Tornos India -Travelogue

-The Mutiny -1857...... Greatest set-back to the anti-Indian British policies was the Mutiny of 1857. British undoubtedly fought this uprising with their best abilities yet the casualties were so huge that British were forced to reform their polices and take each step very carefully and analytically. The Defence of Residency is one such topic that reigns supreme in the Indian-British history. The war in Lucknow and Kanpur were the two episodes that tell the tale of valour for both sides - the Indian & the British.

-Epicurean Delights...... A visit to Lucknow is incomplete without its delightful cuisine. Whether it is tundey kabab or yakhni pulao, the very sight and the aroma of the food is mouth watering and the credit goes to the Nawabs of Awadh, who not only laid the foundation of dazzling culture but patronized such a form of cuisine which created a niche for itself in the kitchen of even the ordinary subjects. So let us enjoy this epicurean delight.

-Magic of the thread......' Chikan' embroidery originated in Persia but now better known with the prefix of Lucknow “LUCKNOW CHIKAN”. It is a delicate art of embroidery introduced by Nur Jahan but patronized and popularized by the Nawabs of Lucknow in the 18^th century. Chikan is one such cordial thread that has kept Hindus and Muslims bound in utter harmony and brotherhood.

-Lucknow then & now...... Lucknow, once known for its culture and language is standing on the ruins of its own culture today. The glorious past of Lucknow is agitating for its existence. The dying culture of Lucknow has raised a big question, that is it the same Lucknow which we proudly call ”Duja Jahan” (the other world).

-A city lost to the forces to the darkness...... Lucknow, which was indisputably the largest most prosperous and civilized pre-colonial city in India, seems to have been lost to the forces of darkness. The city, which once use to boast of its unique culture and tradition is loosing its delight day by day. It is a present day plight of this city that is lamented in this article.

-Music in Awadh...... Awadh, ‘ the land of art and culture’ takes the credit of producing some great artist whose work created history. So lets go through the article to enjoy the melancholy of Awadh.

-La Martiniere and the mutiny...... La Martiniere an architectural landmark build by Maj Gen Claude Martin is the standing testimony to the courage shown by the British in the mutiny of 1857. Considered as the "East India Company’s answer to the Taj Mahal” the school feels proud of its glorious past even after 147 years of Mutiny.

-Gomti - a life line of Lucknow...... This article throws light on Lucknow's very own river - 'Gomti', which is unique for its shape and nature and has been the witness to each up and down that Lucknow faced. The article deals with the fixation of the people of Lucknow with this river. Times have changed but Gomti remains a life line of Lucknow.

-Djinns of Lucknow...... The general belief of people on super- natural powers. They believe that the invisible djinns who hover over the domes of Lucknow mosques can solve their problems. A peep through this article can give you a chance of a close encounter with the djinns and their glory.

-The Kingdom of Avadh..... This article recollects the memories of the by gone era of 1857 when Lucknow was indisputably the largest, most prosperous and most civilized pre-colonial city of India which gained uniqueness for its language, etiquette, culture and cuisine.

-Swan-Song of a poet King (Wajid Ali Shah)...... This is an article on the last days of King Wajid Ali Shah whose love for his native land “OUDH” could be seen in the form of Matiaburj in Calcutta. Although a very few monuments exist today but the story of these relics is history embroidered with legend and hearsay.

-Tomb of Sir Henry Havelock...... The tomb of Sir Henry Havelock is the living example of courage and bravery of British Soldier who led the first relief column into Residency in 1857 Mutiny. He died of dysentery, achieving an immortal fame.

-Cultural richness of Lucknow...... Lucknow ‘the city of adab (manerisim)’ is a cultural renaissance, which reached its zenith under the royal patronage. Among various cultural ingredients that have contributed to the richness of this unique city, mention must be made of the Urdu language, shairi, expressive dance form, buzzing chowks and exciting games like patangbazi, baterbazi and kabootarbazi. So lets have a peep through the rich culture of the city.

-Hazrat Mahal - the rebel Begam of Oudh...... A woman no less illustrious than Rani of Jhansi overshadowed the revolutionary history of Oudh. She was the woman of great courage; she was Begum Hazrat Mahal, wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. She made the British experience some of the toughest encounters of the whole history of the rebellion. So, come lets have a brief encounter with the life of this great rebel begum of Oudh.

-The Sepoy War of 1857 - Mutiny or First Indian War of Independence ?...... An article that gives a true picture of the siege and rather asks the readers to decide if it was a mutiny or rather a war for freedom from the British rule. Very clearly the write-up, shows different causes that led to the revolt and how and where it took place. This article is a point to point detailed analyses of the Siege of 1857. It would not be wrong if we call it an 'academic point of view of the siege'.

-A journey through Kaiserbagh.....A vivid description of one of the most beautiful palace complex in this city of superlatives. Kaiserbagh was not only a palace complex but rather a sort of mini Awadh contained in a complex. Built in 1847 by Wajid Ali Shah, Kaiserbagh was no less than a self contained city for the royal at that time. In the mutiny of 1857 Kaserbagh became a point of prestige for the British and thus had to tolerate the maximum burn. Today, only the memories and a few pictures remain to tell the saga of this unique architectural marvel.

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