The Blunt Page by Himanshu Pandey

  During my recent visit to the old city of Hyderabad, I wandered through the lanes around Charminar and Makkah Masjid. The chaos, the colors, the aroma of Irani chai, and the charm of old stones created an unforgettable atmosphere. But more than the monuments, one question stayed with me. How did this city get its name? Curiosity took over. As I explored books and spoke with elderly locals near Charminar, one story surfaced again and again. A love story. A tale of a prince and a young woman whose bond became part of the city’s identity. That story moved me deeply, and I felt it deserved to be retold. So here it is, the tale of Bhagmati and Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a blend of romance and history that shaped the city we now call Hyderabad. The Tale of Bhagmati and the Sultan Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, founded the city in 1591. Golconda, the old capital, had become crowded and water scarce, so the Sultan envisioned a new city a...

 It is hard to express an entire year in a single blog, but I will try my best. 2025 was a year that began with loneliness, and strangely, it ended the same way. I still remember my internship. I think that one month changed me completely. Even while writing this, I feel nervous because this year shook me, shaped me, and somewhere, healed me. This was the year I met some of the most fantastic people of my life. They changed me in ways I did not expect. Yes, that means you. I travelled more than ever, spent more time outside the classroom than inside, and that changed how I think and how I see the world. I do not know if I made many friends this year, but I surely earned a few people who guided me, corrected me, and stood with me. I have realised it is hard to grow in isolation. You need a circle that pulls you out of confusion, that gives you a tight slap on your back when you are going in the wrong direction. Whether it was luck or hard work, I found that circle in 2025. They craf...