Chapter 4: chapter 4

PrefaceThe Unique FaceWriter Subrabharathi Manian had resided in Secunderabad, one of the twin cities, for eight years. He was employed in the telecom office in Hyderabad. This book speaks about his experiences during his stay In Secunderabad.Man is a talking animal, it is said. Going from one place to another, yet to another and so on is called migration in English. Crows don’t go far away from their nests. On the other hand, doves, cranes and storks go away for kilometers and then return. Subrabharathi Manian is a migratory bird. He was born in Tirupur and from there he had gone to Conoor, Hyderabad, Pollachi, Udumalpet and to other places. Each man has his own unique face. Still, everyone has many faces behind the one face that is seen by others.Subrabharathi Manian’s foresight is clearly visible in this book. Everyman has a limited relationship with others who are his fellow travellers in his life. Subrabharathi Manian has succeeded in bringing out lively the uniqueness of his relationship with others. This could be felt as one reads his book.Oh Hyderabad! Is a collection of 24 essays. These provide a live commentary on his experiences during his stay in Secunderabad.Everyone has his own unique experiences. But Subrabharathi Mania has the skill to sketch them out in writing. This book is a good example. He knows that Amirthan of Rasi Cements, Mani of Rama Naidu Studio and Na. Kathirvelan would read his views about them. He has the rare courage to meet them in person even after describing their character including their shortcomings. It seems that he has taken things in a lighter vein.When someone raises the question, “Where has Ranganna gone? He could not be seen for days!”, the reply is always, “I am amidst the buffaloes in the Monda market. If it is found that one of the Monda market buffaloes is missing, then it means that Ranganna is not there!”This paragraph alone bears testimony to Subrabharathi Manian’s skill in sketching out characters. Monda market is a popular and important vegetable market in Secunderabad.The power of his memory, recalling every incident and every person, from conducting book exhibitions to running the literary magazine, Kanavu is astonishing. Even after thirty years, Kanavu is still alive!He talks about Chilkur Balaji temple, the visa Balaji temple! I also have a similar experience. When I read about Subrabharathi Manian’s experience I just wondered how the same type of experience could have happened to both of us!It’s a surprising piece of information that N.T.R. would eat three full chickens in the early morning!The dense longevity of my friendship with Subrabharathi Manian has crossed many years!I still recall the pleasant Sundays I’d spent with his family. I’m very much grateful to him for those pleasant times. This collection has strongly stimulated those memories! The title Oh! Hyderabad (Reminiscences) is apt!As writer Ashokamitran belonged to Secunderabad, he has written hundreds of short stories, two novels including The Eighteenth Parallel focussing on its life. Subrabharathi Manian has also written more than fifty short stories and two novels (Matrum Silar and Sudumanal) making it their central stage. Both of them vibrate in the same frequency. As Ashokamitran is now dead, Subrabharathi Manian’s Reminiscences about Secunderabad commands a unique literary respect!- Perungkunroor Kizhar,Hyderabad.