Hyderabad Utsav: Exhibition started amid fear of Covid

Hyderabad: Hyderabadis cannot even think of New Year without exhibitions. This year too is no different. But as the 83rd edition of the All India Industrial Exhibition began, there was a cautious excitement. The consumer fair is being eagerly awaited, which comes amid reports of a rise in Covid cases. Will this affect the exhibition? Officials shrugged off the concerns, saying the show must go on. However, it remains a matter of concern for the thousands of trade fair visitors. Even on the first day, the huge field was full of anticipation. Colorful banners, attractively decorated stalls and songs from old films were creating magic. At Rs 40, this is the cheapest entertainment that families don’t want to miss. Yet, beneath the celebration, a collective unease persists. Will the virus put a halt to this iconic celebration? The exhibition had to be suspended indefinitely in 2022 amid the spread of the Omicron variant and a sharp rise in Covid cases. IT Minister and Exhibition Society President D. Sridhar Babu has appealed to the visitors to compulsorily wear masks and strictly follow the Covid norms while visiting the exhibition. The Exhibition Society has provided a Covid vaccination facility and a medical check-up center for the benefit of the visitors. The first day passed smoothly with laughter and enthusiasm. The annual carnival goes ahead, symbolizing resilience against adversity. However, there was a wave of caution among the attendees as not many were seen wearing masks. Some people seem concerned about striking a balance between fun and responsibility. How did the exhibition begin? All big things have small beginnings. It is no different from Numaish, Hyderabad’s most popular consumer fair. But the grandeur of the current spectacle is a far cry from its humble origins in 1938. At the time, this vibrant gathering of commerce and culture was a modest affair. The ‘Numaish Masnuat-e-Mulki’ as it was originally called was inaugurated by the 7th Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan on the occasion of his birth anniversary in the public garden. The first exhibition lasted only for 10 days and the next year it was organized for 15 days. As its popularity grew, it was extended to a full month. The idea of an exhibition was first mooted by the Economic Committee of the Osmania Graduates Association to raise funds for conducting an economic survey of the state. When this proposal was put before the then Prime Minister Sir Akbar Hydari, he liked it. As the exhibition gained momentum, both its content and coverage increased and attracted thousands of visitors. In 1948 it was named All India Industrial Exhibition. It was inaugurated in its new avatar by the then Governor General of India, C. Rajagopalachari.