In the cultural tapestry of post-independence Hyderabad, few figures bridge the gap between the princely past and the democratic present as effectively as Bilquis Alladin (Bilkiz Alladin). A prolific writer, journalist, and heritage activist, she is celebrated not merely for marrying into one of the city’s most industrious families, the Alladins, but for carving out a distinct intellectual identity that championed the preservation of the Deccan’s feminist and architectural history. While often mentioned in the same breath as contemporaries such as Bilkees Latif, Bilquis Alladin’s legacy is uniquely defined by her focus on the “gendered connection” to heritage sites and her literary reclamation of Hyderabad’s most famous colonial romance.
Originally from Mumbai (then Bombay), Bilquis Alladin moved to Hyderabad in the 1940s after marrying into the prominent Alladin family, a lineage founded by the industrialist and philanthropist Khan Bahadur Ahmed Alladin. Her arrival coincided with a tumultuous period in the region’s history—the twilight of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and the turbulent integration of Hyderabad State into the Indian Union. Unlike many in the elite circles who retreated into private life during these upheavals, Bilquis engaged directly with the changing social landscape. She brought with her a cosmopolitan sensibility from Mumbai, which she successfully melded with the tehzeeb (etiquette) of the Hyderabadi aristocracy.
Foray into Journalism:
Bilquis Alladin became a formidable voice in Hyderabadi journalism, most notably through her long association with the Deccan Chronicle, the region’s leading English-language daily. For decades, she served as a chronicler of the city’s evolution. Her columns, such as those titled “Breaking History,” offered readers a window into the nuances of the past, preserving oral traditions at risk of being forgotten in a rapidly modernising city.
Her journalistic work was not limited to nostalgia; it often served as a record of political and social transitions. By documenting the cultural shifts from the Nizam’s dominion to a modern state capital, she ensured that the narrative of the Hyderabadi elite was not entirely lost to the dry text of official government records. Her writing style was accessible, aimed at the “layman” rather than the academic, which helped keep the city’s history alive in the public imagination.
Literary Contributions:
Perhaps her most enduring literary contribution is her book, ‘For the Love of a Begum‘. Decades before William Dalrymple popularised the story in ‘White Mughals‘, Bilquis Alladin fictionalised the late 18th-century romance between the British Resident, James Achilles Kirkpatrick, and the Hyderabadi noblewoman, Khairunnisa Begum.
While critics and historians have noted that the book is “not historically sound” in every technical detail, they acknowledge its significance in popularising a narrative that had been relegated to scandal or obscurity. Bilquis’s work was crucial because it centred the story on Khairunnisa, giving agency to the “Begum” in a historical episode often dominated by the British protagonist. Her retelling served as a cultural bridge, sparking keen interest in the period and laying the groundwork for future historical inquiries into the complex relationships between the British and the Nizams.
Pioneering Heritage Conservation:
Bilquis Alladin’s transition from writer to activist was driven by her realisation that the physical remnants of the history she wrote about were crumbling. She is credited with being one of the first activists to identify and champion the “gender connection” in Hyderabad’s heritage conservation.
Her advocacy focused principally on two monuments, both linked to powerful women:
1. The British Residency (Koti Women’s College): Inspired by her research into Khairunnisa Begum, Bilquis campaigned tirelessly for the restoration of the British Residency. She highlighted that this building was not only a symbol of colonial power but also, after its conversion into a women’s college, a sanctuary for women’s education. She drew attention to its “dilapidated condition” at a time when state funding was scarce, thereby attracting the attention of international bodies such as the World Monuments Fund.
2. The Tomb of Mah Laqa Bai Chanda: Her second major project was the restoration of the tomb of Mah Laqa Bai Chanda in Moula Ali. Recognising Mah Laqa Bai not just as a courtesan but as a powerful mystic, philanthropist, and the first woman to publish a ‘Diwan‘ of Urdu poetry, Bilquis fought to save her resting place from neglect. Her efforts were instrumental in preserving this monument, which stands as a testament to the high status that women could attain in the Asaf Jahi era.
Bilquis Alladin passed away, leaving behind a robust framework for heritage activism in Hyderabad. Her life demonstrates that the women of the Alladin family were not passive observers of history but active participants in shaping how that history would be remembered. Through her columns, her novel, and her on-the-ground activism, she ensured that the stories of Hyderabad’s women—from the 18th-century noblewomen to the 20th-century students of Women’s College—were preserved for future generations.