Imagine a world where Dhyan Chand, Cliff Richard, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Naushad Ali , Trevor Keelor and Mir Taqi Meer all coexisted in close proximity in the city of Nawabs. You won’t have to look too far, you’ll find such a place in Shaheed Path itself.
Lucknow Development Authority and Delhi Street Art in collaboration with Colorathon came together to bring alive the pristine face of the city. Ahead of the UP Investor’s Summit the sides of an overbridge were painted with beautiful graffiti that showcased noted stalwarts who hailed from the city or the state.
While one side of the bridge has people painted on them, the other side has notable landmarks like the Railway Station, Roomi Darwaza and the Bada Imambara plastered on walls filled with vibrant colours. The artists also painted some social messages on the walls like Save Water, Accept Swadeshi and a Swachh Bharat call among others.
Artists from Delhi painted the walls of the flyover bridge near Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.
The project launched in collaboration with the LDA and Delhi Street Artists is an effort to beautify the city by showcasing the art, heritage and culture of Lucknow.
Colorathon is a platform that helps bring out the artist in you which further rekindles the joy of drawing & painting while bringing everyone together to express their heart out. The artists painted Awadh’s rich Nawabi Culture.
The beautification of Uttar Pradesh’s capital for the 2-day Investors Summit-2018 cost over Rs 65 crore to the state exchequer.
Netherlands, Japan, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovania, Mauritius and Thailand were the seven partner countries of the summit.
Not many may remember Harry Rodger Webb, born in Lucknow in 1940 but they would know him as Sir Cliff Richard. Interestingly in an emotional post he has thanked the city for remembering him.
Richard was born at KGMC in 1940. His paternal grandfather lived in the colony near Sibtainabad Imambara in Hazratganj.
The murals painted at Shaheed Path saw painting of six murals that included one of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Vajpayee has been a key political figure who has represented Lucknow as MP for the 1999 to 2004 term. Vajpayee’s name was registered as a voter from the Babu Banarsi Das ward in Lucknow and had last voted in 2004 during Lok Sabha elections. His last vote in municipal elections was in 2000.
Registered as Vajpayee’s home in Lucknow is 92/98-1 in Basmandi, which is now the office of Kisan Sangh.
Dhyan Chand’s UP connection lies with Allahabad where he was born on 29 August 1905. Born to mother Sharadha Singh and father Sameshwar Singh, he was elder brother of hockey player Roop Singh. He had two brothers – Mool Singh and Roop Singh. The family finally settled in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Known for his exemplary role in the Indo Pak war of 1965, Wing Commander Trevor Keelor, VrC, VM was an officer of Indian Air Force. Honoured with number of medals including the Vir Chakra and the Vayu Sena Medal he was elder brother to Denzil, who himself was a Vir Chakra awardee. Born on 8 December 1934 in Lucknow, India, he was educated at St. Francis’ College and La Martiniere in Lucknow.
Who can forget the supremely gifted Naushad Ali who was an Indian music director widely considered to be one of the greatest and foremost music directors of the Hindi film industry.
Naushad was born and raised in Lucknow. As a youngster, Naushad would often go to the Deva Sharif fair in Barabanki, 25 km from Lucknow where he studied Hindustani music under Ustad Ghurbat Ali, Ustad Yusuf Ali, Ustad Babban Saheb and others. He also repaired harmoniums. From here started his tryst with music composition.
As a culturally rooted city, Lucknow also gave to the world Mir Taqi Meer who was born in Agra in August or February 1723. Mir lived much of his life in Mughal Delhi. Kuchha Chelan, in Old Delhi was his address at that time. He eventually shifted base to court of Asaf-ud-Daulah in Lucknow, at the king’s invitation. The plundering of Delhi moved him so much that he started to use poetry to vent his ire. Mir migrated to Lucknow in 1782 and remained there for the remainder of his life.
As a generation that is hip, hop happening we are still quite disconnected from our rich and glorious past. This effort even though for a investment puller in the long run will prove to be a great way to connect youngsters to the Awadhi glory of many generations.
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