Hyderabad is a city where history and modernity live side by side — from forts, tombs and pearls to pharma, IT and global innovation giants. Few writers have captured this transformation with as much depth and nuance as Dinesh C. Sharma, an award-winning journalist and author whose books explore India’s remarkable journey in science, technology, and innovation.
In his book, Beyond Biryani, Sharma takes us on a fascinating journey into Hyderabad’s lesser-known past and its rise as a knowledge and technology hub. The book weaves together anecdotes — from early scientific experiments with chloroform and astronomy, to the growth of software and pharma industries — to show how Hyderabad evolved into the cosmopolitan, forward-looking city it is today.
In this conversation with Richa Chadda, VP Strategy at klib, Sharma speaks about what inspired him to write Beyond Biryani, the surprising discoveries from his research, Hyderabad’s role in globalization, and why the city’s culture of openness may be its greatest strength.
Richa Chadda – Your books highlight India’s journey in science and technology. What drove you to capture these stories?
Dinesh C Sharma – As a science and technology journalist, I have found India’s journey in this field since 1947 a very fascinating tale. Just imagine this. When India became free, it was overwhelmingly rural and agricultural society with 85% of its population living in villages, but did not produce enough food grains to feed its people. The illiteracy rate was 84%, school education was in shambles and students had to go abroad for higher education in science and engineering. The average life expectancy of an Indian was 32 years in 1947. It was nothing short of audacious to think of using science and technology to address basic problems of people, and make investments in scientific research and laboratories. It was only because of the vision and foresight of Nehru and his scientist-advisors that today India stands tall in several fields – space, nuclear energy, information technology, generic drugs, affordable vaccines, engineering education etc. To me, this journey is interesting, intertwined with many dramatic events, personalities etc. I have tried to capture such stories in my books.
RC – What inspired you to explore Hyderabad’s story in Beyond Biryani? Why did you feel this city, in particular, deserved such a deep dive?
DCS – I was born in Hyderabad and grew up here, and have family connections with Hyderabad though I have been living in Delhi for the past 35 years. But this is not the sole reason I have written this book. I have been working on the history and growth of the technology sector in India for some time. My first book on the IT industry was published in 2009, and its international edition was published in 2015. As a follow-up to that, I wanted to write on the growth of technology clusters as well. One of the reasons for choosing Hyderabad was my familiarity with people and institutions. At the same time, the critical distance (being in Delhi) helped me look at the city and the transformation it was undergoing with a different lens, in a sort of detached manner.
Every book for me is a curiosity project and it begins with a fundamental question. I wanted to look at the origins of Hyderabad becoming a knowledge city. There are so many myths, misconceptions, and popular stories about it. I endeavoured to cut through all this and tell the story based on archival records, historical documents and interviews with key people involved in the journey wherever possible.
RC – Hyderabad has transformed from a historic city of Nizams and pearls into one of India’s most vibrant tech and pharma hubs. Your book talks of many interesting anecdotes beginning from research on chloroform to usage of tobacco leaves to control plague, from telling us about one of the earliest female doctors to the making of an observatory for astronomy and many more. What has been the most interesting and the most surprising piece of Hyderabad history for you personally when you were researching for this book?
It is truly amazing that a city that was steeped in aristocratic culture, quasi-Mughalai administrative structure and proxy-rule of the British in the nineteenth century initiated some remarkable scientific projects and built institutions of learning. These projects – the Chloroform Commissions, Nizamiah Observatory etc. – helped develop a culture of science in Hyderabad early on. They helped introduce modern ideas of evidence-based methods of research, peer review, connections with international networks, training of students as apprentice, publication of scientific journals, knowledge sharing and continued education, formation of scientific societies, and more importantly, state funding and patronage for scientific research. All this happened 100 to 150 years ago. This is pretty much how science is practiced in modern times too.
While researching for the book, there were several Eureka moments for me. Looking at the original files relating to industrial research in Hyderabad during the First World War period, at the Chowmahalla archives, I was astonished to read that chemists at the Government Distillery located at Narayanguda had developed motor spirit with alcohol extracted from Mahua flowers. Several cars of different make were run using this motor spirit which cost half the price of petrol then. The report mentioned that it was a discovery of ‘revolutionary nature.’ A century later, we are still struggling with ethanol-blended petrol! I had another surreal moment while reading originals of the love letters Sarojini Chattopadhyay wrote while at Cambridge to Dr M G Naidu whom she married in the late 19th century.
RC – Starting software development in the Administrative Staff College of India and then extending it to the public sector company CMC, the codes generated by Hyderabadis were being used by the Soviet and even for the London Underground. Do you think Hyderabad’s globalization story is unique, or is it a blueprint that could apply to other Indian cities?
DCS – The ball was set rolling much before the liberalisation and globalisation process began in the 1991. A major technological and industrial push came in the form of two public sector units, IDPL and ECIL. The first crop of entrepreneurs who floated start-ups in bulk drugs, electronics, software and so on were byproducts of PSUs (ECIL, IDPL, CMC) as well as research establishments like ASCI. The presence of well-funded technical institutions stimulated the growth of technology-based entrepreneurial firms in the 1970s and 1980s. The next phase began when new opportunities opened in 1991 due to economic liberalisation, and schemes like the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI). The politically dramatic entry of N. Chandrababu Naidu in 1995 was a turning point. He wanted to create an identity for himself as the maker of a globalised Hyderabad by aggressively pushing economic reforms and focusing on knowledge industries. Of course, several other factors like external demand (Y2k, patent regime change) and the role of the Telugu diaspora hastened the process. So, it is a mix of factors that shaped Hyderabad over decades. I don’t think there is a ready blueprint or template that other cities can simply copy but they can certainly learn from Hyderabad’s experience in bits and parts and develop their own model depending on respective strengths and weaknesses.
RC – Every growth story has its trade-offs. What challenges does Hyderabad face today as it continues to grow and globalize?
DCS – Hyderabad already has a diversified base that goes beyond IT and IT-enabled services. It is strong in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, life sciences, agriculture business, healthcare, engineering R&D and so on. Among the emerging sectors are space and aerospace, electric mobility, artificial intelligence, machine learning and so on. The city is set on a growth trajectory in terms of the volume of business, but I would like to see more home-grown innovation, product development and Hyderabadi companies becoming multinationals and owning intellectual property. For this, we need to invest in fundamental research, industrial R&D and innovation. This is the only way Hyderabad can remain competitive and keep growing.
RC – What role has migration, both into Hyderabad and from it, played in shaping its global identity?
DCS – As we know, modern technology cities are fundamentally shaped by migration. The flow of people – whether across countries or within national borders – is critical to ensure the skills, networks, and workforce required to grow and compete globally. Silicon Valley illustrates this clearly – a significant share of its startups have been founded or co-founded by immigrants including Indians. In the case of both Bangalore and Hyderabad, return migration has played a similar role. Indian engineers who studied or worked in America returned with technical expertise and business practices that accelerated their rise as IT hubs. Beyond technical skills, migration contributes to develop a city’s ecosystem. A diverse workforce fosters creativity, supports global business cultures, and makes cities attractive to global investors. Hyderabad has had a cosmopolitan culture for long, and it has helped it attract people from the North as well as Southern states. However, we are yet to see a sizeable population of expats.
RC – Corporate professionals often see Hyderabad as a workplace destination today. What insights from your research would help them better understand the city they are living and working in and become a true Hyderabadi?
DCS – I think it is important for professionals to learn a little more about the city where they work, in terms of its culture, people, food, monuments, buildings. Many a times we see a place but we don’t know the story behind it or how did that place acquire a particular name. Thousands of professional live and work in Gachibaoli area but only a few know the origin of its name. There is a baoli or a well after which this whole area is named. In fact, Hyderabad has many areas or localities named after baolis. How many people in the city, forget about recent migrants, know that the Musi Riverfront was planned 100 years ago and the grand buildings which we see today were built to make the Riverfront a beautiful place for people to work and visit. Riverfront development is not a new idea. My book talks about why certain institutions were built and how they contributed to the city’s growth over decades. Monuments are not just grand buildings but the signify something deeper about the institutions which they hosted at some point or the other.
RC – While the title playfully references biryani, the love of all Hyderabadis, the book goes far beyond food. What does the “biryani” symbolize in the context of Hyderabad’s journey into globalization?
DCS – I think Hyderabad has very well balanced its rich cultural heritage and the demands of modernity and globalisation. In fact, the assimilative and welcoming nature of Hyderabadi culture has helped the city’s globalisation. One of the major prerequisites of globalisation is the in-migration and movement of talent and technical manpower – in which local culture is the main factor. The traditional cuisine as well as food diversity, multi-language culture and favourable weather conditions are all important. Unlike some other metros, Hyderabad does not show hostility towards ‘outsiders’ but it welcomes them. People who come here from anywhere feel at home in Hyderabad. I feel this is what differentiates Hyderabad from other technology clusters in India. Hyderabadi Biryani is a symbol or mascot of Hyderabadi culture.
RC – If you had the power to change one piece of the evolutionary puzzle of Hyderabad and replace it with one of your own, what would you pick? What is it that Hyderabad could have done without?
DCS – Well, I would have liked all heritage buildings preserved, along with lakes, gardens and rocks which have disappeared. I still remember going for picnics at Naubat Pahad which had a beautiful Chatri and presented a panoramic view of the Hussain Sagar. And the Osmania Park (Chaman) that overlooked the majestic building of the Osmania General Hospital and the riverfront boulevard which had ornate stone gazebos for people to sit and relax. In the present-day Hyderabad, I would like to see a greater inter-mingling of Cyberabad, Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
RC – Finally, what do you hope a reader, especially a busy professional picking up your book through klib, will take away from Beyond Biryani?
DCS – The book is an attempt to present a new Hyderabad to people in India. Popular perceptions are formed based on personal experience, media portrayal and these days, social media discourse. Hyderabad needs an image makeover by capitalising on its intangible assets like cuisine, monuments, and multi-linguistic culture, and by combining it all with its growing technological business. To me, Hyderabad’s culture and technology go hand in hand. The old, the new and the post-modern coexist and that’s the strength of Hyderabad. And this is a key takeaway from my book.
