Vanishing Culture of Lucknow

This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the opulent but fast- vanishing culture of Lucknow of the nawabi period. Although the nawabs were displaced from their seat of power by the British after the Mutiny, (now referred to as the First War of Independence), the culture and life style they had helped create did not die out. The princes and begums of the royal families, nobles and certain other privileged groups took over the role of the nawabs as promoters of this culture. The taluqdars were actually encouraged by the British to project themselves as the cultural heirs of the nawabs.

The most striking fact about the culture of Lucknow was the absence of any form of religious bigotry and intolerance. This resulted in the Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb a rich and composite cultural mosaic comprising both Hindu and Muslim cultural traits. A further element was added with the incorporation of the British style of architecture, dress-codes and education into the traditional mould.

The author amply illustrates this point by a detailed scrutiny of the various facets of Lucknow culture such as the monuments, forms of entertainment and the entertainers, folk-culture, gastronomic and sartorial tastes, development of languages, modes of transport, painting and calligraphy, judicious use of both indigenous and foreign sources as well as the skillful interpolation of case-studies of the individuals who made up this cultural milieu, with the general description to give a vivid impression of a rich and vibrant culture. The text is amply supported by numerous beautiful photographs.