Back with another story of Hyderabad being home, The Pioneer interacts with Priya Gazdar, who hails from Kothagudem, as she speaks of her fondest memories in the city, how she considers herself a true Hyderabadi, and more.
Subodhini Purohit
Meet Priya Gazdar—after 35 years in Hyderabad, she firmly considers herself a true Hyderabadi. While not a resident of the city, she is from Kothagudem, the headquarters of The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Her journey to Hyderabad began with her post-graduate studies, which led to her career and marriage, firmly establishing her in the city she now considers home. When she thinks about Hyderabad, she envisions a warm home.
The new chairperson of the FICCI FLO Hyderabad Chapter enjoys this city, and to her, it has given her a sense of freedom and security, which she values. She has always been picky about who she spends time with, so she has never been a fan of huge groups. She has always felt comfortable going to study or dance courses on her own. Even now, living in the city, she has never felt threatened. With many of her family members living in Bangalore, she is well aware of the traffic difficulties there. In comparison, traffic congestion in Hyderabad is far more bearable.
She begins, “Growing up in my little community was a fantastic experience, particularly in the early 1990s. We had outstanding educational institutions, but chances were restricted. This prompted all of us to travel to the neighbouring city, Hyderabad. Although my hometown will always have a special place in my heart, I’ve now made Hyderabad my home, and the energy of city life is incredibly energising.”
City has benefited her in a variety of ways; she studied to be a chartered accountant but didn’t like it from both sides of the table. She says, “I resigned and began to consider what to do since I didn’t want to go back to one more day of numbers. When I first expressed an interest in advertising, everyone assumed I was qualified or overqualified. But I was able to open my door, and after several years, it is now a leading brand management company in the city, and I am grateful to Hyderabad for providing me with all of these possibilities.”
She didn’t want to leave Hyderabad because her family was in Delhi and Mumbai, and she didn’t want to miss out on opportunities, but it took her six months of work to get her foot in the door, and the Hyd city was very nice to her. She had her dance guru here for bharatanatyam classes, which she would practice until 9 p.m. and drive back on her small scooty.
“I like everything about Hyderabad’s greenery. There is no need to find a location to walk, swim, or cycle because they are all nearby. The kindness of the people here makes you feel right at home; whether you speak Telugu, Hindi, or English, communication is never a problem. Hyderabad, with its overall development, is a wonderfully balanced city to live in.”
Her family lived in Hyderabad, and so she never preferred to relocate to Delhi or Mumbai. She has many fond recollections of visiting Hyderabad with her father throughout the vacations. She recalls the long road trip that took them around four and a half hours to reach the city. They would remain for two days, and every time they drove by Ravindra Bharathi, she adds, “My father would point to it and tell me that if I was really talented at dancing, one day I’d give a solo performance there. That became my little fantasy, and I’m glad to report that I made it happen. Performing at Ravindra Bharathi is my favourite memory of Hyderabad, and it has a special place in my heart.”
She is now the Chairperson of the FLO Hyderabad Chapter, and it gives her immense delight to contribute back to society and provide chances for others. She got married and had her kid in Hyderabad, so it actually feels like she has built a family here. She says, “These moments are invaluable to me, and they have shaped my life in the most beautiful ways.”
As a tourist to Hyderabad, she describes the city as “a magical place.” “I enjoyed shopping, buying clothes, and going to Ravindra Bharathi. However, after starting my articleship and working for various companies, I chose to shift my career path. Hyderabad is a city of opportunities where you can follow your ambitions and be who you desire. It’s like having the finest of both worlds in one location.” There are numerous locations, and she believes it has a strong culture, both classical and old, as well as contemporary and future. These two features converge in Hyderabad!
Alternatively, she dislikes the fact that the pipeline was dug up again after only a month of being laid. Sometimes rubbish is not picked up, and when it rains, traffic is high, resulting in extended travel times. However, they are infrequent occurrences. The drainage system, like any other city, might be improved.
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