Author: Amaresh Misra
Publisher: Rupa
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 369
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8129104857
Description
This book is the first, full length, historical and contemporary narrative, covering a time span of more than 250 years, from 1722 till the present, of the Indian subcontinent's most fascinating city culture. At that time, a wazirdari arose in the Mughal suba of Avadh which later developed into a kingdom.
Led by Mughal officers and adventurers of Persian origin, this wazirdari marked a break in world culture. Symbolizing the iron and rose gesture of Asiatic capitalism, it guided the Indo-Persian impulse of Empire building to a revolutionary culmination.
The city was destroyed in the aftermath of the great revolt as it presented a gestural, political, economic alternative modernity.
The book gives a mnemonic shock as it redefines the Indo-Persian, Lucknowi way of beauty, politics, cuisine, fashion, architecture, money making, sensation, 'ada', 'zaban', honor and culture as authentic Indianess - - in opposition to Hindutva, Jinnah's two nation theory.
In the light of Indian society's contemporary crisis, brought upon by external pressures and internal backwardness, this is also showcased as the way to a new future where a modern national character speaks the language of hardboiled Hindustani passions and ideas, and gathers courage, once again, to shake the world.