Lucknow – A city that makes you Grow!

Life in Lucknow to me seems like a grand event all the time, attended by almost every important person of my personal life and career. There are celebrated authors, inspiring writers, and other famous artists. I fail to understand when people of my age say – What’s there in Lucknow – it’s a slow city. 

It was earlier known as Awadh,  a city famous for its ‘tehzeeb’,  it has often been referred to as the “City of Pehle Aap. However,  in these modern times, “Pehle Aap” has almost lost its meaning and ‘Pehle Mai’ or ‘Pehle Hum’ appears to make more sense.

To me, it seems like a movie where every second there is some action, some drama, lot of audiences, the crew, the stars dazzling the location. It is no less than a huge dreamlike set for me. Reporters from the media and flashbulbs go pop every second.

Living anywhere in India, I feel one can instantly recognize if a person belongs to Lucknow or its surrounding culture since we use plural words such as ‘Hum’ to refer to ourselves. Don’t we go on a different trip the moment someone says food? 

The city emanates warmth to everyone who stays here. The culture of Hindu-Muslim unity is still evident in its food, culture, language, even in the Awadhi slangs such as Kantap or Bhokaal or newspeak verbs peculiar to the city such as Ganjing. Anyone senior in the society still chooses to bend down and greet the guest with gleaming joy and a cup of tea. 

I have built my career in this city and at a very early stage I remember, at the Lucknow Literature Carnival,  it was for the first time in my life that I was facing a crowd of at least 3000 people. Standing on the stage there, addressing them, with the spotlight on me, it all felt very surreal. I was nervous and my palms were slightly cold, but I managed to deliver my short, not - rehearsed speech with glitches only known to me and my team. Lucknow and its senior-most people welcomed me with warm hearts making it sure that I had my open sky.  Since then there has been no looking back. 

The city has welcomed me and my dreams with open arms – to an extent where I am spreading the love everywhere across the country, still failing to understand why people like me don’t wish to make a career in the beloved city of Nawabs! Try, and I am sure it won’t fail you. 

Sometimes I just stand there somewhere in a little corner, clad in my aspirations, feeling nervous, ill-prepared and very small. At times I stammer and mutter that it is difficult but then Lucknow makes me bounce back every single time. My city has never failed to fill me with love, confidence, imagination and creativity. 

I wish to stay here longer, to see it blossom and bloom,

because it is in the lanes of Lucknow where my heart resides!

Anupriya Agarwal