American Library Re-opens as 'American Corner' in Hyderabad

American Library (located at Panchsheel Hotel, Behind Ravindra Bharathi) in Hyderabad was closed, in 1960s.  And in 2013 it re-opens at St Francis College for Women, Street Number 6, Uma Nagar, Begumpet  Hyderabad.

What's in a Name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. They called it American Corner, instead of US's Information Center (or USIS), and American Information Centre (AIC) or American Library. Is it simply old wine in a new bottle, or meant to satisfy a new dimension? Will this 'American Corner' succeed in bypassing the American Center--huge library and its resources at the former American Studies Research Centre, now functioning as: Osmania University Centre for International Programmes? Only time can give an answer. See also the link below (on the same shelf).
Anyways, they say, elsewhere what is the name all about:

"We call these libraries “American Corners,” a name chosen for them in Russia where the first such partnerships emerged in the spring of 2000." source: usembassy.gov.  American Corners are dedicated information spaces hosted by different partner institutions in libraries with public access worldwide. These partnerships help introduce visitors to the true story of the United States. By providing a multifunctional platform for public diplomacy programs and offering access to print, multimedia, and other materials. The American Corners help maintain open dialogue, counteract negative preconceptions, and build bridges of understanding. They represent the nation's long-standing commitment to spread the ideas and values of American democracy and civil society.   source: usembassy.gov

 In the news:

Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the US Department of State Wendy Sherman and US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell today unveiled 'American Corner', seventh in India, at St Francis College for Women in Hyderabad.

It would be a collaboration between the US consulate and the college.

American Corners are dedicated information spaces hosted in schools, colleges, libraries, etc. that help introduce visitors to different aspects of the USA.
"The opening of this new American Corner reinforces what people of India and the United State are already doing - bringing our two countries closer together," Sherman said.

Powell said the American Corner will provide a window on life and culture in the USA.-- Press Trust of India | Updated: May 25, 2013

On the same shelf:

American Studies in India: Cross-Dressing, Anyone? Helle Dale, The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation

Indian contribution to American studies : an assessment by Muhammed Burhanuddin, Mohamed Taher.

The South Asian Americans, by Karen Leonard

How to Be South Asian in America, anupama jain

THE GREAT ENCOUNTER, R K Gupta

Telugu Movies Continue to be Fraudster’s Favorites

Extract:
Telugu Movies Continue to be Fraudster’s Favorites
Contributor: Avdhoot Patil
Promotion for Telugu movies has gained momentum in the world of phishing as they continue to be targeted with phishing scams. The phishing site featuring the movie “Brindavanam” is one example.

In a more recent case, phishers used a captivating song from the Telugu movie, “Saitan” as bait. continue reading @ Kashif Ali's Surfeit and Blasé Security Blog

Define Hyderabad by city’s localities

A rich repertoire of Hyderabadi naamaan by J. S. Ifthekhar, The Hindu: Hyderabad,February 13, 2013

Extract: Koka ki Tatti, Panchi Buraq, Kali Khabar, Behrupiya Galli, Jalalkutcha. Hold it, they are not tongue-twisters meant to test your pronunciation, they are just names of some of the city’s localities. Sure difficult to articulate, but not difficult to locate.

It is an endless list of funny, often outlandish names by which some of the areas in the old city are known. Interestingly, many of those who live here are not fully aware of how and why their ‘mohallas’ are known by such odd names.

 

Now, you need not struggle to find out. Just go through the book “Hyderabad – Mohalle, Gali aur Kooche” and the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fall into place effortlessly.

Unique work

Noted academic Anandraj Verma’s book, scheduled to be released shortly, is a collector’s issue. It is the only such book in Hindi and this makes it unique.

It not only tells the story behind the area names but also dwells at length on the historical structures, religious places, social customs and important families of each locality...

And do you know about Rajarayan Shamraj Bahadur and the clock tower at Shah Ali Banda which shows the time in different numerals -- English, Roman, Urdu and Hindi -- on its four sides. Mr. Verma mentions many such little known things about Hyderabad.

The city’s famous bangle street, Laad Bazar, is ‘Hyderabad ka suhag bazar’ for Mr. Verma. He sums up its history with Firaq Gorakpuri’s verses:

Bindi, jhumar, jhumka aur bazoo ke joshan

Missi, gaja, kajal aur paoon ke chan

Itni cheezen dekh kar lalchaye gori ka man

Gori ko bazaar dikha kar pachtaye sajan

continue reading: A rich repertoire of Hyderabadi naamaan

On the same shelf

Define Hyderabad by its Monuments

'JOSH' in Hyderabad

Ex AP Jaiswal Sabha President writes Hyderabadi Itihas Ke Jharoke Mein.

‘Soldier of Urdu' authors book on city in Hindi

Names of city localities hark back to a forgotten era - Times Of India

Often there is more than one history on offer for certain places. To wit, the origin of Abids is traced by Narendra Luther in his blog to "Albert Abid... a Jew and a valet of Mir Mehboob Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad (b:1866, d: 911). In course of time, he became quite rich and so he set up a shop where Palace Talkies ( presently Big Bazaar) and Bank of Baroda are located. He called it Abid & Company." It was from this shop that the whole locality derived its name, Luther writes. Alternatively, there is another version of an American Jewish gentleman called Abid Evans, after whose shop the area got its name.

Chevella in Andhra Pradesh hails the 'snow'

DC | Amar Tejaswi | 31st Jan 2013 Extract:

"Hyderabad: Several villages in three mandals of Rangareddy in Andhra Pradesh were completely transformed on Wednesday as ice covered the entire area after a violent bout of hailstorm. It was an once-in-a-lifetime experience for people living in seven villages in Chevella, Moinabad and Shankarpally as hailstones, some as large as boulders, started falling from the sky on Tuesday night.

Unconfirmed reports suggested that about nine people had died and many had been injured in the hailstorm. There were also heavy losses to livestock as huge pieces of ice came crashing through flimsy roofs.

On Wednesday morning, the entire area resembled a valley in Kashmir in midwinter. Roads and fields were completely covered with small pieces of hail while extremely large ones, never witnessed before, were seen scattered all over." continue reading

Ye Daulat Bhi Le Lo - Apnach iStyle

Original 'Yeh Daulat Bhi Le Lo'; Singer: Jagjit Singh, Chitra Singh; Lyricist: Ali Sardar Zafri (see below)***

GULF KI ZINDAGANI (Source: Charminar Connection)
Ye contract bhi lelo, Iqama bhi lelo
bhaley cheenlo mujhse meri ye naukri
magar mujhko lautado mehnath ki kamaayi
wo kaagaz pe likhi, wo bandish purani (esb).
Ye chotese kamron mein aat aat bandey
jo rahte hain jaisey tokri mein andey
wo chitti ka aana aur raathon ka rona
ye kapdon ka apne haathon se dhona
ye bathroom ki badboo, ye gandi rasoyi
bhulaye nahin bhool sakta hai expat koi
ye saari museebath hai lambi kahani
Kadi dhoop mein bagair A/C nikalna
ye paani, ye 7up, ye pepsi ka peena
ye superiors ki bathon pe ladna jhagadna
ye bimaar padna aur phirse sambhalna
ye majboor haalath ye bekasi ki yaaden
ye toote hue umeedon ki hai nishaani
Kabhi raat ka mushkilon se guzarna
darqaast likhna, chutti manzoor na hona
wo masoom bacchon ki chaahat hai apni
wo kaandhon pe zimmedari ki zanjeer apni
na marne ka gum hai, na haalat se bandhan
badi bebasi hai ye gulf ki zindagani
Ye contract bhi lelo, Iqama bhi lelo
bhaley cheenlo mujhse meri ye naukri
magar mujhko lautado mehnath ki kamaayi
wo kaagaz pe likhi, wo bandish purani.

Funny Poetry of the Month (Topic = Nokri (Job))(source)
yeh degree bhi lelo ye nokri bhi lelo
Bhale Chheen lo mujhse US ka Visa
magar mujhko lauta do college ki canteen
vo kam chaay ka pani vo teeKha samosaa
college ki canteen me hum sab the raja,
vo chaayvaalaa jise saare kehte the Khawja
vo Kahwja ke hathon ki 'bi2' chaay meethee
vo chupkese journal mein bheji hui chitthi
vo padhtehi chiththi uska tilmilaanaa
vo chehre ki laali vo aankhon ka gussaa...
kadi dhoop mein apne ghar se nikalnaa
vo project ki Khatir shahar bhar bhataknaa
vo lecture mein doston ki proxy lagaanaa
vo sar ko chidhanaa ,vo aeroplane udaanaa
vo submission ki raton ko jagnaa jagaanaa
vo orals ki khahani vo Lab-on ka kissaa....
bimaari ka detention ke time bahanaa
vo doosron ke assignments ko apnaa banaanaa
vo seminar ke din pairoka chhatpatanaa
vo workshop mein din raat pasinaa bahanaa
vo exam ke din ka bechain maahaul
par vo maa ka vishvas Teachar ka Bharosaa
colleg ki wo lambisi raatein
vo doston se thele pe pyaari si baatein
vo gathering ke din ka ladnaa Jhagadnaa
vo ladkiyon ka yuhin hamesha akadnaa
bhulaaye nahin bhool sakta hai koi
jivan ka ek atoot hissaa...
vo college ki yaaden, vo college ke din
koi to louta de mere college ke din........

Baroda I Miss u (source: Shilp Choksi..)

Yeh Passport bhi le lo.. yeh PR bhi le lo..
Bhale chheen lo mujhse mera yeh citizenship..
Continue reading Shilp Choksi..)

On the same shelf:

Dollar Kamaye Bina Nahi Aaonga

arre, yaar, tabiyat hai, kyon rota hai, khamankha ! -- naukri hai, phir kyon rota hai, khamankha !

---------

***Original [Source]
Ye daulat bhi le lo, ye shohrat bhi le lo
Bhale cheen lo mujhse meri jawaani Magar mujhko lauta do bachchpan ka saawan
Wo kaagaz ki kasthi wo baarish ka paani
Mohalle ki sabse purani nishaani
Wo budhiya jise bachche kehte the naani
Wo naani kee baaton mein pariyon ka dera
Wo chehre ke jhuriyon mein sadiyon ka phera
Bhulaaye nahin bhool sakta hai koi
Wo choti see raaten wo lambi kahaani
Kadi dhoop mein apne ghar se nikalna
Wo chidiya wo bulbul wo thithli pakadna
Wo gudiya ki shaadi pe ladna jhagadna
Wo jhoolon se girna, wo gir ke sambhalna
Wo pithal ke challon ke pyaare se tohfe
Wo tuti hui chudiyon ki nishaani
Kabhi reit ke oonche tilon pe jaana ...
Gharonde banana, banaa ker mitaana
Wo maasoom chaahat ki tasveer apni
Wo khwabon khilono ki taabir jaageer apni
Na duniya ka gham tha na rishton ke bandhan
Badi khoobsoorat wo zindgaani

Define Hyderabad by its Monuments

Extract from Postnoon | January 18, 2013 :

With the 28th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress (APAO) beginning in the City on Thursday, delegates from across the world are expected to turn up for the meet. We tell them what Hyderabad is all about:

QUTUB SHAHI TOMBS

CHOWMAHALLA PALACE

CHARMINAR

GOLKONDA FORT

ANANDA BUDDHA VIHARA

HUSSAINSAGAR, TANK BUND

TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE

SALAR JUNG MUSEUM