The illustrious ruler of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty which ruled the Golconda kingdom from 1518 to 1687, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah was a multifaceted personality, a prince, poet, lover and builder.
He founded the capital city of Hyderabad and built its architectural centre-piece, the Charminar. The intensity of his love for Bhagmati, a commoner was so strong that he first named the city as Bhagnagar after her. In his passion for building, he perhaps excelled the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. He decreed that his capital city should be 'a replica of heaven on earth'. Was it really a 'divine city'? This interesting question is examined in this book. When he built a gardencity and over a dozen multi-storeyed palaces, he did not forget to provide a general hospital for the poor.
The poet in Muhammad Quli Surpassed the monarch. He had not only the distinction of being the first Saheb-e-dewan Urdu poet but also of being one who gave new dimensions to various genres of Urdu poetry in its early years. He was the first Urdu poet to strike a secular note in Urdu poetry. He touched responsive chords in the hearts of his people. His poems are sung at most public functions in the city even to this day.
His great virtue was his secular outlook. A practising Shia himself, he mocked at the divisions of humanity into different religions and creeds. For him a temple was as sacred as a mosque.
The author inquires into the reasons for the abiding popularity of the gifted and versatile monarch. This is the first comprehensive book of its kind on the subject.
A leading writer and poet in Urdu, Narendra Luther has to his credit a number of books in Indian languages and English. His articles and stories have been published in the leading journals of India. Some of his works have also appeared in Russian, French and Spanish languages. Adorned with several literary awards from official and renowned literary organisations, Luther was a member of the Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi (Urdu Committee) and the Andhra Pradesh Urdu Academy. A broadcaster for nearly four decades,he was interviewed on B.B.C., German and American Broadcasting networks.
His interest in literature, art and culture has grown over the years. He has headed several organisations engaged in these fields. The founder President. of the World Humour Society, he organised the first World Humour Conference in 1985 and represented India at the Internation Bienelle on Humour held in Bulgaria, the same year.
A retd. senior Civil Servant, he has served in various capacities under the State and Central governments. He was Chairman of the Core Committee for the Celebration of the 4th Centenary of Hyderabad. This book is the outcome of his deep research in the subject.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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