Dear Revanth Reddy garu,
As a proud resident of Hyderabad, I write this note with a heavy heart.
Desecration of our Rock Heritage:
I recently came across a horrific act of desecration by GHMC at the rock formation near the end of the Cable Bridge. An entire section of rocks has been crudely painted with images of animals and trees. I request that you personally visit the site to understand and feel my pain.
These rocks are our natural heritage, shaped over thousands of years. They are sculptures created by nature, not canvases for painting nature. Coating them with crude, oversized images in the name of beautification is not art; it is desecration.
Legend of Vāstupuruṣa:
In Vāstu Śāstra, there is a powerful legend—when the chaotic Vāstupuruṣa emerged, threatening to consume all space, it was Brahmā and the gods who pinned him down to restore balance. From this act emerged the Vāstupuruṣa Maṇḍala, the sacred grid that governs all architecture and urban planning in our culture.
Happening Hyderabad:
Hyderabad is a global city in the making. You have now outlined a vision to build a Fourth City. But for it to become truly a global city, its public spaces must be built consciously and aesthetically. Beauty and harmony have to be central to urban design and planning.
Citizens’ Advisory Council:
Sadly, we cannot expect bureaucrats to be blessed with a sense of aesthetics. Not just that—as we have seen above—they can destroy millennia-old heritage. I therefore urge you to establish a Citizens’ Advisory Council on Urban Design and Aesthetics. There are precedents of similar councils in global cities like New York, Paris, and others. They provide community-driven guidance on heritage conservation, public art, landscaping, signage, and infrastructure aesthetics. Its composition could include industrialists, public intellectuals, architects, urban planners, artists, and naturalists—people who love and care for Hyderabad.
Vāstu of Not Just Homes:
We Telugus apply Vāstu to our homes, ensuring every corner is compliant with the scriptures. But to what end? Vāstu Śāstra is actually meant to create a space that aligns with beauty, balance, harmony, and sanctity. Shouldn’t we bring the same care to our capital? Let each of us strive to make not just our homes but Hyderabad also Vāstu-compliant in spirit. We can do this by designing a city where beauty and design are central to urban planning.
I appeal to you, as the leader of Telangana, to be our Brahmā, not just for the 4th City but also for a council. A council not of gods, but of concerned citizens. Together, let’s create a “Happening Hyderabad” that is an embodiment of beauty and harmony.
Hari’s Curries
A Buffet of Reflections