The Dirt on Lucknow

I've been doing some research on women's issues and am finding that many crimes against women occur in Lucknow.

It was also the site of the killings during the (muslim/hindu) protests/riots when bush was in india. the photos that i saw of that reminded me of what i have seen in movies such as Bombay.

can anyone enlighten me about Lucknow, since - other than what i've been reading on it - i know nothing about it. if it is indeed this violent of a place, can anyone explain why?

Lucknow is a city where there is a big clash of cultures. On one hand you have the old conservative culture with a lot of emphasis on etiquettes & tradition & on the other hand you have the emerging new generation with more liberal & the so called modern attitude. Plus you have another two distinct societies the Hindu & Muslim. So you have a highly polarised society, a dream come true for politicians. So on the Valentine's day moral brigades set out under political patronage, members of different sects can be incited to start a riot.

Well just to bring about a different picture of the city...

I have stayed in Lucknow all my life, that is till i went out for studies...

The clash between Hindus and Muslims is definitely not a 'Regular' feature at Lucknow, and the Polarization is impossible as there are no distinct 'Muslim' or non-Muslim areas in the Old city...

The most frequent disturbances one heard about had been the ones between two muslim sects which have a standing dispute over the route of a particular annual religious procession.

I know this might sound a bit biased coming from a Lucknowite...

Lucknow Saw no Hindu Muslim Riots during Partition, It did not see any riots when the Babri Masjid was demolished... something truely remarkable as the population of older parts of lucknow is nearly evenly divided between the Hindus and the Muslims...

Lucknow has definitely seen better times... it had been the seat of the Nawabs and was known for its culture and refinements. Read the book 'The Zemindar' by Valerie Fritzgerald for an objective take on the kindom of Awadh during the Raaj.

One of the most significant events of the 1857 Mutiny took place in Lucknow, when the Sepoy forces lay siege on the British Residency for more than three months... the ruins of that battle are still preserved.

The Imambaras of Lucknow are still a site to behold, with a famous Labyrinth built on the upper stories of one...
Possibly, the symbol of Lucknow remains the Roomi Darwaza, an arch way bisecting the royal quarters of the city from the commoners..

Post Partition, Lucknow remained a seat of political power, however sadly, it never really had any amount of industrialization ever. The most thriving industry in Lucknow is embroidery, with Zardozi, Chikanykari and Murii being the most widely known forms of the same.

The Lucknowi cuisine is know for being one of the most delicate on the palate... I guess the Galawat Kebabs and Nihari of awadh have already found their way on India Mike several times over.

Currently, the city of Lucknow is probably in the midst of its worst times ever. More that a decade of political instabilty has taken a toll on the city too. The city, just like any other city in India, has seen its basic character being eroded as settlers from all across Uttar Pradesh make their home there.

There is nothing much that goes in favor of Lucknow right now, neither the government nor the economic changes sweeping across the rest of the country at the moment.

Out of a class of a 100 odd boys in my school, only those still remain in the city whose families had businesses there, the rest of us are now spread over the breadth of the country for jobs which do not exist there.

Quite a long post this, possibly my longest, but then, you asked about my home town !

thank you for the replies jyoti and ashishkec. it lends some perspective. it sounds as if a new way of thinking is finding resistance with tradition, and that joblessness and political strife is also lending a hand in the problems. i'll read more - thanks for the suggestion on that ashishkec.

It's the way you see things.....and this is how I see MY Lucknow....

WAH WAH Lucknow...

Woh Hazratganz ka sama, woh Chowk ki chaat,

Woh Mini Mahal ki ice cream, Wah usme thi kuch baat.

Woh Ram Asrey ki mithai, woh Madhur Milan ka dosa,

Woh Marksmen ki pav bhaji aur Sharma ka samosa.



Woh rikshaw ka saffer, woh Nimbu Park ki hawa,

Woh Buddha Park ki rauna! k aur Dilkusha ka sama.

Woh January ki kadake ki sardi, woh baarishon ke
mahiney,

Woh garmi ki chuttiyan, jab chute te they paseeney.


Woh holi ki masti, woh doston ki toli,

Woh diwali ke patakhe aur janmashtmi ki roli

Woh Zamghat ki patange aur woh kabootar Bazi ka khel,

Woh ghar ki chat pe Cricket aur colony ke ladkon ka
>chaurahe pe mail.



Woh Janpath ka mahol, woh Gomti ki leheren,

Woh BoatClub ka nazara, Wah uske kya kehene.

Woh Aminabad ki galiyan , woh IT ki ladkiyan.

Woh Novelty ki balcony aur woh Bajpayee ki pooriyan

Woh Aryan ka Chinese,woh Roverse ka style

Woh Barista ki Coffee jahan hum karte thei smile.



Woh school ki life aur woh College ki Zindagi,

Woh Polytechnic ka rasta aur woh Canteen ki patties

Woh College ki kudiyan aur GH ke saamne mel

Humne bhi bas dekhe hi thei wo saare khel.




Woh ! Bhootnath ki market,wo highway ke dhabe

Woh poorane lucknow ki raaste ,jahan humne safar hain
kaate .

Wo Puraniya chauraha , wo Charbagh station.........


Itna sab keh diya par dil kehta hai aur bhi kuch kahoon

Wo shehar hain mera apna, jiska naam hai L U C K N O W

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

which means...?

That would take some effort to translate from Urdu to English. Mainly the poetic feelings crimsonharsh has for Lucknow..




Great work there btw crimsonharsh, I could probably switch some places/names and it would sound like I'm talking (?!) about Hyderabad. Thanks for sharing, and how about a translation?

oh, i see. thanks nothing personal intended crimsonharsh.

Dear Crimsonharsh,
Why did you leave out the Kababs of Tunde Miya, the Chikon fabrics, the kites & manja?
I do think that your piece should be translated for all members to enjoy. Now who will do that you or should I have a go?

To the best of my knowledge the sweet shop of Ram Asrey is now the only place in India to buy real Pista Burfee, no colour added. Like all very good things you have to pay a very good price. They dont take credit cards so if you are out to buy this stuff go to an ATM first & thats exactly what I do.