rd of January, Sunday. I have always had a feeling that Vijayawada could've been a better city - with a lots of tourism potential - perhaps the only true Andhra City that could match Chennai or Bengaluru in the distant future. Yet, the cultural and historical legacy of the city went for a toss, as is evident with the horrible maintenance of Moghalrajapuram caves and Akkanna Madanna Caves. When we seek culture merely as a form of entertainment and look up to the Past only as a source of manipulating emotions, we could never realize the inherent greatness bestowed upon us.

The Persian Artist by AR Chugtai - Painting

Dutch Epitaph Tomb

It was way back in 1887 that Robert Sewell, the then District Collector of Krishna inaugurated this Museum, originally as a part of Industrial Exhibition. In 1926, the Museum premises housed the first campus of Andhra University. The local Zamindars rendered yeoman services to the cause of the museum. Substantial renovations were made in 1962 and 2015. But, perhaps the greatest hours of the Museum was when history was made on 31st March and 1st April of 1921! At the Central Hall of the museum built in Victorian style, on the sidelines of the Special Annual Congress Session, Sri Pingali Venkayya garu, a famous telugu freedom fighter designed the Indian National Flag and presented it to Mahatma Gandhiji in the presence of other luminaries. The flag was the precursor of the present day Indian Tricolour. I felt really fortunate and humbled!

The Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra

Sculpture of Satyabhama

The name Bapu refers to Sri Sattiraju Lakshmi Narayana garu, an acclaimed Director and creative intellectual from Andhra Pradesh - the change in name was made in 2015. To the central hall's left, there is another building which housed the artifacts. On the ground floor, there are various impressive sculptures categorized into Jaina/Buddhist and Hindu themes along with Prehistoric tools and weapons discovered in adjacent villages. On the top floor, there are separate galleries for contemporary art, medieval warfare, numismatics and inscriptions. The application of Information Technology and the concept of Virtual Museum is impressive. On the lawns of the Museum, there are many idols and inscriptions from the past. I was surprised to find Tombstone Epitaphs in Dutch from my home town, Palakollu, which harks back to the colonial past.  

The Entrance

Application of IT and Virtual Museum concept

 

 

Name - Bapu Museum (formerly Victoria Jubilee Museum), Bandar Road, Vijayawada

Entry - Rs.50/- per head (Indian), Rs.200/- per head (Camera), Rs.1000/- per head (Foreigner/Video Camera) 

Timings - 10:30 AM - 05:00 PM everyday including Sundays, but closed on Fridays and other National Holidays.

Visited On - 03/01/21, Sunday.     

 

 

 

 

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Wednesday, 6th of January, 2021.

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu.