HYDERABAD.DEC.10(RAHNUMA) The Rahnuma-E-Deccan Family Residence hosted its Annual Family and Staff Appreciation Dinner last night, bringing together the entire editorial and administrative team of the 104-year-old newspaper. Reporters, sub-editors, photographers, office staff, the Editor-in-Chief, and members of the Rahnuma-E-Deccan Family gathered for an evening dedicated to honouring service, strengthening bonds, and celebrating the enduring heritage of Hyderabad’s oldest Urdu daily.
A central highlight of the evening was the presentation of two prestigious family awards by Imam ul-Mulk IV Nawab Syed Ahmed Khan, Head of the Rahnuma-E-Deccan Family, at his ancestral home.
Shahid Husain Zuberi, acclaimed author of Auraaq-e-Maazi, was honoured in absentia with The Rahnuma-E-Deccan Family Award for Outstanding Contribution to Civilizational Heritage due to ill health.
Fazalunissa S. Begum, youngest daughter of Syed Yusufuddin—Co-Founder of Rahbar-e-Deccan—was presented the Rahnuma-E-Deccan Family Award for Service, Stewardship & Sacrifice, recognising her lifelong dedication, leadership, and her essential role in safeguarding the family estate and the legacy of the newspaper.
The evening was graced by distinguished guests, including the great-grandchildren of Hyderabad’s legendary tennis champion S.M. Hadi, affectionately known as Rainbow Hadi, who represented Hyderabad twice at Wimbledon. Also in attendance was Tamara Thorpe of Australia, whose father served as Private Secretary to His Exalted Highness Asaf Jah VIII, Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah Bahadur, VIII Nizam of Hyderabad.
Adding historical prominence to the gathering, Dr. Syed M. Habeebi and Maqbool Ahmed, M.A., both former senior members of the Indo Arab League Hyderabad during the lifetime of its late Chairman Syed Vicaruddin, were present, reaffirming the league’s long-standing relationship with the Rahnuma-E-Deccan Family. Their attendance served as a poignant reminder of late Syed Vicaruddin’s extraordinary contributions to Indo-Arab cultural diplomacy.
The event concluded with heartfelt expressions of gratitude, unity, and a renewed commitment to upholding the cultural, intellectual, and journalistic mission entrusted to the Rahnuma-E-Deccan Family for over a century.
