Once upon a name…!
What’s in a name ? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” said Juliet in Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet. Is name just a name? Names conjure up the image of the entity, we identify with. When we talk of buildings, the name reflects the culture and character of the building and the place.
My friends outside of UP identify Lucknow with Hazratganj. What intrigues them is the name. They have not heard of a shopping place with a more alluring name!
Buildings and its architecture are the true reflection of the culture of a place. The richness of heritage and culture of Lucknow is evident in its monuments and buildings. It is equally known for its tehzeeb, its nazakat and nafasat, which has become the character of this city.
The names of the buildings here reflect this nazakat and nafasat in true spirit. Which city can boast of a skyline of monuments with enchanting names like Rumi Darwaza, Lal Baradari, Gulistan-e-Eram, Khursheed Manzil, Kothi Farhat Baksh etc.
The signature building of Lucknow, Rumi Darwaza, is believed to be inspired by a gate in Constantinople (now Istanbul), which is why the gateway was named so. China Bazaar and Kaptaan Bazaar were precursor to Hazratganj.
It was named Hazratganj during Nawab Amjad Ali Shah’s rule based on his alias Hazrat. Lal Baradari, which was the Darbar Hall and Coronation Hall for the kings of Awadh, got its name because of the red colour of the building.
Chhatar Manzil owes its existence to Chhatar Kunwar, mother of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, who started the construction of the building in her memory. It also gets its name from the chhatra or umbrella on the top of the dome of the main building.
Luck now is home to a number of majestic kothis with captivating names. Kothi Farhat Baksha in Chhatar Manzil Complex was renamed so after Nawab Saadat Ali Khan recuperated here and named it Farhat Baksha meaning ‘pleasure giving.’
Kothi Darshan Vilas is also known as ‘Chaurukhi Kothi’ because of four faces of the building, each different from the other. Kothi Gulistan-eEram was inspired by Persian gardens, hence named so meaning Paradise Garden.
Roshan-ud-Daula Kothi was built by Roshan-ud-Daula, the then Prime Minister of the Nawab.
The current SBI head office was originally Taare Wale Kothi clearly suggesting that it was the Royal Observatory. Kothi Noor Baksh is presently the residence of the Lucknow district magistrate. It got its name because of its noor( gleam).
Jarnail Wali Kothi is the corruption of English word General. It was used as a residence of the senior most officer of the army of the Nawabs. Dilkusha Kothi, the hunting lodge of the Nawabs, was so splendid in its setting that it was named Dilkusha meaning ‘pleasing to the heart’.
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah built Alam Bagh Kothi for his first wife Begum Alam Ara. Khursheed Manzil was built by Saadat Ali Khan for his favourite wife Khursheed Zadi.
Some of the above mentioned buildings are in good shape and in some extensive conservation works are underway to restore back their glory.
When you walk down the streets of Lucknow next, savour the nazakat of the names along with the buildings. There will be a change in your perspective of looking at them.
Coming back to Juliet’s question, some readers might agree with her. However, many would agree (literally) with Gertrude Stein who said “a rose is a rose is a rose.”
The writer is an IAS officer.