In Hyderabad’s Old City, names like Ram Bagh and Kishan Bagh are reminders of the area’s history. These names come from the temples that used to be located there, along with the large areas of land owned by the temples.
Krishna Yadav, a resident of the Old City, shared stories about these temples and the thriving economy around them. Devotees from different Hindu communities visit these temples daily, supporting a network of vendors selling items for worship.
This temple economy has been a part of the area’s history for centuries, even before the Quli Qutub Shahi times up until the 1970s. However, things changed after communal riots in the area led to many Hindus leaving their homes.
One temple, the Jagannadh Temple in Parthiwada, became a symbol of this violence, with reports of around 200 people losing their lives. Despite a judicial commission being formed, there was no clear outcome, and many people ended up moving to other areas like Rangareddy district.
Some opportunists took advantage of the situation, occupying the homes left behind by those who had fled. Property transfers were often done with notarised documents during this tumultuous time.
Despite these challenges, temples like Jagannath and Krishna temple continue to stand as symbols of both good and bad times in the Old City.
