No electricity, no water: Hyderabad’s vegan café Terrassen vandalised

Hyderabad: On 16 April 2023, Terrassen Café, Hyderabad’s oldest-running vegan café-cum-restaurant located in Film Nagar, Jubilee Hills, was vandalised in the middle of the night by the property’s co-tenant Narayan (owner of Good Seeds Organic store).

Rubble covered the café door, and a sizable trench was dug, blocking access to the remainder of the establishment. Electricity, water, and sewage lines—all necessities for basic human existence—were shut off.

The owner of the café, Dhanesh Sharma, said, “Since then, I have been locked out of the premises and my equipment is currently being held hostage by the proprietor of Good Seeds, bringing my café’s business to a complete halt.”

It was a dump yard containing tonnes of building rubbish when Terrassen moved to its new position in B-7, route -7, Film Nagar, Jubilee Hills. The Terrassen workers turned a wilderness into a green sanctuary by clearing almost 50 truckloads of trash from the property on their own dime. The café quickly rose to fame as a hub of culture, hosting events and frequent social meetings.

Conflict with neighbouring businesses

Instead of encouraging and recognising the success of the small business, neighbouring businesses often threatened to evict the café owner and personnel, shut off energy, locked up access to the property, and propagated false stories.

“I’ve been patiently attempting to resolve these violations through conversations with the landlord and other renters. I never thought they would carry the developing antagonism this far by damaging the property, using a JCB to bulldoze through the café door, and physically barring me and my team from accessing the premises and equipment,” said the owner of Terrassen.

Aftermath

“Only the cops were allowed inside the café that evening on 20 April to look at the damage. Even current attempts to collect the furniture and equipment have been rejected,” said Mr. Dhanesh Sharma.

Mr. Dhanesh Sharma launched Terrassen in 2015 to promote veganism, ecological living, and the value of a balanced diet. Since that time, Terrassen has developed into a significant cultural hub that has played host to a wide range of creative endeavours and cultural events.