The echoes of the strife over bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh have reached Delhi. At its epicenter are two of the city’s landmarks--Hyderabad House where the Indian government throws lavish dinners for visiting foreign dignitaries and its humbler cousin of cuisine, AP Bhavan, which has the cafeteria that first introduced delicious Andhra food to Delhi foodies.
Following Napoleon’s saying that “an army marches on its stomach”, pro and anti-Telangana protestors who once thronged the capital had a common fill-in-station at AP Bhawan, standing barely 200 metres from Parliament. For the last three months, its famous canteen has turned into a battleground, without declaring it allegiance to either Telangana or Seemandhra.
After the Telangana approval came through earlier this week, the question looming large over the identity of the Bhawan is, “Who does it belong to? Telangana or Seemandhra?” Even the AP Bhawan employees are divided on regional lines. They took out rallies in support of their respective country cousins. “Dharnas and candle light rallies in front of AP Bhawan have become a regular affair,” said Kiran Kumar, special officer at the Bhawan.
Most of its employees are from Seemandhra. With the fight over what cuisine would be served over, a new battle is now on the cards.
The Bhawan has seen many historic events like the confabulations that led to the formation of the National Front government in 1989 and the United Front government in 1996. In 1987, the Bhawan hosted a conclave of non-Congress chief ministers to revive anti-Congress forces. Emerging from the important meeting, the West Bengal chief minister of the time Jyoti Basu was asked for meeting details. He replied, “The food was very good.” It was NT Rama Rao, former chief minister and founder of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who opened the AP Bhavan canteen to the public in 1984. AP Bhavan, like Hyderabad House, was originally the property of the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad. Its canteen mostly serves Andhra food, rather than typical Hyderabadi cuisine. Biryani is served only on Sundays.
AP Bhawan has many similarities with Hyderabad. Seemandhra leaders claim they developed the AP Bhawan as an important centre in the capital like they did with Hyderabad.
The Hyderabad House, built by the Nizam, has been with the State of Hyderabad. AP Bhawan too was built on the land that once belonged to the Nizam. In 1956, Telengana merged with Andhra to form the state of Andhra Pradesh. Though Hyderabad House was taken over by the Centre in 1948 after Sardar Patel annexed Hyderabad state, the AP government received funds every year to compensate for the loss of Nizam’s erstwhile palace.
Originally the Nizam’s property, Telangana now claims that the AP Bhavan naturally belongs to it.
Meanwhile, the habitual Delhi patrons of the cafetaria have been banned from eating there. “You can pack your food,” says the genial manager. Until the issue is settled, the pot will continue to boil.