Much about Deccani history and culture is undocumented and fragmented, leaving several locals without a connection to the homeland beyond popular cultural aspects. Thanks to The Deccan Archive — a collective of History enthusiasts founded by Mohammed Sibghatullah Khan, this is slowly changing. With an intention to bring history lovers together and learn about the various facets of the Deccan, the collective conducts History Walks, Workshops and even offers souvenirs with significant details central to the Deccan Plateau.
Their history walks go beyond the popular spots like Charminar and Qutub Shahi tombs that have been spoken about several times before. Expect to find walks conducted at some offbeat spots in the city like the Sufis of Nampally, Osmania University, Moosarambagh, Hussaini Alam among other interesting, unexplored areas. Many old buildings in and around the city are left undiscovered because there's very little information on them. The Deccan Archive aims to highlight their historical significance.
They also conduct Urdu Workshops at heritage spots in Hyderabad with the aim to bring language and history lovers together to conserve the local Deccan culture. Their architecture workshops explore the intricacies of geometrical patterns in monuments like the Paigah Tombs and several other historical places. Much of this history is unexplored. With their one-day trips to neighbouring towns like Bidar, The Deccan Archive's team of eleven brings to light not just Hyderabad's history but all the places surrounding it in the Deccan.
If you like collectibles, they offer coffee table books and yearly calendars that you could also gift as souvenirs. Their calendar in 2022 featured restored sketches of the Deccan, originally created by several English and Frenchmen who visited Hyderabad centuries ago. Their coffee table book 'Deccan Illustrated' includes illustrations and information about historical buildings that have been demolished over the years or in ruins. They also include some archival maps, making the book an insightful read.
Most of The Deccan Archives' endeavours connect crucial aspects like architecture, literature, culture, food and history making exploration fun and intriguing at the same time.
