President Murmu inaugurates replica of flagpole that witnessed Hyderabad’s accession to Indian Union

Also inaugurated were a maze garden and a children’s park, restoration of stepwells, Shiva and Nandi sculptures and new enclaves in the knowledge gallery at Rashtrapati Nilayam

Besides the flagpole, President Murmu also inaugurated a maze garden and a children’s park; restoration of stepwells and traditional irrigation systems; Shiva and Nandi sculptures on the rock water cascade; and the addition of new enclaves in the knowledge gallery on the Rashtrapati Nilayam campus. (Express Photo)

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday inaugurated a replica of the historic flagpole at the Rashtrapati Nilayam on which the national flag was hoisted for the first time in Hyderabad after the princely state acceded to the Indian Union in 1948. The 120-ft-tall flagpole made of teak was later dismantled as it became dilapidated and posed a threat to the main building.

Murmu arrived in Hyderabad on Monday night as part of the President’s annual southern sojourn for five days. The Rashtrapati Nilayam, the iconic heritage bungalow built in the 1850s, served as the country house of the British Residents before Independence. It is now the official retreat of the President of India during the annual southern sojourn. Since last year, the 97-acre campus has been open to visitors except on Mondays and government holidays.

It was at an official ceremony in 1948 at the Bolarum residency (which is now the Rashtrapati Nilayam), the erstwhile Hyderabad state’s flag was taken down from the flagpole in the presence of Prince Azam Jah, the eldest son of seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, and the tricolour was hoisted as a symbolic transition of power. It was also here in 1949 that civil services officer MK Vellodi took the oath of office as the first appointed chief minister of Hyderabad after military rule was disbanded.

The new flagpole is an exact replica of the original one and has wooden platforms on it at a height of 15 m and 30 m as before. The replica features hinges and, as before, is erected with 14 steel wire stay supports at different locations.

Flags can be hoisted on the new pole both manually and using a motorised mechanism with steel wires and pulleys. There is also a provision to illuminate the flagpole at night. At the four corners of the flagpole area, authorities have installed 250-watt LED focus lights to illuminate the flag. For easy general maintenance, a mobile man trolley system has been installed in the flagpole with steel wires and pulleys as per the flag hoisting system.

According to a press release, the maze garden located near the main building has Murraya Exotica as the main attraction. The restoration of three stepwells is aimed at capturing a significant amount of rainwater and increasing water security and local resource sustainability while traditional irrigation systems will make visitors aware of the heritage. The sculptures of Dakshinamurthy Shiva seated under a banyan tree and the Nandi bull on a rock are among the newest attractions for visitors.

In the knowledge gallery, two new enclaves have been added—one provides information about the unification of Hyderabad and the other about Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Presidents of India. The Rock paintings outside the knowledge gallery depict various aspects of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat”—scientific and defence achievements, heritage, various monuments and art forms.

First published on: 21-12-2023 at 17:34 IST