Hyderabad: At a time when the state is reeling under the impact of the strike called by workers of the Road Transport Corporation, it would be instructive and interesting to recall a profound instance of unjustifiable public demand and the government of the Nizam meeting it with aplomb and humility. During the tenure of Sir Asman Jah, (Amir-e-Kabeer, the highest noble) as Sadar-ul-Mahaam (Chief Minister) of Hyderabad State (1888-1894), a situation arose wherein the populace of Shahalibanda, near Charminar, deliberately stopped payment of the nominal cess imposed for piped water being supplied from the Jalpally reservoir. The reason for levying the cess was the additional expenditure the state had to incur for construction of a water tank to cater to the needs of a larger area.
Asman Jah ordered disconnection of water supply.
Aggrieved by the action, a rather bold poet composed a couplet (sher) and sent it across to the Sadar-ul-Mahaam. It read:
Faraat us ne kiya band is ne Jalpally
Amir e Sham ka beta bana Amir-e-Kabeer
The couplet while referring to the heinous incident of blocking access to water of the Euphrates to members of the Prophet’s grandson and his family in Karbala by the ruler of Syria, taunts that his son has become ‘Amir-e-Kabeer’ who stopped water from Jalpally. This couplet did the trick and water supply was ordered to be restored.
The incident is an example of how people did not shy away from openly condemning the actions of the powers-that-be, and how the authorities responded in a positive manner to such refined methods of protest.
It should also make us ponder on how, early times, Hyderabad citizenry was availing of piped water.
