Whether it is the cantonment area with jawans and officers from all over the country, or the marwadis in the abids and kachegudas of the city, or the guzzus in begum bazaaar markets or the tamils in the padmaraonagar n secunderabad areas, it has people representing every corner of this country in good proportions. They have found a place in the city, embraced its culture, evolved with it and now proudly call themselves Hyderabadis. Hyderabad aka Bhagyanagaram has attained this cosmopolitan image much before than everyone outside thought it has. It has been a multicultural city right from late 80s with scores of National level research institutes, DRDO and its labs and ofcourse defence establishments.
However, it was only during Mr.Naidus regime, this city has attained its long due share of limelight. Ofcourse, it needed a totally different identity this time, the 'IT Hub' with govt. encouraging billion dollar IT investments. The growth has been steep in the late 90s and early part of the last decade with the boundaries of the city growing much faster than expected. There were around 500 odd IT companies setup creating around 1lakh jobs inviting the techies from various parts of the country.
Madhapur, Kondapur, Banjara and Jubilee hills and the KPHBs have now become the hip and happening areas. Younger crouds with healthy disposal incomes and ubercool attitudes have started a new episode in the history of this city. Pubs and discs have mushroomed with people thronging them on weekends partying till the whee hours of the night, the night life has finally set in!!
Those long drives to the new airport, street races around the KBR park, mid nite biryani, late night haleem and irani chai and early morning Kheema Dosas have made indelible entries to the organizers of city's gen X and gen Y. Parents also started to accept their kids new found way of living in the Bob Dylan's 'Times are Changing' style..They found new avenues to have fun with the shopping malls, multiplexes, fitness centres and ofcourse the not to be forgotten neighbourhood parks. Yoga and workouts have become their daily routine and fitness has become a new mantra!!
It just took a decade and the city has changed completely, and for better we hope!!
