CII Young Indians unite Lucknow residents to empower women

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Lucknow :

Youth, particularly women, got together in large numbers on Saturday for the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII’s) Young Indians (Yi) session on ‘Let’s Unite for Women Empowerment – ‘Celebrating Malala Day’. The session urged for bold action to embed women’s rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality in all we do, now and beyond.

The session was packed with dynamic panelists including some eminent women achievers like Kiran Bedi, retired IPS, social activist Anjum Chopra, former Indian women’s cricket team captain, Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee, Dolly Thakore, Indian theater actress and casting director, Melissa Lee Ohm, former US Marine and CEO and Founder, STaND, Aparna Yadav, brand ambassador, NGO Harsh and classical singer, Niloufar Pourzand, Chief of UP, UNICEF, Deepa Malik, Arjuna Awardee and founder Wheeling Happiness, Kanika Kapoor, playback Singer and musician Sayema Rehman, RJ, Radio Mirchi, New Delhi.

Kiran Bedi expressing her pleasure for being in Lucknow said,”I am here just because this session is in Uttar Pradesh, had it been anywhere else I wouldn’t have gone. I am very concerned about the issue of women security in this state. I have for long wanted to come over and speak to the people here.” Bedi suggested measures for empowering women. “There are 6 Ps that need to be worked upon to ensure that women are treated with dignity, these are – People, Police, Politicians, Prosecution, Prisons and Press.”

The panel discussion ranged from stories of accomplishments and hardships these women achievers had faced. Anjun Chopra spoke about being the captain of Indian women’s cricket team, which is otherwise known to be a men’s game. Dolly Thakore told about her movement of supporting women and how she manages to wear all the hats at once. Melissa Lee Ohm shared how her two daughters inspired her start her own self-defence training and sexual harassment prevention consultation organization. Similarly, Niloufar Pourzand threw light on the serious need to prevent ‘toilet rapes’ in the state.

Deepa Malik’s speech moved the audience to tears as she shared her story. She said in spite of being paralyzed chest down, with three tumour surgeries and nearly 200 stitches between shoulder blades and a life on a wheelchair for the past 14 years has not stopped the 44 year old from taking up challenges, and she is the first and only Indian swimmer, biker, car rallyist and athlete in her category of paraplegic disability, and has numerous awards to her name including the Arjuna Award.

Likewise Kanika Kapoor the latest music sensation of Bollywood expressed that all that glitters in not gold and life of a woman has many challenges and yet she carry it with a broad smile.

Guarav Prakash, founder chair, Yi Lucknow Chapter said, “July 12 is also being celebrated by United Nation, as Malala Day, in support of Malala’s (Yousafzai’s) unparalleled example ,of courage and valour ,and it is appropriate that we also dedicate this day ,to every woman and girl child in this country to applaud the youngsters, who not only raise their voice but are also willing to support the fairer sex.”

He insisted that people who resort to brutalizing and stifling the existence of our female gender, do not come from some other planet, but are from one of us. It is indeed shocking that they are unaware of what harm their actions do, to a society of which they are a part.

Sachin Agarwal, chairman, CII Uttar Pradesh State Council said, “Concerted local, regional and global efforts will have to be made in order to make the world a better place. We should give women a chance to grow up into productive citizens who will meaningfully contribute their share to bring harmony, peace and cooperation both locally and globally.” He added that people should acknowledge their contribution and numerous sacrifices by giving women a chance to prove their abilities and showcase their talents.

Agarwal also informed that CII has launched a special initiative for women, Indian Women Network (IWN), a platform for all women to drive their ambitions and motivate them to achieve their dreams. It is a network of women, for women and by women. Abhishek Mishra, Minister, vocational education, GoUP was the chief guest for the session and Navneet Sikera, deputy inspector general, Lucknow was the guest of honour. Divij Narain, co-chair, Yi Lucknow Chapter and director, Speed Motorwagen gave the vote of thanks.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Priyanka Singh, TNN / July 12th, 2014

Yawar Ali Shah hosts annual day bash for AMA Herbal staff in Lucknow

Business & Economy

A lavish Annual Day party was organised for the entire staff of AMA Herbal in Lucknow on Tuesday . The directors of the company , along with their families and staff, got together to celebrate the occasion.

The evening began with a vote of thanks by Yawar Ali Shah, one of the directors, to all the employees who had helped achieve this success. Awards were given out to all those who had worked hard for this.

Yawar Ali Shah
Yawar Ali Shah

Amid applause and cheers, trophies were given to more than 35 employees of the company . While Anshul Shukla and Neeraj Choubey jointly won the award for Employee Of The Year, while Khalil Ahmed was felicitated for 40 years of continuous service.

Several more awards were announced for excellent performance in administration, production, marketing, etc.

AMA Herbal, is a world renowned company dealing in natural textile dyes and herbal colours, Telling us more about the company , Yawar Ali Shah said, “Our herbal products are the result of our dedicated research and development team, which is responsible for making eco-friendly products for consumers.

Our natural products with Bio Active ingredients are well recognized by dermatologists in India and the world. The credit for our success goes to our team and that is what we are celebrating today .”

The guests again erupted in cheers as the launch of four new products was announced at the party .

AMA is in the process of introducing the Vegetal Bio Hair Colour in the US market in the coming year along with promoting natural dyes and gulal, in the European market.

The company also has plans to expand in the domestic market with wellness clinics and more herbal products.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / July 10th, 2014

Drumsticks seed a water purifier

Science & Technology

Allahabad :

In the backdrop of the fact that the policy makers are battling out the problem of providing potable water to lakhs of countrymen, a research, undertaken by a team of Botanist from Allahabad University, has provide a cheap, indigenous yet a very effective solution to make water free from any contamination and fit to drink.

The team, led by Prof Anupam Dikshit, has found that the seeds of Moringa oliefera, commonly known as Sehjan or drumsticks, have the potential to remove impurities from contaminated water and make it safe for drinking. This interesting and useful finding is the outcome of a DST (department of science and technology) sponsored project, entitled ?Identification of some Indian plants for thedevelopment of indigenous technology for potable water treatment’.

“Growing population, increased economic activity and industrialisation have not only created an increased demand for safe drinking water but also resulted in severe misuse of natural resource. Polluted water is estimated to affect the health of over million people especially in most of the developing countries.” According to a statistical data, it was found that 2.2 million deaths occur per annum due to usage of impure water of which 90% are children under the age of five and it is in this backdrop that our finding bears significance, said Prof Dikshit.

The research team, assisted by Prof Dikshit’s students Dr Awadhesh Kumar and Madhu Pandey, screened several medicinal plants such as Moringa oliefera commonly known as Sehjan,Citrus reticulata (Orange), Mentha piperita (Peppermint), Mentha arviensis (Pudina) and made several extracts of these plants. But it was in the case of Moringa oliefera, seed paste of which showed antimicrobial and coagulating potential in water purification.

For the experiment the team members collected water samples from different places in and around Allahabad region including AU campus, Katra, Daraganj, Kydganj, Chowk, Tagore Town, Civil Lines. Among these, the sample having negative bacteria was treated with extract of aforementioned medicinal plants and the antibacterial property was tested by using molecular device i.e. spectrophotometer.

“These low molecular weight proteins worked like magnet when added to any unsafe water as it makes raw waters turbid such as silt, clay, bacteria etc which is then left to settle down or it may be removed by filtration methods”, explained Prof Dikshit. Extract of seeds of drumsticks have shown tremendous power of killing bacteria which causes several diseases such as cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis, typhoid fever , pneumonia etc, he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajiv Mani, TNN / July 04th, 2014

Out Of The Blue band enthralls Lucknow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Out Of The Blue band
Out Of The Blue band

A jam-packed auditorium witnessed an enthralling performance by the Out Of The Blue band, which is in Lucknow these days.

The band showcased their unique talent with the vocalists producing sounds of musical instruments, combining it with humour and excellent choreography. Popular western pop numbers were presented in the A Capella style with great energy .

The group presented 20 songs, I Want To Dance With Somebody, Somewhere Only We Know, I Want You Back, Don’t Stop Me Now and The Lion Sleeps Tonight were some of them. The musical feast went on for another over an hour, with the audience applauding at the end of each recital.

Dr Dinesh Sharma, the Lucknow Mayor, was the chief guest for the evening. Jai Lakshmi Sharma, VN Garg, Carlyle McFarland, AS Bedi, Sangeeta Banerjee an Jagdish Gandhi were also present there, and enjoyed the evening as much as the youngsters. We learnt that Roshan Gandhi Forouhi, one of the band members of Out Of The Blue, happens to be educationist Blue, happens to be educationist Jagdish Gandhi’s grandson.

Much to the band’s relief, the students participated enthusiastically in the concert, singing along when they knew the lyrics of a song.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Vidita Chandra, TNN / July 09th, 2014

BHU’s 24X7, free cyber library opens

Education, Science & Technology

SUMMARY
The work on the project had begun around three years ago and the first phase was completed in March 2013.
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With nearly 500 workstations and 455 compuetrs, the library will provide access to over 14,000 journals and other materials to the students.
With nearly 500 workstations and 455 compuetrs, the library will provide access to over 14,000 journals and other materials to the students.

With the completion of its second phase, the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is now home to perhaps Asia’s largest cyber library within a university.

With nearly 500 workstations and 455 compuetrs, the library will provide access to over 14,000 journals and other materials to the students.

A brainchild of BHU Vice-Chancellor Dr Lalji Singh, the library will be accessible 24X7 with no charges.

A BHU spokesperson said the second phase of the cyber library, which marked the completion of the project, was inaugurated by the V-C on Wednesday.

“There are a total of 455 computers that will be equipped with high-speed internet connectivity. Since the premises are wi-fi enabled, those coming to the centre with their laptops can also access the cyber library,” said the spokesperson.

University librarian Dr A K Srivastava, who will also supervise the cyber library, said: “As far as we have found out, this is easily Asia’s biggest cyber library provided by a university free of cost. We would not be surprised if it turns out to be the biggest such facility in the world. It is definitely among the biggest.”

The library has been funded primarily by the Maharaja of Baroda Shivaji Rao Gaekwad and is named after him. “The building is ours while the equipment has been provided by the Maharaja. The total cost of the project is Rs 10 crore,” said Dr Srivastava. He added the BHU planned to make the cyber library a research hub across disciplines.

“The students can access around 14,500 journals and e-books. A large number of these e-books and e-journals have been already subscribed by the BHU,” he said.

The BHU V-C, who hails from Jaunpur district, had envisaged the project as a platform that could be used by the poor students, most of whom hail from backward areas of the Puravanchal region, without having to buy a laptop.
The work on the project had begun around three years ago and the first phase was completed in March 2013.

According to official statistics prepared in November 2013, there were on an average 793 users at the cyber library when only around 255 computers were installed. “Obviously the numbers will increase. But each workstation has been provided with a cubicle. So, there will be no confusion or chaos. The students can concentrate on the work without any hindrance,” said Dr Srivastava.

“There is a separate area earmarked for those using the library with their laptops. But for the rest, all they have to do is login with IDs provided to them,” said Deputy Librarian (Cyber Library), D K Singh.

While the cyber library section alone is spread over 1.5 acres, the work platform is double-storeyed. The outsiders intending to use the facility will have to come through a proper procedure of screening from the computer section, he added.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Prashant Pandey / Allahabad – July 04th, 2014

India’s ‘fastest train’ completes first trial

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel

Agra :

Indian Railways successfully conducted the first trial run of the country’s fastest train on the New Delhi-Agra route on Thursday, with the train covering a distance of 200 kms in 100 minutes against the stipulated time of 90 minutes. While during the journey its average speed was 125-130 kmph, it touched a maximum speed of 160 kmph.

At present, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express is India’s fastest train with a top speed of 150 kmph.

Equipped with an electric locomotive of 5,400HP, the semi-high speed train was flagged off from platform number 6 of the New Delhi railway station at 11:15am. The train reached Agra Cantt railway station at 12:55pm on platform number 5. The train was halted at Mathura for 10 minutes for a functionality check.

Commissioner (railway safety) PK Vajpayee, divisional railway manager (DRM) of Delhi Anurag Sachan, DRM, Agra, Vijay Sehgal and other senior officials involved with the project were on board.

Addressing the media, Vajpayee said the trial run was successful and that the train service is likely to start in November this year.

Sehgal added that there are 16 speed restriction areas and curves on the Delhi-Agra route which were upgraded to improve the speed. The upgradation was for trial and further maintenance and budget will be declared in the upcoming railway budget.

It is estimated that a cost of Rs 15 crore would be incurred to make the track ready for the train. The railways placed temporary barricades in parts of the stretch to prevent obstruction and ensure speed. Later, permanent fencing will be done in the entire 200-km route.

The New Delhi-Agra train will reduce travel time between the two cities from 120 minutes to 90 minutes, and will come as a boon for tourists from Delhi looking to visit the Taj Mahal.

The project was announced by the railway board chairman, Arunendra Kumar, in March. The detailed project report (DPR) for the semi-high speed train on Delhi-Agra route was prepared by the high-speed rail corporation. Railway authorities are also planning to launch similar trains from Delhi to Kanpur, and Delhi to Chandigarh as Shatabdi trains.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Ishita Mishra, TNN / July 03rd, 2014

Ali Fazal’s going places

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Ali Fazal and Vidya Balan (Photo: DC archives)
Ali Fazal and Vidya Balan (Photo: DC archives)

The recently released Bobby Jasoos boasts of Vidya Balan as the female protagonist. However, it is Ali Fazal’s performance in the film that is being praised by many.

In Bobby Jasoos, Ali plays the role of Tasawur, a TV anchor who dreams of escaping the bylanes of old Hyderabad. Ali admits that he was quite unsure before taking up the film. “Since Vidya’s was the central character in this film. I read the script thoroughly to make sure my role was significant,” he says.

He insists that the love story brewing between his character Tasawur, and Bilkis Ahmed, aka Bobby, is rather unusual. He says, “That’s because Tasawur is actually one of Bobby’s cases… she helps him get rid of marriage proposals. And what starts off as a professional relationship slowly develops into a friendship and beyond.” The actor also feels that when it comes to Bollywood films, Hyderabad as a location remains quite untapped. “I haven’t seen a movie based in Hyderabad for the longest time, and we had a lot of fun shooting in the city.” Ali Fazal also stars in the seventh installment of Hollywood hit franchise Fast and Furious, for which he finished shooting recently.

He says, “It was a different experience altogether. I shot with them last September, the whole gang Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Kurt Russel, and Ludacris. As Paul Walker passed away and the script had to be redone, I had to go back for the shoot. I completed shooting for the film just two months back.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Amrita Paul / July 06th, 2014

‘I’m very harsh on myself’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

It’s a constant struggle for actors to hone their talent, work with integrity and retain the love for the art. But this is an interesting challenge for Irrfan Khan, who recently visited the City to promote the men’s platinum jewellery range by Abaran.

IrrfanMPOs07jul2014

The actor, who has earned accolades for his role in films like Paan Singh Tomar,
Maqbool, ‘D-Day’, and more recently ‘The Lunchbox’, says that the films he chooses to work on relate to his mindset at the time.

“Sometimes you do one story and then look for its antidote because you want to experience something completely different from it. Different experiences are what this profession provides you.

Sometimes there are parts that attract you because you want to be in that space for some time and at others, the part itself is interesting but the space is very hard. But you make a choice, choose that part and go through with it. That’s when a beautiful
story comes out,” he says.

Irrfan’s resume also boasts of Hollywood films like ‘Life of Pi’ and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and the upcoming ‘Jurassic World’, the fourth part of the ‘Jurassic Park’ series.

Speaking about the film, he says, “I have a pivotal role in the film. (Steven) Spielberg is involved and the director (Colin Trevorrow) is fantastic. It’s an immense production and the story is beautiful. I’ve finished one schedule and am going in July to do the rest.”

The actor is also excited about working on Shoojit Sircar’s Piku, which also
features Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a beautifully written script by Juhi (Trivedi) and Shoojit is a director I respect because he has talent and integrity as a storyteller,” he states.

But does he regret doing films like Hisss and The Xpose that not only flopped but were very uncharacteristic of Irrfan? “I did The Xpose for money,” he admits. “I don’t usually do films like that and charged a bomb for a day.

I had to do it as I hadn’t done a film for a long time. I hope I don’t have to face such
days again and am working only on films that I am convinced about,” he elaborates.
Irrfan adds that he has always had a tendency of criticising himself and his system.

“I’m very harsh on myself and I don’t mind that. I like being ruthless with
criticism and this isn’t something that I’ve acquired but given by god. When I was a small kid, the first thing I learnt to say was ‘I’m shit. Just throw me out of the window’. It was a burden for me till a point that I understood what was going on. Once you get clarity, you enjoy seeing things more critically. I’m critical about Bollywood and Hollywood for instance. But the way Bollywood is changing and the way the audience is forcing that change and evolving makes it a great time for the industry,” he says.

A fan of Bangalore, Irrfan says that he would love to stay here. “I wish I could live here. I’ve seen parts of Bangalore that are changing haphazardly without any design like a disease. But the City still has beautiful weather and there’s something very romantic about it,” he signs off.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Rohini Kejriwal / DHNS – July 01st, 2014

Nawabi Lucknow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Travel, World Opinion

LucknowUP06jul2014

Though English singing sensation Cliff Richards was born in Lucknow, the city is not famous for western compositions, but for highly refined versions of Indian performing arts. A classical music form like thumri and dance like Kathak were pioneered by the Muslim Nawabs upcountry. They built the city in 1775 as the capital of Awadh, their inde­pendent sovereignty. And that was esta­blished at a crucial time — when the command of the mighty Mughal Empire in nearby Delhi was waning, while British East India Company was transforming their interest from trade to territory.

The Nawabs flaunted a great passion for art, music and literature, which attracted the best of North India’s talent to Lucknow and that over time permeated through the growing city, giving it a distinctive culture that was both artistic and edifying. Lucknow became another name for courteous urbanity and conjured up an image of a society where adabs and tehzeebs were a way of life.

Today, like any other Indian metropolis, it is an avant-garde settlement of 3 million, but during my recent visit, it didn’t take me much time to sense the breathing of the golden legacies of the past era, despite modernity cloaking the city.

I was able to note an impeccable blend of the ancient with the contemporary, finding quaint markets gracefully coexisting with glitzy shopping malls, tall apartments rising next to stunning ancient monuments, newer cars on the road giving way to horse driven carts and old-fashioned eateries constantly throwing challenge to the kitchens of five star hotels.

The touches of this past lifestyle blazed strikingly, the moment I stepped into the atmospheric Chowk area, where during the Nawabi heyday, traders, artisans, weavers, engravers, painters, singers and nautch girls grew and flourished. A “must visit” destination for all tourists, the quarter is overburdened with liveliness and buoyancy. Winding through its narrow galis, flanked on both sides with dusty two storied houses, business establishments and countless shops, some dating back over 200 years, selling a range of merchandise from old fashioned furnishings, antique utensils, hand laced carpets, aromatic spices, to saris, ghagra’s and kurtas exquisitely embroidered with chikankari, artwork that adorned Nawabi apparel and exotic “atars” gifted to their begums, was an exhilarating experience of savouring antiquity. The classic example of ‘pahele aap’, the legendary etiquette of the city, came up several times from passing pedestrians, when going through some very narrow alleyways, where it’s difficult for two people to cross at the same time.

The experience of meandering through time continued when I visited the magnificent Qaser Bagh Palace, where the dynasty’s last Nawab, Wajed Ali Shah, a prolific poet, singer and dancer, lived till deposed by the British, when Awadh was annexed to the Company’s Empire in 1856. The silent beauty shrouding the ruined Indo- Persian styled edifice promptly shifted my mind to another time zone. Looking at the ornate balconies, I could envision that to be the place where the Nawab leisurely sat and composed verses, such as the famous ‘Babul Mora Naiha Chooto Jaay’ while the city’s magical silhouette slowly sunk into sunset. Wandering around, I thought I heard the rhythms of a tabla matched with the tunes of sarengi, and imagined that coming from a mehefill inside, the Nawab dancing and singing with his luscious courtesans, in a large hall ado­rned with gold framed mirrors, portraits of ancestors and opulent chandeliers hanging from the festooned ceiling. Walking through the surrounding grounds, once treaded on by the emperor and his friends, I didn’t see anyone flying kites or watching rooster fights, but I was told that two of the Nawab’s most favourite pastimes still evoke passionate involvement among the locals.

The opulent vestiges of the Qaser Bagh Palace  bore testament to the extravagant lifestyle  of the Lucknow Nawabs, for which they were notorious. The other building I saw that was equally appealing in style and sumptuousness was the Chatter Manzil, the name being derived from its chatter (umb­rella) shaped gild dome crowing the structure.

The highlight of any visit to Lucknow is surely cherishing  its architectural transcendence and, like me, if you arrive by train, the first taste will come the moment you step down at the Charbagh Railway station — a 1914 built imposing edifice, structured with domes and minarets and looks like a grand palace from outside. It aptly measures up in quality with the city’s other monuments, mostly built by the Nawabs that dominate the expansive physical environment spreading out on both sides of the River Gomti.

For me, the two Imambaras — Bara and Chota, came out as the most distinctive. They are religious monuments, meaning houses of the imams, as per the Shiaite school of Islam to which the Nawabs belonged.

Located in the city’s bustling old quarter, you enter the precinct through the Rumi Darwaza, a soaring gate 60 feet high that has stood imposingly for over two centuries as a silent witness to history. The stunning feature of Bara Imambara which is a maze of a large courtyard, two imposing gates and a mosque, is the 50m long and 15m high central hall, one of the largest vaulted galleries in the world, totally unsupported by pillars. An external stairway guides you to an upper floor laid out as an amazing labyrinth, known as the Bhulbhulaiya, where you are sure to lose your way in the criss-crosses of latticed corridors and stairways, unless someone is with you as a guide. The nearby Chota Imambara, a gem like structure is surrounded by a delicate golden dome and has external walls engraved with superb calligraphy. The interior is adorned with gilt-edged mirrors, ornate chandeliers, silver pulpits and colourful stucco decorations. Next to it is a clock tower, the tall brick structure of which turns into a memorable sight when brightly illuminated at night.

It is said that the Nawabs had equal fascination for poetry and food, so cuisine became and still remains a central feature of the city, serving signature dishes such as tunde kabab, kakori kabab, dum phukt mutton biriyani, nehari and halim, the recipes for which emerged from the regal kitchens. They certainly pledge to delight one’s heart through the stomach, and this worked for me when I tried some of the specialities at the plush Oudhyana Restaurant at the Taj Residency Hotel.

Elusive and enchanting, Lucknow, oozing with history and teeming with life, has all the ingredients to lure any traveller — excellent air, rail and road connections, accommodation to suit every budget, great shopping opportunities, mouth wat­ering cuisine, courteous people and above all a landscape bejewelled with some of India’s most breathtaking monuments. I fell in love with the city instantly and I am sure you will as well.

Factfile

Getting there: Lucknow is 80 km from Kanpur, 210 km from Allahabad, 305 km from Varanasi and 363 km from Agra. The Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi Express links Lucknow to other major cities in India. Lucknow’s Amausi airport has flights to all the major cities in India. Hire an auto rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Even horse -drawn carts are available. Please try to fix the rate before starting the journey. The main centres of activities in the city today are Gomtinagar, Hajratganj, Janpath, Aminabad, Chowk, Nakhas, Sadar and Nishatgang. Log on to www.up-tourism.com for more information.

— sandiphor@hotmail.com

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> LifeStyle> Travel / by Sandip Hor / June 22nd, 2010

Every Awadhi mango tells a tale of its own

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Lucknow :

Lucknow takes pride in its two possessions: aam and zubaan. Both are laced with sweetness and grace, and give a distinct identity to the city.

Mango enjoys an exalted status among the natives of Awadh. It’s revered not just as a fruit, but also considered an integral part of Awadhi tradition. There is a way of savouring its delectable varieties like dussehri, safeda, chuswa or langda. “Mango eating is about nazakat and nafasat,” says a veteran citizen. “In some families, mangoes are served to guests on a ‘tashtari’ (tray) decorated with roses. It is considered improper to present cut slices of the fruit to the guests,” he adds.

Till a few years back, mango eating contests were annually organized in the peak summer season. To the bewilderment of spectators, some contestants ended up consuming dozens of mangoes within minutes. But the soaring costs gradually brought curtains on such events, says Lucknow-based historian Roshan Taqui. These have now been replaced by mango festivals, organized by businessmen or prominent hotels, where several hybrid varieties of the fruit are served to connoisseurs.

Aminabad resident Chaudhary Shrafuddin, however, has kept alive the tradition of ‘aam daawat’. For past 37 years, he has been organizing the annual ‘Aam aur Ghalib’ daawat, where litterateurs and poets meet to savour both Urdu poetry and mangoes, says Atif Hanif of Lucknow Society. It’s a befitting tribute to poet Mirza Ghalib, who was an avid mango lover, Hanif adds.

It is said that once Ghalib was savouring mangoes outside his home when a donkey came by. It smelt the discarded mango peels lying around on the ground and walked away without tasting them. Seeing this, a passerby said, “Huzur, donkeys don’t eat mangoes.” Ghalib immediately quipped: “Yes, only donkeys don’t eat mangoes,” leaving the passerby speechless. Even poets like Firaq Gorakhpuri and Josh Malihabadi waxed eloquence on the king of fruits.

Ibrahim Sheeshmahal, a descendant of Avadh Nawabs, throws light on the art of mango eating. “Since mango is a delicate fruit it should be eaten with zubaan and not the teeth,” he says. He recalls the days when families held mango conglomerations in Malihabad orchards. “In summers, mango used to become the staple food. Buckets full of mangoes were kept in houses,” says the royal descendant.

Historian Taqui says Avadh’s mangoes became popular through various innovations. “One of them (though no longer in vogue) was mango served with ‘biraha’ parantha,” says Taqui, adding that the British officers had a strong dislike for chuswa as they found it unsophisticated to eat.

Mango cultivation is done in various states but none comes near Malihabad’s dussehri in sweetness and look. Its most famous orchardist, Haji Kalimullah, has made its further popular by naming the hybrid varieties after celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Despite soaring prices and arrival of exotic fruits in the market, Awadhis remain addictive to their mangoes. For them, aam is quite khaas (special).

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Vijay Chopra, TNN / July 06th, 2014