hyderabad the greater hyderabad municipal corporation ghmc in a rare display of cultural awareness has resolved to associate a number of city streets with noted personalities who enriched society with their immense contributions in the fields of creative and performing arts the names of classical music maestros like ustad bismillah khan and pt bhimsen joshi along with that of famed poet kaifi azmi will now grace the boulevards of hyderabad although welcome the action to be a rather pathetic attempt at emancipation by a people long subject to cultural suppression this choice of readily identifiable national icons without any regard as to their relevance regionally by representatives of local self government who are either unaware of their own heritage or unable to break away from hegemonic shackles of the dominant culture is indicative of the docile submission to cultural imperialism which has been a hallmark of our elected representatives while individual greatness of each one of the chosen illustrious personalities can brook no debate the grounds and criteria for selection are most certainly questionable among the veritable galaxy of artists and litterateurs who have commanded immense respect and popularity in the city one finds the likes of pandit jasraj his father pt motiram and shankari bai all vocalists renowned qawwal aziz ahmed khan warsi the legendary percussionist ustad shaik dawood poets mulla wajhi dagh dehlvi and maharaja kishen pershad shad to name just a few there is hence no dearth of our very own eminent local personalities who remain unsung and deserve to be suitably commemorated unfortunately our elected representatives who are charged with the duty of administering our metropolis have no clue as to the existence of these illustrious icons who have collectively given definition to the unique hyderabadi ethos the choice of honoring individuals who have no direct association with the city is thus a tacit admission that there are none of equal stature among our very own cultural stalwarts who deserve equal respect an implication which is bound to rankle every self respecting resident of hyderabad the announcement also triggers memories of the controversial ghalib centenary celebrations organized by the government of india an event which drew flak from intellectuals all over the country the celebrations held in 1968 ostensibly to commemorate the renowned bard of delhi mirza ghalib came at a time when sustained persecution by the state had reached a peak resulting in curtailment of the rights of the urdu speaking population reacting strongly at the obvious political overtones of the proposal outspoken poet and lyricist sahir ludhiyanvi thundered ye jashn ye hangama dilchasp khilone hain kuch logon ki koshish hai kuch log bahel jaaen jo waadae farad per ab tal nahin sakte hain mumkin hai ki kuch arsa is jashn pay tal jaaen these celebration these jubilations are is interesting diversions attempts of some to placate the rankled for those who can no longer be put off on promises of a rosy future may as yet be mollified for