Lucknow
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| ?Lucknow Uttar Pradesh • India | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation | 3,204 km² (1,237 sq mi) • 123 m (404 ft) |
| District(s) | Lucknow |
| Population • Density | 2,800,000 (2006) • 331/km² (857/sq mi) |
| Language(s) | English, Hindi, Urdu |
| Mayor | Dinesh Sharma |
| District Magistrate | Chandra Bhanu |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • UN/LOCODE • Vehicle | • 226 xxx • +522 • INLKO • UP-32 |
| Website: lucknow.nic.in | |
Lucknow (pronunciation , Hindi: लखनऊ, Urdu: لکھنؤ, Lakhnaū) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. It had a population of 2,541,101 in 2006.[1] Lucknow is also the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division.
Located in what was historically known as the Awadh region, Lucknow has always been a multicultural city. Courtly manners, beautiful gardens, poetry, music, and fine cuisine patronized by the Nawabs of the city are well known amongst Indians and students of South Asian culture and history. Lucknow is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs. It is also known as the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India.
Today, Lucknow is a vibrant city that is witnessing an economic boom and is among the top ten fastest growing non-metropolitan cities of India. The unique combination of its cultured grace and newly acquired pace is its most promising feature that augurs well for the future.
[edit] History
The ancient history of Lucknow is believed to begin after the Suryawanshi king Lord Rama ordered his younger brother Lakshman to establish a town at the present site of Lakshman Tila. Lucknow was named Lakshmanpuri or Lakhanpuri or Laknamau after him. Slowly the name Lakhanpuri became 'Lakhnau' and then named 'Lucknow' by the British. After 1350 AD the Lucknow and parts of Awadh region have been under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, the Nawabs of Awadh, the East India Company and the British Raj. Lucknow has been one of the major centers of First War of Independence, participated actively in India's Independence movement, and after Independence has emerged as an important city of North India.
Until 1719, subah of Awadh was a province of the Mughal Empire administered by a Governor appointed by the Emperor. Saadat Khan also called Burhan-ul-Mulk a Persian adventurer was appointed the Nazim of Awadh in 1722 and he established his court in Faizabad [2] near Lucknow.
Awadh was known as the granary of India and was important strategically for the control of the Doab, the fertile plain between the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers. It was a wealthy kingdom, able to maintain its independence against threats from the Marathas, the British and the Afghans. The third Nawab, Shuja-ud-Daula fell out with the British after aiding Mir Qasim, the fugitive Nawab of Bengal. He was comprehensively defeated in the Battle of Buxar by the East India Company, after which he was forced to pay heavy penalties and cede parts of his territory. The British appointed a resident in 1773, and over time gained control of more territory and authority in the state. They were disinclined to capture Awadh outright, because that would bring them face to face with the Marathas and the remnants of the Mughal Empire.
Lucknow's rise to growth and fame begins with its elevation as capital of Awadh by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah. He was a great philanthropist and gave Lucknow a unique and enduring legacy. The architectural contributions of these Awadh rulers include several imposing monuments. Of the monuments standing today, the Bara Imambara, the Chhota Imambara, and the Roomi Darwaza are notable examples. One of the more lasting contributions by the Nawabs is the syncretic composite culture that has come to be known as the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb..
In 1798, the fifth Nawab Wazir Ali Khan alienated both his people and the British, and was forced to abdicate. The British then helped Saadat Ali Khan to the throne. Saadat Ali Khan was a puppet king, who in the treaty of 1801 ceded half of Awadh to the British East India Company and also agreed to disband his troops in favor of a hugely expensive, British-run army. This treaty effectively made the state of Awadh a vassal to the British East India Company, though it notionally continued to be part of the Mughal Empire in name until 1819.
The treaty of 1801 formed an arrangement that was very beneficial to the Company. They were able to use Awadh's vast treasuries, repeatedly digging into them for loans at reduced rates. In addition, the revenues from running Awadh's armed forces brought them useful revenues while it acted as a buffer state. The Nawabs were ceremonial kings, busy with pomp and show but with little influence over matters of state. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, the British had grown impatient with the arrangement and wanted direct control of Awadh.
In 1856 the East India Company first moved its troops to the border, then annexed the state, which was placed under a chief commissioner - Sir Henry Lawrence. Wajid Ali Shah, the then Nawab, was imprisoned, and then exiled by the Company to Calcutta. In the subsequent Revolt of 1857 his 14-year old son Birjis Qadr son of Begum Hazrat Mahal was crowned ruler, and Sir Henry Lawrence killed in the hostilities. Following the rebellion's defeat, Begum Hazrat Mahal and other rebel leaders obtained asylum in Nepal.
Those company troops who were recruited from the state, along with some of the nobility of the state, were major players in the events of 1857. The rebels took control of Awadh, and it took the British 18 months to reconquer the region, months which included the famous Siege of Lucknow. Oudh was placed back under a chief commissioner, and was governed as a British province. In 1877 the offices of lieutenant-governor of the North-Western Provinces and chief commissioner of Oudh were combined in the same person; and in 1902, when the new name of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was introduced, the title of chief commissioner was dropped, though Oudh still retained some marks of its former independence.
The province of Awadh (anglicized to Oudh) was annexed by the East India Company in 1856 and placed under the control of a chief commissioner. In the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also known as the First War of Indian Independence and the Indian Mutiny), the garrison based at the Residency in Lucknow was besieged by rebel forces. The famous Siege of Lucknow was relieved first by forces under the command of Sir Henry Havelock and Sir James Outram, followed by a stronger force under Sir Colin Campbell. Today, the ruins of the Residency, and the picturesque Shaheed Smarak offer reminiscences of Lucknow's role in the stirring events of 1857.
The city played an important role in both the First War of Independence and the modern Indian freedom struggle. Whether it was the Lucknow Pact of 1916 or the Khilafat Movement it brought the citizens on a united platform against the British rule. In the Khilafat Movement Maulana Abdul Bari of Firangi Mahal, Lucknow actively participated and cooperated with Mahatama Gandhi and Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar.
In 1902, Lucknow was included in the territory of the new United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. However, it became the provincial capital in 1920 when the seat of government was moved from Allahabad. Upon Indian independence in 1947, Lucknow became the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the erstwhile United Provinces.
[edit] Geography and climate
Situated in the heart of the great Gangetic plain, Lucknow city is surrounded by its rural towns and villages like the orchard town of Malihabad, historic Kakori, Mohanlalganj, Gosainganj, Chinhat, Itaunja. On its eastern side lies Barabanki District, on the western side is Unnao District, on the southern side Raebareli District, and on the northern side the Sitapur and Hardoi districts.
The Gomti River, the chief geographical feature, meanders through the city, dividing it into the Trans-Gomti and Cis-Gomti regions.
Lucknow city is located in the seismic zone III .[3]
Climate
Lucknow has a warm subtropical climate with cool dry winters from December to February and dry hot summers from April to June. The rainy season is from mid-June to mid-September. The most pleasant weather is between October and February. In winter the maximum temperature is around 24 degrees Celsius and the minimum is in the 3 to 4 degrees Celsius range. Fog is quite common from late December to late January. Summers can be quite hot with temperatures rising to the 40 to 45 degree Celsius range.
Lucknow gets an average rainfall of 1010 mm mostly from the south-west monsoon winds between June and September.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) | 23 | 26 | 32 | 38 | 40 | 37 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 28 | 24 | ||
| Mean daily temperature (°C) | 15 | 18 | 24 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 20 | 16 | ||
| Mean daily minimum temperature (°C) | 8 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 19 | 12 | 8 | ||
| Mean total rainfall (mm) | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 110 | 300 | 290 | 180 | 30 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mean number of rainy days | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Source: Weatherbase | ||||||||||||||
[edit] Demographics
Lucknow population is quite cosmopolitan as compared to other Tier II cities of India. It has significant population of Bengalis, South Indians and Anglo-Indians. Among the Muslims, Pathans, Sheikhs Saiyids, Mughals, both Shias and Sunnis are represented. The Hindus are represnted by Brahmins, Thakurs, Kurmis, Kayasths and Pasis among other native castes. This one of the few cities in which Muslims live in complete harmony with Hindus and it has never faced any Hindu-Muslim riot in her entire history. It is one of the most educated cities in India with literacy of 83.5%(78% females and 89% males).
[edit] Economy and business
Lucknow is not only a major market in Northern India, but is also an emerging hub for producers of goods and services with very promising potential. Being the capital, the Government departments and the public sector undertakings are the principal employers of the salaried middle class. Liberalization has created many more opportunities in the business and service sector and self-employed professionals are burgeoning in the city.
Lucknow also provides a good catchment area for the recruitment of quality personnel by information technology companies for the BPO hubs of Noida, Gurgaon, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Large numbers of expatriate labour and NRIs from Lucknow serve in the Gulf and Middle East countries who send considerable remittances to their families back home.
The city is the headquarters of both the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the Pradeshiya Industial and Investment Corporation of Uttar Pradesh (PICUP). The Regional office of the Uttar Pradesh State Industries Development Corporation (UPSIDC) is also located here.
The other business-promoting institutions that have a presence in Lucknow are the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII).
[edit] Traditional trade
Traditionally, Lucknow has been a mandi town for mangoes, melons, and grains grown in the surrounding areas. Sugarcane-growing plantations and sugar industries are also in close proximity. This attracted Mohan Meakins Brewery to set up a unit based on molasses in the city. Meakins was incorporated in 1855 and is Asia's first commercial brewery.
Lucknow is famous for its small scale industries that are based on unique styles of embroidery, namely, Chikan and Lakhnawi Zardozi, both of which are significant foreign exchange earners. Chikan has caught the fancy of fashion designers in Bollywood and abroad. Information technology is now being introduced in the industry for increased productivity, with the help of World Bank[4] funded projects.
During the period of the Nawabs, kite-making reached a high level of artistry,[5] and is still a small-scale industry. Lucknow has also been an industrial producer of tobacco products like 'Kivam', edible fragrances like 'attars' and handicrafts such as pottery, earthen toys, silver and gold foil work, and bone carving products.
[edit] Manufacturing and processing
The city had a big paper mill, one of the oldest in the country.
Among the bigger manufacturing units, Lucknow has Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tata Motors, Eveready Industries and Scooters India Limited. Processing industries like milk production, steel-rolling units and LPG bottling are also operating.
The city's small-scale and medium-scale industrial units are located in the industrial enclaves of Chinhat,Aishbagh,Talkatora and Amousi.
- See also: List of companies in Lucknow[citation needed]
[edit] Emerging businesses
Lucknow, with its excellent educational, commercial, banking and legal infrastructure, is witnessing rapid growth in information technology, banking, retailing, construction and other service sectors. Private coaching institutions for preparing aspirants of competitive exams and services is another business that is flourishing in Lucknow.
All the major public and private sector banks of India, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and foreign banks like Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, ABN-AMRO and HSBC have their presence in the city. The big oil marketing companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and Reliance have their offices in Lucknow.
Leading IT companies like TCS and IBM are also operating in Lucknow.
Insurance companies, both public and private, as well as leading cellular phone companies are present in the city as well.
Currently, biotechnology and information technology are the two focus areas to promote economic development in and around the city. The Ministry of Science and Technology is setting up a biotech park[6] in the city. Lucknow is also one of the selected cities for the Smart City project of STPI, under which IT is being used to promote economic development.
[edit] Government and politics
Lucknow is the political and administrative capital of Uttar Pradesh. The UP Governor is T. V. Rajeshwar and Mayawati is the present Chief Minister. Dinesh Sharma is the Mayor of Lucknow. Moreover, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the sitting MP for the Lucknow Parliamentary constituency.
[edit] Transport
[edit] Local
The available multiple modes of public transport in the cty are taxis, city buses, cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, and Vikram-Tempos. The fares are affordable. Compressed natural gas (CNG) has been introduced recently as an auto fuel to keep the air pollution in control. The city bus service is run by Lucknow Mahanagar Parivahan Sewa[7] a division of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).
[edit] Inter-city/inter-state travel
Lucknow has good road, rail and air links with the rest of the country.
[edit] Road
From Hazratganj intersection in Lucknow city Four Indian National Highways originate, viz, NH-24 to Delhi, NH-25 to Raksa, Jhansi(M.P. Border), NH-56 to Varanasi and NH-28 to Mokama (Bihar).
There are three bus stations. The inter-state terminal is opposite the Charbagh Railway Station while the intra-state terminal is at Qaiserbagh. One more inter-state bus terminal has become operational in Alambagh on Lucknow-Kanpur road to reduce the burden on the busy Charbagh bus terminal. UPSRTC is the principal public road transporter of the passenger traffic. Now inter-city travel in private cars is also becoming very common.
[edit] Railways
The main railway station is Charbagh Railway Station at Charbagh. It is an imposing structure. The main terminal belongs to Northern Railway(NR) division of Indian Railways and the second terminal is run by the North Eastern Railway(NER). Lucknow is a major junction with links to all major cities of the state and country. Lucknow has a further nine railway stations viz. Dilkhusha, Gomatinagar, Badshahnagar, Aishbagh, Lucknow City, Daliganj, Manak Nagar, Amausi and Mohibullapur. The first three stations cater for broad gauge only whereas the others have meter gauge as well. All the stations are within city limits and are well connected with each other via road networks and public road transport. The Barabanki-Lucknow-Kanpur track (101 km) is electrified. Its electrification was done in 2002-03 when Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister of India and he was MP from Lucknow.
[edit] Air
Lucknow is directly connected by air with New Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, and Mumbai and other major Indian cities. The Amausi Airport at Amausi is located around 20 km from the city centre. It is an international airport and is the 13th online station for Air India. International destinations include Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat and Sharjah. Flights to London, Bangkok and Hong Kong may also commence soon. During Haj special flights are also operated from Lucknow. Oman Air, Cosmo Air, etc. are a few internationally acclaimed airlines those are successfully operating direct international flights from Lucknow to international destinations & vice-versa.
[edit] Language and poetry
Lucknow's reputation owes largely to the polite language and clear diction of its citizens.
Both Hindi and Urdu are spoken in Lucknow but Hindustani has been the lingua franca here for over two centuries. Day-to-day transactions in the city are typically performed in Hindi or English. Hinglish is also very popular with the young generation.
Under the rule of Nawabs, Urdu flourished and turned into one of the most refined languages. Hindu and Muslim poets like Brij Narayan Chakbast, Khwaja Haidar Ali Atish, Amir Meenai,Mirza Hadi Ruswa, Nasikh, Daya Shankar Kaul Nasim, Musahafi, Insha, Safi Lakhnavi, and the great Meer Taqi Meer took Urdu poetry to dizzy heights and established the laknavi form of the language.[8]
In Lucknow the two great poets, Mir Anis and Mirza Dabeer, became legendary exponents of a unique genre of elegiacal poetry called Marsia centred on Husayn bin Ali's supreme sacrifice in the battle of Karbala which is commemorated during the annual observance of Muharram. Lucknow has on most best significance and famous world wide during the processions of Muharram in Lucknow.
In recent years the use of Urdu has become significantly reduced but Lucknowites are still known for their polite and polished way of speaking which is noticed by visitors to this charming city. The revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil, who was hanged by the British at Kakori near Lucknow, was largely influenced by poetry and wrote verses under the pen name of "Bismil".
The surrounding towns like Kakori, Daryabad, Barabanki, Rudauli and Malihabad produced many eminent poets and literateurs of Urdu like Mohsin Kakorvi, Majaz, Khumar Barabankvi and Josh Malihabadi.
[edit] Cityscape
[edit] Places to see
The Asafi Imambara (popularly known as Bara Imambara), the Chhota Imambara, Residency, and Shah Najaf are monuments of architectural importance at Lucknow. The famous 'Bhul Bhulaiyan' (Labyrinth) is part of Asafi Imambara complex. Some other places of interest are the Picture Gallery, Chattar Manzil, State Museum/Lucknow Zoo, Shaheed Smarak, Dilkusha, Ambedkar Memorial, Planetarium, and Ram Krishna Math.
The British-built architectural sights in Lucknow include the Vidhan Sabha (State Legislative Assembly), the Clock Tower and the Charbagh Railway Station, with its distinctive domes, arches and pillars.
Some of the oldest schools in India are also situated in Lucknow: La Martiniere Lucknow, St. Francis' College, Lucknow and the Colvin Taluqdar's College. Both of these schools have produced many eminent personalities.
Lucknow has several well-kept parks that attract the citizenry in large numbers on evenings, holidays and weekends. The bigger parks are Ambedkar Memorial and Lohia park in Gomtinagar, Swarn Jayanti park and Aurobindo Park in Indiranagar, Dilkusha Park, Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, Globe Park, Mukherjee Phuhaar, Haathi Park, Buddha park, and Neebu Park. The sprawling National Botanical Garden at Sikandarbagh on the banks of Gomti river is also worth visiting.
The city also has the Kukrail Reserve Forest(a picnic spot and Gharial rehablitaion centre)[9].Moosa Bagh and Utretia are other popular picnic spots.
Natural attractions accessible from Lucknow are Katarnia Ghat, Dudhwa National Park, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary and Samaspur Bird Sanctuary.
[edit] Shopping
Aminabad, a quaint bazaar like Delhi's Chandni Chowk, is situated in the heart of the city. It is a large shopping centre that caters to a wide variety of consumers.
Chowk and Nakhhas are markets in the old Lucknow area where you can get a feel of traditional Lucknow. Some other important shopping centres are Alambagh, Kapoorthala, Indiranagar, Mahanagar, and Nishatganj.
The Hazratganj area is an upscale shopping market with colonial- style buildings. Interestingly, a popular pastime among the locals is window-shopping in the Hazratganj market. It is popularly referred to in Hinglish as Ganjing. The Janpath market, Rovers, Lovers Lane, Mayfair building, Kwality, and Universal book store are some popular landmarks of the area.
Lucknowites are now experiencing the new waves of shopping malls and multiplex culture in India. The first shopping mall-cum-multiplex to open in Lucknow was the East End Mall in Gomti Nagar. Soon came the much anticipated Sahara Ganj mall, which also houses a PVR multiplex. Sahara Ganj is a project of Sahara India Pariwar, one of India's biggest business conglomerates. The most recent addition to Lucknow's growing list of big shopping malls is Fun Republic & Riverside Mall, popularly known as INOX.
[edit] Real estate
The real estae of Lucknow is one of the many booming sectors. There are several malls, residential complexes and business units operating in the city. Real estate giants like Parshvanath, DLF, Omaxe, Sahara, Unitech, Ansal API etc. are here. Lucknow is one of the few Indian cities that follows vertical outgrowth plan like Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Gazhiabad etc. The city boast handsome skyline in Gomti Nagar, Hazrat Ganj and Kapoorthala. The highest under construction building is Sahara Hospital which will have 35 floors followed by Metro City (30 floors), Parshvanath Planet (25 floors) and Omaxe Heights (23 floors). Presently the highest buildings are Shakti Bhawan (21 floors) and OCR (20 floors). The city boasts a high property expansion rate. It is expected that city will have $2.5 billion organised real estate by 2010.
[edit] Cuisine
When it comes to dining, Lucknow is a culinary delight as the Awadh region has its own distinct Nawabi style cuisine, with various kinds of biryanis, kebabs and breads like 'sheermal' / 'roomali roti' all very popular delicacies.
Lucknow has also pioneered the slow-fire cooking called Dum Pukht. The world-famous chef Imtiaz Qureishi hails from Lucknow.
With several bakeries in town, the sweet-toothed are never go unsatisfied. The delicious cakes, pastries and the traditional Keiser-pista biscuits are sure to make you come back for more.
The city has a range of fine restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets.
From 'Oudhyana' 'Zaika' 'Royal Cafe' 'Falaknuma' 'Dastarkhwan' 'Daal Mein Kaala' 'Naushi-Jaan' to fastfood joints like Pizza Hut, McDonalds to traditional eateries like 'Tundeys' and 'Rahims' in the Akbari Gate area the choice is wide.
Makkhan Malai, 'Malai Gilori' of Chowk , the famous Tundey Kebabs, named after the one-armed chef Haji Murad Ali,[10] and 'Kakori kebabs' are very popular with food lovers.
A street food court with a number of street-side restaurants and eating joints are also present in China Bazaar (near Tulsi theatre) serving affordable Avadhi-Mughlai-Punjabi remix cuisine.
The Chaat in Lucknow is on a par with the best you will get anywhere in the country. There are quite a few places serving outstanding chaat, like Shukla Chaat in Ganeshganj, Moti Mahal, Radhey Lal in Aliganj Chhappan Bhog in Sadar and Mahesh Sweets in Nirala Nagar . Actually, you can pretty much have Chaat in any corner of Lucknow and never be disappointed.
After a delicious dinner, one can have Paan from the shops Malhotra Pan Bhandar near K.D. Singh Babu Stadium and the State Bank of India.
[edit] Localities
The urban sprawl is spread equally on both sides of the Gomti River. The colonies and residential settlements in the Cis-Gomti area are Hazratganj, Alambagh, Charbagh, Aminaabad, Husainganj, Lal Bagh, Golaganj, Wazirganj, Rajendra Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Aishbagh, Rajajipuram, Haiderganj, Thakurganj ,Chowk, and Saadatganj.
The residential settlements in the Trans-Gomti area are Nirala Nagar, Aliganj, Daliganj, Mahanagar, Old and New Hyderabad, Nishatganj, Indira Nagar, Gomti Nagar, Vikas Nagar and Janakipuram.
[edit] Culture
Lucknow is bravely struggling to retain its old world charm while at the same time acquiring a modern lifestyle. Regarded as one of the finest cities of India, Lucknow represents a culture that combines emotional warmth, a high degree of sophistication, courtesy, and a love for gracious living. The Pehle-Aap (after you) culture, popularised as a tagline for the society of Lucknow, is waning (rather was never existent except in stories). But a small part of Lucknow's society still possesses such etiquettes. This sublime cultural richness famous as Lakhnawi tehzeeb blends the cultures of two communities living side by side for centuries, sharing similar interests and speaking a common language.
Many of the cultural traits and customs peculiar to Lucknow have become living legends today. The credit for this goes to the secular and syncretic traditions of the Nawabs of Awadh, who took a keen interest in every walk of life, and encouraged the traditions to attain a rare degree of sophistication.
[edit] Dance and music
Kathak, the classical Indian dance form took shape here. Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh, was a great patron and a passionate champion of Kathak. Lachhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj have kept this tradition alive.
Lucknow is also the city of eminent Ghazal singer Begum Akhtar. She was a pioneer in Ghazal singing and took this aspect of music to amazing heights. "Ae Mohabbat Tere anjaam pe rona aaya" is one of her best musical renditions of all times.
The Bhatkande music university at Lucknow is named after the great musician Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande.
Lucknow has given music legends like Naushad Ali, Talat Mehmood, Anup Jalota and Baba Sehgal to the entertainment industry. It is also incidentally the birthplace of British pop legend Sir Cliff Richard.
[edit] An inspiration for films
Lucknow has been a great influence on the Hindi film industry of India and it would be true to say that without the Lakhnavi touch, Bollywood would not have been what it is today. Many script writers and lyricists hailing from Awadh like Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Javed Akhtar Ali Raza, Bhagwati Charan Verma, Dr. Kumud Nagar, Dr. Achala Nagar Wajahat Mirza (writer of Mother India and Ganga Jamuna), Amritlal Nagar, Ali Sardar Jafri and K.P.Saxena have enriched Indian Cinema.
Moreover, several famous movies have used Lucknow as their backdrop, such as Shashi Kapoor's Junoon, Muzaffar Ali's Umrao Jaan and Gaman, Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi. Ismail Merchant's Shakespeare Wallah was also partly shot in Lucknow.
Bahu Begum, Mehboob ki Mehndi, Mere Huzur, Mere Mehboob, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Pakeezah, Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Saher, and many more films have either been shot in Lucknow or have Lakhnavi backdrops.
[edit] Education and research
- Further information: List of educational institutes in Lucknow
Lucknow is a hub of education and research with many premier institutions.
[edit] Major schools at Lucknow
Primary and secondary education are both of the highest quality with most schools affiliated to the ICSE or the UP Board though a few offer the CBSE programme as well. Some of the major schools in Lucknow are:
- La Martinière College
- Loreto Convent
- Central Academy Senior Secondary School
- St. Francis' College, Lucknow
- City Montessori School
- Seth M.R. Jaipuria College
- U.P. Sainik School
- Delhi Public School
- Bal Vidya Mandir
- Christ Church College
- Colvin Taluqdar's College
- D.A.V College
- Emma Thompson School - Girls' School
- Lucknow Christian Inter College
- Govt. Jublee Inter College
- Lucknow Public School
- Mahanagar Boys Inter College
- Maharishi Vidya Mandir
- Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Senior Secondary School
- Modern School, Lucknow
- Mount Carmel
- New Way College
- Red Rose Inter College Lucknow
- Shia PG College
- Spring Dale College
- St. Agnes' Loreto Day School
- St. Dominic Savio College
- St. Fidelis College
- St. Paul's College, Lucknow
- St. Teresa's Day School & College
- Study Hall, Lucknow
- The Army Public School
- The Cathedral, Lucknow
- Unity Public School
- BSNVPG College
- AVADH ACADEMY, Sitapur Road, Lucknow
[edit] Universities at Lucknow
Lucknow is home to a number of universities offering courses on campus. These universities are:-
- University of Lucknow
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National University
- Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University
- Amity University
- Integral University
University of Lucknow, also known as Lucknow University, was founded in 1921. It is one of the oldest educational institutions in India. The motto of the university is "Light and Learning". It has produced many luminaries in all walks of national life. Some of its most well known departments are Sociology, Business Administration, Botany, Geology, Chemistry, Western History and Economics. The university has a beautiful campus in an area called Badshah Bagh. The famous Tagore Library of the university overlooks a green park and an artificial canal, which gives the university a very grand ambience.
[edit] Medical Institutes at Lucknow
- Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS)SGPGI is a superspeciality hospital and it is rated very high in the area.
- King George Medical University, also known as KGMU (now rechristened as Chhatrapati Shahu ji Maharaj Medical University by Mayawati Govt. Although rated very high in survey of India Today, the KGMU is always in center of politics among various governments in the UP, with every change in Govt its name undergoes change etc. Further there is a serious issue of private practice by its faculty members. The standard of medical care at KGMU is among the best in the country[citation needed].
[edit] Management Institutes at Lucknow
- Indian Institute of Management
- Jaipuria Institute of Management
- Department of Business Administration, University of Lucknow
- Institute of Management Studies, University of Lucknow
[edit] Technology Institutes at Lucknow
- Uttar Pradesh Technical University
- Institute Of Engineering & Technology, Lucknow
- Sri Ramswaroop Memorial College of Engineering and Management Lucknow
- BBD National Institute of Technology & Management, Lucknow
- Saroj Institute of Technology & Management, Lucknow
- Azad Institute of Engineering & Technology, Lucknow
- Northern India Engineering College, Lucknow
[edit] National level Research Institutes
Besides having prestigious educational and coaching institutions, Lucknow is also home to some of the country's best research institutions - the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, ITRC, which is the only institution of its kind in South-East Asia.
- National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI)
- Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI)
- Industial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC)
- Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR)
- National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR)
- Central Institute for Sub-Tropical Horticulture (CISH) (Popularly known as Mango Research)
- Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP)
- Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany
- Institute of Judicial Training and Research
- Research Designs and Standards Organization (Indian Railways)
Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), which is involved in biomedical research and claims to have the infrastructure and skills to develop a drug "right from concept to market". It is involved in basic and applied reeach related to metabolic disorders as well as tropical illnesses like malaria, filaria and leishmaniasis. The organisation's R & D division includes fields like Biochemistry, parasitology, Molecular and Structural Biology and Pharmacokinetics.
Both these institutions help establish Lucknow on the world's biotechnology map. It offers PhD degree in association with JNU, New Delhi. Post-Doctoral training as well as M.Sc. (Summer) training are also offered. Students from all over India come to conduct research (PhD) at CDRI and ITRC.
Besides these Lucknow is home to the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), the country's premier plant sciences research centre, including plant molecular biology, biotechnology and transgenics. It conducts muti-disciplinary research on areas ranging from traditional taxonomy to cutting edge areas of modern Biology, such as bioinformatics and 'in-'silico biology.
CIMAP, a premier plant science research institute, is involved in research related to medicinal plants, bioinformatics, bioprospecting etc. It possesses superb research infrastructure on DNA Fingerprinting, Proteomics and Plant Molecular Biology.
However, the city's lack of job opportunities reults in a 'brain drain 'which means that young people leave the city for greener pastures in other places like Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.
[edit] Other educational bodies/private coaching institutes at Lucknow
Lucknow is home to a large number of coaching institutes offering coaching for every course available under the sky. Few popular private coaching institutes are Rubic's Rostrum, TriVaAg and Institute of Career Studies etc. These institutes train students for college entrance examinations like IIT-JEE, medical, engineering and Common Admission Test for the IIMs etc. Thousands of students from nearby towns and cities flock to Lucknow in search of guidance/coaching for such competitive examinations. Coaching is a full grown business in Lucknow. Although various coaching institutes claim very high success rates, however success of students enrolled in coaching classes is not proven.
[edit] Media
[edit] Press
Lucknow has always been a major centre of journalism. Several daily newspapers in Hindi, Urdu, and English are published in the city. Among the Hindi papers are Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Dainik Hindustan, Rashtriya Sahara, Jansatta, Swatantra Chetna and Swatantra Bharat. The main Urdu papers are Rashtriya Sahara, Sahafat, Qaumi Khabrein, and Aag. The prominent English dailies are The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Pioneer and Indian Express.
National Herald was also published from Lucknow and edited by the legendary Manikonda Chalapathi Rau.
The Press Trust of India and United News of India have their offices in the city and the major newspapers of the country have their correspondents/stringers in Lucknow.
[edit] Radio
One of the earliest stations of All India Radio has been operational in Lucknow.
FM radio transmission started in Lucknow in 2000, and the city today has six FM radio stations.[11] -
- 90.4 MHz CMS,
- 100.7 MHz AIR,
- 91.1 MHz Radio City
- 105.6 MHz Gyan Vani
- 98.3 MHz Radio Mirchi
- 93.5 MHz 'S' FM
[edit] TV
The national telecaster Doordarshan came to the city in 1975.[12] In 1982 colour transmission was started during the Asiad.
All major television channels are available in the city through private cable operators as well as individual dish receivers.
News channels have their correspondents and crew posted in the city.
[edit] Web
The city has broadband internet connectivity and video conferencing facilities.
[edit] Sports
Lucknow has traditionally been a sports-loving city.
In the past pehlwani, kabbadi, chess, kite flying, pigeon flying, and cock fighting were popular pastimes. For decades Lucknow hosted the prestigious Sheesh Mahal Cricket Tournament. Today cricket, football, badminton, golf and hockey are among the most popular sports in the city.
The main sports hub is the K. D. Singh Babu Stadium which also has a world-class swimming and indoor games complex. The other stadiums are at Charbagh, Mahanagar, Gomtinagar, Chowk and Sports College.
The Lucknow Golf Club, on the sprawling greens of La Martinière College, is one of the most famous golf courses in India.
The city has a good record in modern sports and has produced several national and world-class sporting personalities. Lucknow sports hostel has produced national-level cricketers such as Suresh Raina and R. P. Singh. Other famous sports personalities include hockey Olympians K. D. Singh, Mohammed Shahid and Ghaus Mohammad Khan, the tennis player who became the first Indian to reach the quarter finals at Wimbledon. However of late the city has been doing less well on sports than sports politics. The State Govt is trying demolish beautiful Gomti Nagar stadium on some flimsy ground. However, High Court at Lucknow has granted stay against demolition and court proceedings are on [13].
[edit] Further reading
- Rosie Llewellyn-Jones. City of Illusion. Prestel Verlag, 2006, 295pp. ISBN-10: 3791331302. ISBN-13: 978-3791331300.
- Rosie Llewellyn-Jones. Lucknow Then and Now. Marg Publications, India, 2003. ISBN-10: 8185026610. ISBN-13: 978-8185026619.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
| Find more information on Lucknow by searching Wikipedia's sister projects | |
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| Image:Wiktionary-logo-en.png | Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary |
| Image:Wikibooks-logo.svg | Textbooks from Wikibooks |
| Image:Wikiquote-logo.svg | Quotations from Wikiquote |
| Image:Wikisource-logo.svg | Source texts from Wikisource |
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| Image:Wikinews-logo.svg | News stories from Wikinews |
| Image:Wikiversity-logo-Snorky.svg | Learning resources from Wikiversity |
- ^ World Gazette. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ [1]
- ^ UNDP report. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ World Bank Report. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
- ^ Lucknow crafts. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Biotech city Lucknow. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-09-20.
- ^ National Council of Promotion of Urdu Language. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ [2]
- ^ Lucknow Kebabs continue to be gourmets' delight beyond time. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
- ^ FM Radio Stations. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
- ^ Lucknow Doordarshan. Retrieved on 2006-09-25.
- ^ [3]
[edit] External links
| Image:Example.of.complex.text.rendering.svg | This article contains Indic text. Without rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes or other symbols instead of Indic characters; or irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts. |
- A Cyber Joint for Lucknow University Alumni
- Lucknow travel guide from Wikitravel
- Lucknow at the Open Directory Project
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