The Other Lucknow

The times you lived through, the people you shared those times with — nothing brings it all to life like an old mix tape. It does a better job of storing up memories than actual brain tissue can do. Every mix tape tells a story. Put them together, and they can add up to the story of a life"'The other lucknow' by Nadeem Hasnain has been that mix tape which shored up the nostalgia for Lucknow and brought it all back for me. "Tehzeeb koi apni nazar mein jachegi kya/Meri nigaah-e-shauq ne dekha hai Lucknow"Not much has been written on Lucknow and by those standards it is a book which was much needed by :1) The nostalgic lucknowites who once had lived in this beautiful city or still living.2) For people who wanted to know more about the city, its cultural heritage, the popular, iconic monuments and its religious pluralism and were curious by the hype.3) Who know nothing of Lucknow.This is a book which does not swim superficially but based on an immensely solid foundation and a well researched one which takes you in depth of the ethnography, the culture and some lost arts.Coupled with some great couplets which makes it an interesting and an unputdownable book. In all it is a must read.

The author seems sincere in documenting the various facets of Lucknow. But the text and the production have glitches. A good compilation at a good price.