LUCKNOW: A CITY OF NAWAB (Editorial)

Lucknow, which was once the “city of Nawabs,” has its own recognition in culture, language and mannerisms. Since the Mughal period it has inherited its sophisticated culture from the nawabs, when our country was struggling under the domination of the British rule. The Nawabs were no less than kings because they had abundance of money to lead a sophisticated and lavish lifestyle. They enjoyed watching cock fights, flying pigeons and traditional dances like Kathak in beautifully decorated palaces like “Kothas.” Though the communities never had a good impression about those dancers but still the nawabs usually sent their son to learn manners and sophistication from them. Maybe that was the reason why the nawabs were so spoilt. From head to toe those dancers were always decorated in beautifully crafted jewellery and rich dresses. Their beauty and charming behaviour attracted many a nawab to go to their palaces.

There is a saying “Agra ka Taj, aur Lucknow ki shaam, sabse khoosoorat nazaare hain.” Taj Mahal of Agra, and the evening of Lucknow are the most beautiful sights to behold” In the evenings, the roads of Lucknow were always crowded with beautifully decorated carriages which was a mode of travelling for the people. Urdu language has always been the main dialect of Lucknow. The nawabs were said to be a lazy lot because they had too much money,were considered to be spendthrifts and lead an amazingly decadant lifestyle with not a single thought given to the people starving on the streets. In that era people had a different kind of mindset. They discriminated between males and females. Females were killed as they were born because they were considered as bad luck for the family. Whereas the birth of a boy was celebrated with great pomp and show.

When Indians were under the British rule they suffered from the brutal behavior of the English people. Indians were discriminated against and were treated as servants within their own country. When the Britisher’s brutality grew, the whole Indian sub continent rose against them. Many Indians gave up their lives for the sake of India’s freedom. The worst step taken by our political leaders in 1947 was the division of India in two parts, India and Pakistan.
If one campares Lucknow of the 21st century with the 18th century, there have been remarkable developments. The Indian constitution made during Indian independence had added some new laws against the zamindari system and gradually as the land started getting confiscated by the new Indian government…the lavish lifestyle of the lucknow nawabs started to get curtailed. The money started disappearing and so did their luxuries!”.

After Multinational companies were set up, the traditional heritage started getting neglected. Lucknow, once the city of Nawabs, is hardly left with any Nawabi heritage. Few tourist places that are restored are Chota Imambada, and Bada Imambada. Whereas many other heritage buildings are misused because they are neglected by the government. Either shops are built and the entire structure is broken bit by bit and rebuilt or they are abandoned by the people and come crumbling with neglect.

The government has been misusing Lucknow’s weath and heritage by making huge over spaced parks and gardens(Ambedkar park being one glaring example). Statues are built and then broken and then rebuilt-one more grand and imposing than the other. Wheras the traditional places are losing their beauty and are in a shaky condition. Nowadays people are using much advanced method of commuting like auto rickshaws, buses or rickshaws. Few carriages can only be seen near Lucknow railway station. They have become educated and have started entering various fields like medicine,engineering,law etc. The traditional dances like Kathak or Bharatnatyam has become recoginsed as an important and beautiful art of India. Though there have been tremendous developments and progress in the city but Lucknow is still known and recognised for its culture, manners, sophistiocated behavior and also its its beautiful Udu language which is still prevailing in Lucknow. And it lies with us,the residents and lovers of Lucknow to preserve it and cherish it so that our coming generations can proudly claim to belong to a beautiful ancient city….the city of Nawabs…the city of Urdu ghazals, the poetry, the ‘tehzeeb’ and the beauty of the Imambada and horse pulled carriages as well as the city of Hazratganj and the ‘tunde ke kabab’!