Hyderabad: For generations, Hyderabadis and others the world over were regaled by the romantic folklore and legend of Bhagmati, said to be the beloved of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and founder of Hyderabad. Bhagmati is back in focus as Hyderabad city celebrates its 425th birthday on October 9. But did she really exist?
The Deccan Heritage Trust which has researched the story finds Bhagmati to be a piece of fiction, much like the celluloid story of Salim-Anarkali or Jodha-Akbar. “She simply doesn’t exist. There is no manuscript, no stone inscription, no grave, no coins, no mention in Quli Qutb Shah's poems Kulliyat. There is no evidence to prove her existence. It’s just hearsay. There is conclusive evidence that Bhagmati is fiction and not fact,” said Dr Mohd Safiullah, honorary managing trustee of the Deccan Heritage Trust.
He added, “We are coming out with a book, Hyderabad Forever, on how the story was born. Bhagmati is merely a figment of imagination. I wish the Bhagmati-Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah romance existed.” As proof, Dr Safiullah points to the graves of Taramati and Premamati, courtesans, and others. But there is no grave for Bhagmati. Prof. Haroon Khan Sherwani, author of The Foundation of Haidarabad says Bhagmati did not exist. The lore of the Bhagmati-Quli romance was propagated by Dr Mohiuddin Quadri Zore in the 1940s and 1950s.
The chronicler of Qutb Shahi history, Ferishta, mentions Bhagmati, and says Bhagyanagar was named after her; that the Sultan was fascinated by her charms and ordered that whenever she came to the court, she should be attended by 1,000 horsemen. Quli Qutb Shah was born in 1566 and died in 1612. According to history, he took up construction of Hyderabad city since the fortress Golconda was overcrowded. The Charminar was the first structure built in Hyderabad in 1591-92, followed by Badshahi Ashoorkhana to house the alam or replicas of the banner carried by Imam Hussain at Karbala which is the mourning place of Shia kings in 1593-1594 and the Darusshifa, including a hospital, in 1595.
Sherwani, M.A. Nayeem and other historians assert Quli Qutb Shah laid the foundation stone of the new city and named it Haiderabad (City of Haider). The sultan refers to it in one of the poem as Shahre Hyderabad. Mughal historians and Europeans called the city Bagnagar and Baghnagar (City of Gardens) since the place was replete with gardens, groves and greenery. The Persians called it Aider-Abad.
