Had gone out on a post-dinner lassi hunt yesterday to this place called Koneshwar Temple,in THE Chowk. The eldest of my cousins was incharge of operations. Surprise hit when he strictly forbid the ladies from stepping out, since he felt that the crowd outside wasn't good...for all I could perceive, there was another family parked besides us (ladies inside, of course) and 2 or 3 men at the large expanse of the front steps of the shop. There were no gangs on bikes, or men drunk and loitering about, or men sneaking away lecherous glances around; and it was a prominent junction with good lights, not some back alley. The only women outside were a couple of burqa-clad ones having lassi (and enjoying it).
Then an incident a day before came into memory - when Shiv (male), accompanied by Aditi (female), had gone out for Paan (पान, پان, Betel Nut). As by Shiv's accounts, the stall owner was uneasy with Aditi's presence and asked her to have a seat in the car itself. Shiv felt that it might've been because of the 'crowd'. Again, this shop is the most prominent of places to have the delightful Paan in Lucknow. It is situated close to Hazratganj, which is the Times Square of Lucknow, and the surroundings and cleanliness hint at the privileged area it is. It was broad daylight; there were people around; there was Shiv and me, besides another XXL-sized cousin to take care of things. Yet there had to be a warning.
So, the Muslim folks keep their women away from prying eyes by wrapping a burqa round them. The Hindus match up to them by wrapping huge tin sheets (called cars) around their women. Inferring as to which gives more freedom is a point of debate. Anyways, this is color of Lucknow you won't like to see.
Heard from somebody that Lucknow is now the 2nd fastest growing non-metro city in India, following Pune. But from the attitudes and the general 'culture' here, I can confirm that the Lucknow-ites would face a backlash if they step into the ring with the other big cities, where each gender enjoys considerably more freedom.
Have you been served with (or been serving) such disclaimers? Is there any incident that confirms this general opinion? Or is this a stale opinion derived 20 years back in the past, a typical psychosis?
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1 comment:
aah, yes. my nanaji wouldn't let me go out by myself in the evening. he'd get upset if i'd insist on taking a walk by myself. good thing, the house offered so much entertainment in itself.
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