Discover the fascinating history behind Hyderabad’s ‘Charkhandil’, lanterns that lit up the city in Nizam era

The term "Charkhandil" is not considered offensive by many families in Aghapura, as it holds historical significance for them. The name of the locality, Charkhandil, originated from the four lanterns that once hung at the junction. "Qandil" is the Urdu word for lantern, which gradually evolved into "Khandil." The numeral four in Urdu, "char," gave rise to the term "charkhandil." These lanterns once illuminated the junction and the surrounding roads at night.

Hyderabad: As a child many of us might have taunted a friend who wore spectacles as ‘charkhandil’ describing it as ‘two eyes and two glasses, total four’, ending up inviting their friendly wrath.

Nevertheless the term ‘charkhandil’ is no offensive nomer for several families staying in Aghapura because it has a historical reference for them. The name of the locality here i.e., Charkhandil was derived from the four lanterns that once hung at the junction.

---

‘Qandil’ is the Urdu term for lantern and slowly it began to be written as Khandil. The numeral four in Urdu means ‘char’ so the term charkhandil. The lanterns illuminated the junction and the road in night.

During Nizam era, the authorities to illuminate the roads hung lanterns at important junctions in the city. A staffer from the local municipality then was assigned the task of lighting the lanterns in the evening. It is said the assigned person would move around different areas on a bicycle and lighting the lantern using a torch (mashal).

Every residential cluster had a man to do the job in the evenings. The practice continued even after the Nizam era ended and electric lights were installed on the poles on the roads.

The lanterns were hung at Ek Minar Masjid junction, MJ Market (old traffic police station junction), Alaska junction, Puranapul junction and important points in the residential areas in old Hyderabad.

Though the lanterns had disappeared, the poles made of alloy remained integral in few localities in old city until recently when the local leaders dismantled it and sold in scrap, pointed out a historian.

While people literally forget the ‘Qandil’ and their significance, the Aghapura Charkhandil remains embedded in the history of the city. The shops and residential apartments have the word mentioned on the signboards.

Although, the four lanterns have disappeared on the rotary that still exist at the place, the authorities have installed four surveillance cameras to monitor the activities there.

A police official of Habeebnagar police station that four cameras were installed few years ago, taking into the account the four roads at the small junction.

A local businessman Pankaj Agarawal said though there are no lanterns at the junction, the area retained the name. “Ask any auto driver, he will drop you here. The rotary that remains here is a popular landmark of the city and it should be developed on lines of Gulzar Houz,” he demanded.