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MOHD HAMZA KHAN

@obsessedhamza

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~ Qisse, Kahaniyan, Tareekh aur Aligarh ~

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🎓✨ Do you know how the Aligarh Tarana came into existence? Back in 1936, poet Asrar-ul-Haq Majaz recited his poem “Nazr-e-Aligarh” for the very first time at the AMU Union Hall, but halfway through, the then Pro-Vice-Chancellor stopped him — the verses were too bold. Fast forward to 1954, a B.Ed. student, Khan Ishtiyaq, composed a tune for this very poem. When he sought permission from Union President Ahmad Sayeed to present it as the University Tarana, the response was harsh: “I’ll never let a progressive writer’s poem become our Tarana.” Yet, Khan Ishtiyaq didn’t give up. He went to VC Zakir Hussain, who loved the idea — and decided it would be sung on Sir Syed Day 1954. When the Tarana echoed through Strachey Hall that day, the hall rose to a standing ovation. Even the same Union President who once refused walked up to the stage, hugged Khan Ishtiyaq, and apologized. From that moment, standing and clapping at the Tarana’s climax became a tradition — one that lives on even today. Majaz Sahab passed away. Just a year later, never hearing his poem as the Tarana, but what began in 1936, found its soul in 1954 and to this day, its beats in every Alig’s heart, Ye Meera Chaman Hai Meera Chaman.
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#aligarh #aligarhmuslimuniversity #aligarhdiaries #aligarhmuslimuniversity❤️ #aligarh_muslim_university #aligarh_wale #sirsyed #sirsyedday #amutarana #tarana #aligarhtarana #majazlakhnavi #history #storytelling #lucknow #amustudents taken in Aligarh Muslim University by @obsessedhamza

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a year ago

This anecdote from Saadat Hasan Manto’s life perfectly captures the double standards of society. Manto writes that once he was sitting in his room, listening to the radio. Alongside the music, he could hear some boys outside his window engaging in trivial and meaningless conversations. They were speaking about a girl and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. At one point, one of the boys casually remarked, “Life goes on.” However, before the thought could develop further, the call to prayer (Azan) began to echo through the surroundings. Immediately, one of the boys jumped up, ran to Manto’s room, knocked on the door, and angrily demanded, “Turn off the radio! Don’t you know the Azan is being called?” This short episode highlights the irony and hypocrisy in societal behavior, showing how certain actions are criticized while others, equally trivial or frivolous, are tolerated without question.
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#sadathassanmanto #manto #urdu #storytelling #feminism #feminist #urduadabshayri #ghalib #urdupoetry #urduquotes #urdushayari #urduadab #urdulovers #history #urduliterature #urdustory #urdustories #iqbal #urdunovels by @obsessedhamza

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a year ago

A forgotten promise, a masterful reminder, and one lakh rupees finally fulfilled-this storytelling reel brings to life a powerful incident from pre-independence India. At a time when many educational institutions existed, it was the scholars of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) who stood out, admired around the world for their intellect and grace. Years earlier, Agha Khan had pledged a donation of 81 lakh to AMU, but with time, the promise faded into silence.
Later, Sir Ziauddin, the Vice Chancellor of AMU, accompanied by the witty and eloquent Hadi Hassan, paid a visit to Agha Khan. During the meeting, Hadi Hassan gently said, “Alhamdulillah, I have everything
-only one wish remains: to see that one lakh rupees before I die.” Sir Ziauddin immediately added, “That’s not a big thing.
Agha Khan can fulfill it right now.” The message was clear, respectful, and brilliantly delivered. Agha Khan smiled.
understood the graceful reminder, and instructed his staff to bring bundles of cash from his locker. As the money was placed on the table, Hadi Hassan began picking up the notes one by one and calmly said, “Sir, do you remember that you had once promised this amount to Aligarh Muslim University?” Agha Khan, moved by their charm and diplomacy, raised no objection and fulfilled the long-standing promise on the spot. This is more than just a forgotten story-it is a powerful moment in AMU’s legacy and a timeless lesson in memory, dignity, and respectful persuasion.
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[history, storytelling,kahaniyan,Urdu stories,Indian history,before partition,Lucknow,Aligarh,Aligarh Muslim university, sir syed]
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#history #indianhistory #storytelling #storytellers #urdu #urduadaab #urdupoetrylines #aligarh #aligarhmuslimuniversity #aligarhdiaries #aligarhmuslimuniversity❤️ #aligarh_wale #aligarh_muslim_university #sirsyed taken in Aligarh Muslim University by @obsessedhamza

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a year ago

you don't need any AI slop when you look like this everyday.
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80s Vibe Trend.
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#80svibes #trend #post #feed #ᴇxᴘʟᴏʀᴇᴘᴀɢᴇ by @obsessedhamza

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22 days ago

Can you identify an entire city just by looking at its windows?
Well, if that city is Kolkata, absolutely.
Walk through the older neighbourhoods of Kolkata and you’ll notice a distinctive type of wooden shutter window, locally known as Kholkhori. According to local tradition, the name comes from the characteristic rattling sound these shutters make when they are opened or closed. But their story is far more fascinating than their sound.

Shuttered windows themselves are ancient, with early examples found in Greece, where they were made from marble. Later, Europeans began using wooden shutters, but these generally had one limitation you could either open the entire window or keep it completely closed. In 18th-century Kolkata, local craftsmen adapted the design in a remarkably practical way.
When similar European-style windows were installed in the grand residences of Bengal, artisans introduced a mechanism that allowed multiple wooden slats to be raised or lowered together. This was especially useful in the zenana, where women could look outside, enjoy natural ventilation and let in light while maintaining privacy. European travellers visiting Kolkata reportedly admired these ingenious windows, and the design gradually found its way into other British colonial settlements.

What makes Kolkata’s Kholkhori windows so fascinating is that they represent more than architecture they reflect the ingenuity of local craftsmen adapting imported ideas to Indian climate, culture and social life. The design was later associated with British patents in England, adding another intriguing chapter to its history. So the next time you spot these distinctive wooden shutters in an old Kolkata building, look a little closer you may be looking at one of the city's most overlooked architectural innovations.
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#kolkatadiaries #kolkatagram #kolkata #kolkatagram taken in Kolkata - The City of Joy by @obsessedhamza

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a month ago

There was a time when a broken fountain pen meant finding a pen doctor not throwing it away.

Hidden in the heart of Kolkata, near the historic Chowringhee area, stands the Pen Hospital, a remarkable old-world establishment dedicated to repairing and restoring fountain pens. Established in the late 1950s by Muhammad Samsuddin, the grandfather of the present-day pen mechanic Muhammad Imtiaz, the shop has survived generations of changing technology and writing habits.

Today, Imtiaz continues the family craft, working on everything from everyday fountain pens to expensive vintage collectibles. His customers don't simply bring him stationery—they bring him objects with memories attached to them.

Inside the shop, repaired pens sit carefully wrapped in paper, marked with their owners' names and addresses, waiting to return home. Some are decades old; others are valuable vintage models worth thousands of rupees.
But the Pen Hospital isn't only about fixing pens. Imtiaz still teaches customers how to clean, maintain and properly use a fountain pen—because, as he puts it, fountain pens are a labour of love.

What makes this place fascinating is how the craft itself has changed. Earlier, repairing a fountain pen was relatively simple: fix the nib, replace a socket or adjust a body component. Modern pens, however, often require specialised branded parts that have to be sourced directly from manufacturers.

In an age of smartphones, digital notes and disposable stationery, Kolkata's Pen Hospital continues to preserve something increasingly rare—the idea that an everyday object can be repaired, cared for and eventually become an heirloom.
A small shop, an old craft, and generations of stories written one pen at a time. ✒️
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#kolkata #kolkatadiaries #kolkataheritage #kolkatahistory taken in Kolkata - The City of Joy by @obsessedhamza

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a month ago

In the bylanes of Lucknow, there exists a craft that doesn’t just shine it remembers. For centuries, artisans have been turning silver into wearable art, and craftsmen like Hafiz Mohammad Ashfaq are among the last keepers of this fading legacy. “This isn’t just work,” he says, “it’s something that has flowed through generations from my grandfather, to my father, and now to me.”

Once reserved for nawabs and royal households, silver footwear was a symbol of status and elegance. Today, it finds its place in weddings, especially for brides, and among those who value rare, handcrafted luxury. From delicate slippers to sandals and traditional nagra juttis, each piece carries a story.

The making itself is almost poetic raw silver is melted, pressed into fine sheets, and carefully stretched to perfection. From there, every design is hand-marked and shaped, depending on the form it will take. No two pieces are ever truly the same.

What you see isn’t just footwear it’s heritage, hammered into form with patience, precision, and pride.
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#lucknow #lucknowdiaries #lucknowheritage #chandichappal taken in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh by @obsessedhamza

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5 months ago

When people think of Muharram, they often remember processions and remembrance. But in many homes across India, another centuries-old tradition comes to life the preparation of Khichda.
According to tradition, the origins of Khichda are linked to the tragedy of Karbala. When food and water were cut off from the camp of Imam Hussain (AS), the women of the caravan gathered whatever grains and ingredients remained and cooked them together to feed the hungry. Over time, this simple meal became a symbol of sacrifice, resilience, and sharing.
Even today, during the month of Muharram, families prepare Khichda as an act of charity (khidmat), with both Shia and Sunni communities participating in its preparation and distribution.
In earlier days, making Khichda was a family affair. Elderly women personally supervised every step—from washing the wheat and lentils to cleaning, pounding, and slow-cooking the ingredients for hours. More than just a dish, it was a labor of love, patience, and devotion.
Khichda is not merely food. It is a centuries-old tradition that keeps the memory of Karbala alive.
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[ Karbala, imam Hussain , niyaz, tabarrukh, muharram dish, muharram recipe, muharram haleem, lucknow muharram, muharram dum roat, haleem , majlis ]
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#muharram #muharramhaleem #haleem #khichda #karbala. by @obsessedhamza

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3 months ago

The story of Hameedi Confectioners isn’t just about sweets it’s about legacy, royalty, and global admiration. Established over 140 years ago, it is believed to be one of Hyderabad’s oldest sweet shops. Its founder, Mohammed Hussain, learned the art of making traditional sweets at a very young age by just 16, he had mastered the craft.

During the reign of Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, the fame of his halwa spread across the city. When the Nizam tasted it, he was so impressed that he ordered it to be served at every royal gathering and feast.

The story doesn’t stop in Hyderabad. It is said that this very halwa reached the court of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire. Prepared here and sent across the seas, the sweet won his heart too. So much so that whenever there was a royal occasion, a special request would be sent for this halwa from Hyderabad.

Originally known by another name, the shop was later renamed “Hameedi” by royal command, and officially recognized with great honor.

This isn’t just mithai this is a taste that travelled from Hyderabad to royal courts across the world, carrying with it the richness of history and tradition. taken in Hyderabad , Telengana. India by @obsessedhamza

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6 months ago

18 January 1955 — Sadat Hasan Manto left this world.
Under layers of earth, he still wonders who was the greater storyteller — God or him.
Manto lives on.
From archives --

#manto
#aligarhmuslimuniversity❤️

#lahore

#amu
#lalsalam by @obsessedhamza

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8 months ago

Today, we revisit a breakfast that belongs only to Aligarh something you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Matri, a simple-looking bread, carries within it the memory and culinary identity of the city. Its story is believed to begin around 1890, when Latif Khan, an Aligarh resident originally from Peshawar, introduced it here. Latif Khan had inherited his craft from his father, who once served as the head chef at a British Army camp in Gorakhpur.

What truly shaped Matri into the breakfast Aligarh knows today is a story passed down through generations. Late one night, a group of young men from noble families, studying in the city, were struck by hunger. With no eateries open and little food in sight, they managed to find just two Matris and a single egg. Out of sheer necessity, they placed the egg between the Matris and toasted it together, creating something entirely new.

That simple experiment caught on quickly. What began as a moment of hunger soon turned into a citywide habit, earning the title of a “Nawabi breakfast.” For over 130 years now, Matri has remained more than just food it has been a shared memory for generations of Aligarh’s students, wrapped in warmth, tradition, and nostalgia. by @obsessedhamza

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9 months ago

~ 2025 ~ by @obsessedhamza

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9 months ago