Hiding to protect against air raid, which was converted into a library in Shalibanda in Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: Serish Nanisetti
It is a library with a difference. Large cold air space for students and children who are preparing for competing exams to sit down and read the day. The difference lies below it in the bunker, which is the genesis of the Bharat Gunavardhak Sanstha in Shalibanda. “It was built as a shelter from the outbreak of hostility during World War II. After the war, my father Rai Mahbub Narayan walked around and asked his friends who went to Pakistant to leave the books.
Hiding to protect against air raid, which was converted into a library in Shalibanda in Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: Serish Nanisetti
This collection of books led to the creation of a group of people who brought together their thoughts and resources. “The library was named Bharat Gunavardhak Sanstha by Polyglot Scholar Gunde Rao Harkag. Mr. Harkare retired as a judge of Wanaparthy and donated a copy of Sirr-E-Akbar, who was a translation of the Sanskrit to Persian. Mrs. Oudesh.
The Mallih engineer carried out a project that was a two -storey structure on the upper part of the bunker without taking any rewards for a 471 square yard that was received for 100 years of rent. He had two rooms for scholars, one room for guard, storage rooms and study room.
Hiding to protect against air raid, which was converted into a library in Shalibanda in Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: Serish Nanisetti
Now the Air Raid bunker has been converted into storage rooms for chairs and tables. “We do not have things to operate a separate section of newspapers. The sanctioned strength of employees is 14, but we have only two employees,” the library official said.
The dusty room with chairs rows remains locked. But it is a better fate than most other shelters for air raid in Hyderabad, which were built at the time. “Air Raid hiding place in Bella Vista (College of India administrative staff) is still intact, as in the College of Community Science, where a lonely palm is masked,” informs Anuradha Reddy about Indian national confidence for art and cultural heritage.
In 1941, while the war in Europe raged, there was a perception of the threat of the east coast of India. This led to the fact that the Public Work Department entered Nizama and built shelters of protection against air raid for the nobility. Five of them were built – one in the King Kothi Palace, the other in Bella Vista, another One Hill Fort Palace Palace, the Nawab Basalat Jah Bahadur residence, and others in the King Kothi Palace for Nizam Osman Ali Khan. While the shelter of Raid Bella Vista survived, the fate of others is unknown.
The other nobles also built shelters for air raids for their own safety, including Sala Jung III. “It was there until the beginning of the 60s and was on the right side of the entrance to the Palace complex,” says Mrs. Oudesh. None of this will remain. Nawaz Jung of the Vicar-UL-AMRA family at the top of Jubilee Hills built another Air-Raid bunker. “It’s still there and it’s a hiding place for roosting bats. We’re not trying to enter this area,” says Raunaq Yar Jung, descendant of Nasir Jung.
Published – May 10, 2025 10:02
