I don't live there any more, or atleast not on a permanent basis. Now I'm always a guest there. I left this place to make a career.What saddens me is the fact that a lot of talented youth (like me,
;-)...ahem!) leave this city to make a career and life. Today it is a city with dwindling job oppurtunities, low higher education oppurtunities, and a dead life.
But even in distant past this place use to be one of the most culturally vibrant and educationally urbane city. It is one of the oldest places where people have lived constantly. Every ruler who has ruled India has understood the importance of this city. You find the mention of Prayag in Vedas, in Puranas, in the Itihasa and in the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
For Hindus it is one of the most important destination. All hindus wish to be a part of the great dodecadennial Kumbh Mela, quite easily the largest human conglomeration. Of course, Kumbh occurs in three other places, but compared to that of Allahabad (or Prayag, i'll use the words interchangebly) they don't compare.
But that's not all. Every year around 2 to 3 million assemble every year on the same ghats to have an annual magh mela, a small (relatively speaking) version of Kumbh.
Kumbh mela was a much respected gathering in ancient times. As was the mood then, it use to become the focal point of intellectual and philosophical boxing ring between Hindus and Buddhists. Mandan Mishra and Shankarachrya had discussion here which is one of the finest in ancient Indian history. Harshavardhana's story is narrated even in school history books. In Allahabad you'll find the Akshaya Vat and the Ashok Stambh.
This automatically brings up the Fort. The fort is said to be built by Akbar, but it has little resemblance with other Mughal Architecture, so I think Akbar renovated the thing and added certain things.
Mughals understood the importance of this city quite well. Anyone who has studied that period will agree. This sense was carried on to the Company and later British Raj. So Allahabad was made the capital of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. Incidentally, do you know that Allahabad had served as Capital of India for almost six months after the declaration made by the Queen Victoria in Allahabad itself? Ironically, the Indian National Spirit grew up here only. The first conference of Indian National Congress was held in Allahabad in 1885.
Under British Raj, Allahabad grew as modern and highly important city. Some examples of British Raj still visible in Allahabad are:
The High Court. It is the largest in Asia.
Railway. Allahabad is among the biggest railway junctions in India. It is among the
busiest. It is a junction of 7 lines.
University. Allahabad University was at one time inarguably the best in India.
There are as many as 4 large army installations in Allahabad.
Allahabad is the HQ of Central Air Command of India.There are just 3 air commands
in India.
Besides these, about half the Head Offices of UP Govt. and Central Govt. Offices in UP are in Allahabad. I'll count as many as possible. Board of Revenue, Board of Education, Education Directorate, Police HQ, AGUP, Central Military Pension, UPPSC, Staff Selection Commission, SSB for Army and Navy, HQ NCR, CORE, Central Adminstrative Tribunal, Income Tax and Customs of UP, Central Directorate of Mines and Geology, Botanical Survey of India and some more which I might have forgotten to add.
But much more importantly, Allahabad was, at one time, the literary and cultural nerve center of India. Poets and Writers like Sumitranandan Pant, Mahadevi Verma, Nirala, Bachhan, Firaq, Kamalesh etc. called Allahabad their home. Allahabad had some 6000 printing presses. Hindusthani Academy and Hindi Sahitya Sammelan must be mentioned here.
Prayag Sangeet Samiti, the largest Music Academy in India, ensured that Allahabad was never deprived of the best of Indian Music. The Annual Music Conference was a rage among Musicians of India. They considered themselves honored to be invited here.
Currently, Allahabad has the NCZCC Auditorium which holds festivals like Prayag Mahotsav, Chalo re Man Ganga Yamuna Teer and of course the Annual Dramatics Competition, well attended by theater groups from all over India.
Allahabad has some of the finest schools of India. In fact, some of the schools have produced National and State toppers.
Allahabad has 5 universities. they are, Allahabad University, MNNIT, IIIT, AAI and UPRTOU.
Besides these Allahabad has a number of colleges, engineering colleges and a medical college.
Allahabad has produced 5 Prime Ministers for the Nation.
Indian Standard Time once used to be measured by the local time of the city (why is zero road called so?). However it is nowadays measured from about 15 km east of the city.
But all this comes to a nought. It is a reality that Allahabad lacks job oppurtunities. It lacks enough quality high education, it lacks ultra modern hospitals, it lacks night life, it lacks shopping malls, it lacks multiplexes, it lacks good outdoor recreation centers and parks, it lacks sanitation, it lacks civic sense.It lacks the vibrant cultural, educational and artistic undercurrent which was palpable even two or three decade ago. Today, the coffee house is a joint for small time lawyers. No more discussions on English poetry or philosophy.
Today, the university is academically moribund.No substantial research comes out of it.
Hordes of rural youth come to Allahabad for "IAS Preparation" and do nothing but be a nuisance.
Today, Allahabad is composed of about 40% people who are first time urban,who are first time Allahabadi. This has led to destruction of the city's culture, its skyline and its sense of being.
The city today is being dragged down in a vortex of mediocrity, senseless expansion and destruction of whatever cultural sense exist.
Is anybody out there ?