Türkiye’s Consul General Orhan Yalman Okan reflects on 300 yrs of Nizams

Dinesh Akula

We have deep historical and cultural ties between Türkiye and Hyderabad. In fact, the relations between the Turks and Indians date back 1,000 years. It is well known that the old Turkish states in Central Asia organized expeditions to India, ruled in these lands and introduced Islam in this geography. For this reason, Muslims in India even call themselves “Turkoglu” which means “child of Turk”.

Since the Ottoman Sultans were not only a head of state but also the caliph of Islam, Muslims living in India have always loved and respected the Ottoman Sultans and the Turkish people. Indian Muslims also gave huge material and moral support to the Turkish liberation war in early 20th century due to their love and respect for the caliphate and the Turkish people.

The abolition of the Khilafat in 1924 was of course greeted with sadness by the Indian Muslims. This is understandable. However, at that time, such a decision was inevitable for the new Turkish Republic. Because the caliphate is such an office that it would not have been possible to keep it as a purely symbolic religious office. There was always a possibility that it would gather political power over time and be abused by certain circles that could pose a threat to the secular foundations of the new Republic. It could also have led to a two-headedness within the country. It was for the good of the new Republic and the revolutions that the office of the Caliphate was abolished and placed under the authority of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

The warm relations between the Turks and Indians continued even after the abolition of the caliphate. The successful outcome of the Turkish liberation war was a great source of inspiration for the colonized peoples in all over the World. The new Turkish Republic has become a hope for the liberation of all oppressed peoples.

Q: Considering the rich cultural heritages of both regions, could you share insights on any historical or ongoing cultural exchanges that have helped strengthen the bond between Türkiye and Hyderabad, specifically, and India, in general?

At this point, we must mention about the Turkish princesses who conquered the hearts of all Indians. When 7th Nizam Mir Ali Osman Jah’s son “Nawab Azam Jah” was at marriage age, “Durrushehvar Sultan”, daughter of the last Caliph Abdulmecid Efendi, was also at marriage age. Many leaders from the Islamic geography wanted to marry their sons to Durrushehvar Sultan. Of course, there was also the thought that in the future the caliphate might pass to their descendants. In the end, Abulmecid Efendi decided to give his daughter to the Asaf Jah dynasty, one of the richest dynasties of the time, with whom he had enjoyed close friendship and support for many years.

Princess Durrushehvar’s arrival in Hyderabad as a bride marked the beginning of a new era. Durrushehvar Sultan endeared herself to all Indians, regardless of their religion or etnicity. She devoted her life to charity. With the nursing homes, kitchens, hospitals and schools that she built, she earned an unshakable place in the minds and hearts of the Indian people. She conquered hearts like a one-man army. She became an indestructible figure introducing Turkish people and culture. The Indian people, who have already loved the Turkish people and culture for centuries, have increased their love and affection even more as a result of Princess Durrushehvar’s activities and assistance.

Princess Durrushehvar had two sons from her marriage to Azam Jah: Mukarram Jah and Mufakham Jah. Durrushehvar Sultan found Turkish brides for her two sons and married them to Princess Esra and Princess Esin. Both women came from well-established and wealthy families in Istanbul. Both princess embraced their mother’s legacy and carried out numerous charitable works in India. Thus, the Indian people embraced the three Turkish princess and this led to the emergence of a blood bond between the two peoples. It even led many of the dynasty’s relatives to marry Turkish ladies.

Even today, you can see that the Turkish people and culture have a special place in the hearts of the people of Hyderabad and even the Indian people in general. The number of Indian tourists traveling from India to Türkiye is increasing every year. In 2022 it was 2.3 lakh, in 2023 it was more than 2.7 lakh and this year more than 3.5 lakh Indian tourists are expected to visit Türkiye.

The interest shown by the people of Hyderabad in the cultural events that we organize as the Consulate General of Türkiye in Hyderabad is also remarkable. Turkish food weeks, fashion weeks, Turkish movie days, dance and music groups from Türkiye attract great interest of the public.

The fact that nearly 40 Indian weddings were held in Türkiye last year, that many Indian film producers prefer Türkiye for shootings, and that Turkish movies and TV series are watched with great interest in India are the results of this growing interest.

With the increase in cultural and tourism relations, people are also discovering the similarities between the two peoples and are very happy about it.

Turkiye, India rising powers

Q: In the context of the evolving global geopolitical landscape, how do you assess the current state of India-Türkiye relations, and what steps are being taken to further enhance these ties?

Türkiye and India are the rising powers in the World, leaders in their respective regions and playing a constructive and influential role in global affairs. Therefore, the two countries cannot afford to ignore each other. On the contrary, their cooperation and solidarity brings many regional and global benefits.

I am pleased to see that relations between Türkiye and India have been developing further in recent years. The number of high-level contacts is increasing. We are working to make cooperation mechanisms even more active. Relations between business circles and organizations are also developing and yielding tangible results.

At this point, I would like to mention the need to increase the number of destinations that Turkish Airlines flies to in India. Because the basic element of trade and all kinds of interaction between peoples is transportation. Turkish Airlines is already flying from Istanbul to New Delhi and Mumbai every day of the week. In addition to these two routes, Turkish Airlines wishes to fly to destinations such as Hyderabad, Banglore, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Calcutta. In this regard, our contacts with the Indian authorities are ongoing.

Q: Trade between India and Türkiye has been growing steadily. What are the key areas of economic cooperation that you believe hold the most promise for mutual benefit?”

Earlier, the two countries had set a trade volume target of 10 billion US dollars. We reached this target in 2022 and the trade volume even exceeded 12 billion US dollars. Turkish President H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi expressed their satisfaction with such a rapid development of economic and trade relations and set a new trade volume target of $20 billion. Given the growing interest between the Governments and business circles of both countries, I think it is possible to reach $20 billion in the medium term. Both countries have complementary economies.

There is also great potential for business people from both countries to develop cooperation in third countries. The increasing participation in trade fairs and the increasing number of business delegations visiting each other show the dynamism in our economic, commercial and investment relations. The interest shown by the Indian business people in Turkish companies from machinery and chemistry industries to agricultural and food products, from furniture to electrical appliances and infrastructure is pleasing.

Q: There has been interest in developing stronger defence and strategic partnerships between our two countries. Can you elaborate on any initiatives or discussions currently underway?

In 2023, Türkiye ranked 11th in the World with 5.5 billion US dollars in defense industry exports. Turkish defense industry products are followed with great interest in every corner of the World and Türkiye is expected to be among the top seven countries in this field in the near future. For example, the fifth-generation “Kaan” fighter jet, which we successfully carried out its first test flight last month, made a great impression all over the World. Türkiye is one of the five countries in the World producing fifth generation fighter jets. At this point, I believe that there is a great potential for cooperation between Türkiye and India in terms of meeting India’s defense industry needs and developing joint weapon systems. Indeed, the increasing number of Indian companies participating in the defense industry fairs held in Türkiye every year shows this interest. We will be delighted to see and welcome our Indian friends at SAHA EXPO, Türkiye’s largest aerospace and defence industry exhibition, the fourth of which will be held at the Istanbul Expo Center on 22-26 October 2024.

Q: Both India and Türkiye are keen on enhancing technological capabilities. How do you see the potential for collaboration in areas such as IT, biotechnology, and renewable energy?

The areas you mentioned are actually among the areas of cooperation which we focus on. Both countries are among the exemplary countries in the World with their advanced innovation ecosystems. Last year, upon the invitation of my Consulate General, a Turkish science and technology delegation led by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye visited Hyderabad. Subsequently, an Indian science and technology delegation led by the CEO of T-Hub, which has the largest innovation campus in the World, also visited our country. In addition, Turkish universities are developing collaborations with institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology and the International Institute of Information Technologies. We are even considering to open a Türkiye-India Technology Transfer Office in T-Hub. All these visits, mutual scientific collaborations and inter-institutional interactions will open new horizons and windows of cooperation for us in the coming period.

Q: As you are based out of Hyderabad. Can you tell us what specific opportunities you see for increased trade and investment collaboration between Hyderabad and Turkish businesses?” and Are there any programs or initiatives facilitated by the Consulate to connect Hyderabadi businesses with potential Turkish partners?

At this point, in addition to the regular export-import businesses through distributors, I would like Turkish companies to localize in India and open their production facilities here. In my meetings with the Indian and Turkish business people, I encourage Turkish brands to produce in India. If there are Indian business people who want to bring Turkish products to India, who wish to buy franchises of Turkish brands, I would like them to contact our Consulate General and Commercial Attaché.

Another project I would like to realize in the near future is to establish a Türkiye-India Friendship and Business Association in Hyderabad. I believe that this association, with the support of my Consulate General and close relations with Turkish business organizations, can contribute significantly to our economic, trade and investment relations.

Hyderabadis enjoyed Turkish music

Q: With the vibrant cultural scene in Hyderabad, are there any upcoming cultural exchange events or programs planned between Hyderabad and Türkiye?

I would like to further increase the visibility of our Consulate General and for this purpose we have been organizing one event after another. Most recently, at the end of February, we organized a festival called “One Night in Istanbul” which was attended by 7,000 people. The people of Hyderabad enjoyed Turkish music, Turkish food and shopping throughout the day. Then, again upon the invitation of our Consulate General, the Izmir Symphony Orchestra gave an unforgettable concert in Hyderabad. The whirling dervishes performance of the Konya Turkish Sufi Music Ensemble in Hyderabad in February last year is still remembered. Turkish food festivals and Turkish movie days were even highly welcome.

Again this year, we have planned activities such as the organization of a Turkish food week and a Turkish fashion show, and the performance of a Turkish folk dances team in Hyderabad.

Q: Many Indians travel to Türkiye for tourism and business. Can you elaborate on the current visa application process for Indian citizens?” Have there been any recent changes or updates on visa regulations or travel advisories for Indian travellers visiting Türkiye?”

As I mentioned earlier, Türkiye has become one of the favorite destinations of Indians. In fact, Türkiye was the third most visited country in the World with more than 57 million tourists in 2023. It takes much less time for Indian citizens to obtain a Turkish visa compared to other western countries. First of all, Indians with US, UK, Shengen or Ireland visas can obtain a Turkish visa online within half an hour. Others can make a visa appointment within a few days and obtain their visa then again within a few days or a week at the latest, without waiting for months as for other western countries.

Awareness about Hyderabad in Turkiye

Q: Hyderabad has a rich history and cultural heritage. What are some initiatives being taken to promote tourism from Türkiye to Hyderabad specifically?

This will require the Government of India and the Government of Telangana to formulate a special tourism policy towards Türkiye. There are many historical and cultural monuments in Hyderabad and Telangana State in general that can attract many Turkish tourists. The important thing is to promote this cultural heritage and increase the awareness about Hyderabad in Türkiye.

Of course, no matter how much promotion is done, the most important factor in attracting tourists from Türkiye to Hyderabad is a direct air connection.

I also would like to look at this issue from Hyderabad’s vision of becoming a global city. Currently, there are direct flights to only 16 international destinations from Hyderabad. Given Hyderabad’s evolving global image, I hope that this number will increase in the future.

Istanbul is among the most important international destinations. Istanbul Airport is the third largest airport in the World. It is the third busiest airport in the World, hosted more than 68 million passangers last year. It is the busiest airport in Europe with an average of 1,329 flights per day in 2023. Istanbul is also the most visited city in the World with 20.2 million tourists in 2023. As such, I hope that Hyderabad will soon have a direct connection to Istanbul, which we can call the center of the World in terms of transportation and tourism.

Moreover, Turkish Airlines will also provide a very significant value-added in terms of the prestige of this beautiful city. Let us not forget that Turkish Airlines flies to 359 destinations in 130 countries, making it the airline flying to the most destinations in the World. Turkish Airlines is the best airline in Europe for the last 10 consecutive years and the sixth best airline in the World in 2023 in terms of service quality.

The launch of direct flights from Istanbul to Hyderabad by Turkish Airlines will not only connect this city to the World but will also contribute to its recognition and attract many Turkish tourists.

(Dinesh Akula is a senior journalist, based out of  Hyderabad and now planning to write a book on the Nizams of Hyderabad).