LUCKNOW- Ode To A City

Book Code: 1111024788973

PC Sarkar

ABOUT THE BOOK

Any discourse on the lost (or fast losing) heritage of a city, praising or glorifying its past and describing it intellectually as well as emotionally, becomes a soulful task; one invariably experiences sorrow for the days gone by. Lucknow - Ode To A City, is not a history book; it is more of a tribute to the lost heritage of Lucknow, it's palaces, gardens and architectural marvels which no longer exist. It's about people (other than the famed Nawabs and their Begums) across a wide spectrum of society, who had contributed to the uniqueness of Nawabi and colonial Lucknow. The book is not written in a lyrical style with stanzas; and yet, the sentiments expressed are similar to a formal ode: an exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of form. It chronicles the writer's thoughts and feelings about a city, through deeply researched details, brought painstakingly together in concise form, for the general reader, as well as the heritage enthusiast.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PC Sarkar holds a Ph.D in organic chemistry and is presently working as a Principal Scientist with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Govt. of India. He did his schooling from St Francis' College, Lucknow, followed by college education from Lucknow Christian College and Lucknow University. He retained his passion for the Nawabi and colonial heritage of Lucknow, even though the call for a livelihood took him far from his beloved city at a relatively young age. In addition to a specialized book on chemistry and several research publications in national and international journals pertaining to his profession, Dr Sarkar has to his credit, more than 50 articles on Lucknow, which appeared in the Heritage Page of the Lucknow Tribune during the years: 2013-14. His first book, Lucknow: Buildings, Begums and The British, published in 2015, continues to be widely popular, for detailing hitherto unknown aspects of Lucknow, generally not discussed or written about.

CONTENTS

Foreword.................................................................................................................. 9
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ 13
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 15
Lost Marvels ..............................................................................................21
Chapter - 1 Dara Shikoh Mahal (Shahjahanabad) ....................................... 23
Chapter - 2 Jalalabad Fort .......................................................................... 29
Chapter - 3 Macchi Bhavan ......................................................................... 35
Pleasure Gardens and Imposing Gateways.............................................47
Chapter - 4 Pleasure Gardens ...................................................................... 49
Chapter - 5 Imposing Gateways ................................................................... 69
Architecture of Lucknow..........................................................................85
Chapter - 6 Euro-Islamic Fantasies .............................................................. 87
Chapter - 7 Historiographic Battles (and Indo-Saracenic Styles) .............. 103
Of Men and Menageries ......................................................................... 117
Chapter - 8 Animal Farm ........................................................................... 119
Dramatis Personae ...................................................................................137
Chapter - 9 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor .................................................. 139
Annexures ................................................................................................165
Annexure I. The Gateways ............................................................................. 167
Annexure II. Monuments, Localities and Their Builders ............................... 168
Annexure III. Lingua Franca ........................................................................ 173
Afterword: Idle Musings of the Author ...................................................199
Select Bibliography .................................................................................205
Plates ........................................................................................................221
Index ........................................................................................................251