03/09/2021
Legends never die.
She was my silent strong reason, an inspiration behind Peace & Quiet.
She may be gone. But her legacy and fire will go on.
Rest in Peace, Suraiyya Aunty.
We so deeply mourn the passing of a grand old lady of Hyderabad: Suraiya Hasan Bose. “Suraiya apa” as we and many many others knew her.
In the course of the research for the film we met her several times and she greeted us with unfailing warmth and encouragement, sharing a rich repertoire of knowledge about the Indian freedom movement, Hyderabad history and culture as well as her own landmark work. Her contribution to Indian weaving tradition, to the weaves and weavers of our area, is the stuff of legend. But equally remarkable is her ease with it. Truly an icon of the grace and ease that Hyderabad is known for, an embodiment of knowledge worn lightly and shared generously.
She spoke at length with us about the rocks of the city, the lovely flora and fauna they housed. She spoke of how our textile weaves and designs are rooted in nature and the natural ingredients, dyes and methods that imbue them. She spoke of our cuisine, of pickles (!) and when it came to a shared love of Belambu ka achar she took us over to her Belambu plants and gave us a lovely Belambu sapling as a gift… a symbol of giving something that lasts and can be nurtured further, a memory that we treasure.
Hyderabadis know well, the store and facility she ran in the Dargah area in Toli Chowki. Where you dropped in for some lovely durries and fabrics/signature Telia Rumal saris / some lovely muslin prints / Mashru / Himroo….. but as you wandered around and chatted with her, you joyfully understood so much more: imbibed the stories behind each piece of work, felt the warm weight of its place in tradition, realized the enormous rigour and hard work behind each of it and were thankful to have such a wonderful resource in the city.
For us it was the place to take any visitor to Hyderabad, representative as it was of all that is special about Hyderabad. A beautiful space to start with, simple, surrounded by a lovely garden that she was so proud of. And what made it all come together was her own presence, welcoming of anyone who dropped in, chatting easily about the length and breadth of developments in our history, our weaving traditions and her own momentous place in it all.
Remembering all this really throws one into a bit of despair at what is lost and how well she embodied it. How one wishes some of this grace and generosity would alleviate the fast pace, the rigid thinking, and yes, the graceless pursuit of “success”” we see around us today…
Her career, life and personality are forever an inspiration.
Khuda Hafiz Suraiya apa. Your grace, warmth and your generosity lives on with us.
