PRAYAGRAJ: 'EK AJAB MIJAAZ KA SHEHAR'

Prayagraj carries with itself pre-conceived notions, like Sangam, Kumbh Mela, religious place, Guavas, High Court. But, there are many strings attached to it, it is a city of Sangam, Guavas, Samose-Jalebi, Paan, a city of lawyers, a bastion for people from legal fraternity, home of many poets,  Shayars, stronghold of intellectuals, revolutionaries, Akbar Allahabadi, city of Shehanshah, Amitabh Bachchan, city which has given most Prime Ministers to the country, Anand Bhawan, AG office, Public Service Commission Office, Police Headquarters, city dotted with coaching institutes,etc. To showcase Prayagraj from a different angle, i have selected some different images of Prayagraj(because images of Sangam, University, High Court, temples, Anand Bhawan, Museum are frequently shown).

It is true, though, there is nothing to boast about and happening in the city, as such. It is a lazy, sleepy, old-fashioned city. Though, it is a major city of Uttar Pradesh, but there are many turn-offs in the city, being power-cuts(though, it has improved now and would be improved), nasty traffic sense, fixed mindset and narrow approach of the public, lack of infrastructure and medical facilities, lack of airline services and a running airport, lethargic approach of the public(Chalta hai attitude). It is  very sad to note and shocking at the same time that the city which has been the home to most of the Prime Ministers, nurtured so many leaders, intellectuals has been lagging behind in the sphere of development and basic infrastructure. It still is considered to be a timid, sleepy town. Though, it is considered to be an important city of the state(mostly, for political reasons), but today, other towns of the state, situated in the west, which were considered as timid towns and were only known for Taalas(locks), Chhuras(knife), Peetal(brassware), Chooris(bangles), Pethas, Pedas, Gajaks(sweets and other delicacies) are growing fast. Cities like  Ghaziabad and Meerut, strangling in the NCR, are competing with the likes of the National capital and are serving as an alternative accommodation in place of the National capital, Bareilly is also moving with the pace of modern India, Moradabad is moving fast in real estate sectors, industries, factories and economic market, Aligarh is also buzzing up, Agra is stepping ahead in terms of infrastructure, property market, hotel industries, new projects, well-developed highways. But, the reach of the public of Prayagraj seems to be very confined, they use the airport, market, hotels of Varanasi, and do not want to whisk further Lucknow-Kanpur. As if for them, Uttar Pradesh starts from Lucknow-Kanpur and ends till Varanasi-Mughalsarai. And, then, there is a different world of nearby towns like Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Kaushambi, where their Chacha-Chachis, Mausa-Mausis, Tau-Tais, Mama-Mamis live. Aligarh for them only symbolise Aligarh Muslim University and a railway junction enroute Delhi and Agra for them symbolise Pethas, Taj Mahal, Taj Corridor, and Expressways. And, other purpose is only  for 'Mukadma' of 'Vakeel'. They fail to see the world beyond Lucknow in the West and Varanasi in the east.

But, there is something very strange about the city, in a very special sense. One can observe wider roads than Lucknow and narrower roads than Varanasi in the city of Prayagraj. Their Lehza(etiquette), Boli(Language), Tehzeeb(Discipline), Tashan(attitude) is out of the world. Their style of chewing paan and speaking simultaneously is epic.Nothing can beat that. And, to add, their Samose-Chai session, fascination for Gulab Jamun,Churmura, Paan, Namkeen, Dalmoth, Mithai, Fulki, Chaat, Masala Cold Drink, Cut-Dosa, Jalebi dipped in Dahi is very high. The city is very rich culturally, fraternity is  dipped in its environment, and atmosphere is soothing. There would be a feeling of relaxation, a sense would arise to break monotony of daily life and discontinue the normal routine. It's language, spirit, environment, essence, soul is very sweet, deep, pure and romantic. No words can describe the beauty of its language. It is very sweet, it boasts a Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb. Commenting on the language of the city would require a deep research. The research says that it is distorted Awadhi with a flavour of Jaunpuri. Most people, film-makers, serial-makers wrongly showcase it as Bhojpuri and mislead people. Film-makers, and people who tend to showcase their languge as Bhojpuri must be sued. The real Nafasat, Nazakat and Nawabiyat lie here. The Allahabadis are considered to be quiet, peace-loving, non-aggressive, soft, but, they can be awfully aggressive, hardcore, sarcastic and funny at times. They are truly peculiar. Netram sweets, Lallu Pan Bhandar, Kanha Shyam, Chaat near K.P. College, etc have become household names. There are also some temples, Sangam, Museum, Alfred Park, Civil Lines, and some spots to hang around. The city is also advancing, with the establishment of some small-scale industries, power-plants being established, shopping malls, centres, economic clusters, hospitals, schools, institutions coming around. Smart-city project, Metro project in the pipeline, roads, highways, etc. This city will also cope up with the modern aspirations of modern India and progressive India, but it's essence, atmosphere, ettiquete will remain intact forever.