Lucknow University Students Club

February 17, 2011.

This decrepit building located in Narhi under the Hazratganj area of Lucknow is a recreation club of the Lucknow University. It is known that a tent house that supplies all the necessary paraphernalia for fetes,  weddings et cetera uses the compound as its base.
It's not known when or whether this place ever functioned as a students club. This has been highlighted in newspapers before but nothing has been done to improve the situation.
Does this prove that today's students don't need the type of recreation that such a club could provide.

Now this building is located a few km from the university campus. Recently, a report of the rundown condition of the LU gymnasium, located on the campus, showed where the root of the rot lies.

Shanti Avedna Sadan Hospice

 The central portion where stands a circular table, from what I could make out, on which are placed the holy books of all the major religions.
Shanti Avedna Sadan, Safdarjung, New Delhi is a place for terminally ill cancer patients, run by a trust as its web site indicates. My brother, Richard, who was in the last stages of cancer (died on Jan 2, 2011) already knew about this place, as a young man from his in-laws side had died here.
We, my elder brother, Keith and myself went there to find out about Shanti Avedna. Since Keith lives in Kanpur and I in Lucknow we weren't sure how the family would handle thing when it became really difficult. The sister in charge explained everything. Patients are treated as humanely as possible....and besides being given painkillers no treatment like drip or oxygen are given. The idea was for the patient to spend the last days as comfortable as possible but not to prolong life.unnecessarily.
Richard only lived another three or four day. He was very uncomfortable the last night, Jan 4, he never complained, he never said much that night. He kept from time to time wiping his mouth with a handkerchief till after 7 am he went still. He was buried the same evening at the Paharganj cemetery.
I'm happy we didn't have to leave him...

Bare and Chote Khan tombs

Came across these tombs in the heart of Kotla Mubarakpur. (taken before Jan 5, 2011)

Kotla Mubarakpur bylanes

Kotla Mubarakpur, New Delhi

All our cities, even New Delhi, have  underdeveloped areas which remain concealed off the main roads. Concealed and forgotten. Now, I'm not talking about the outskirts like Khanpur or the trans Jamuna areas but even Kotla Mubarakpur which falls on the other side of Khel Gaon Road from Defence Colony.
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La Martiniere Lake II

Friday, Feb 11, 2011.
This morning I visited the Martiniere lake area after several days to record the improvements. I was surprised to note that some of the large trees on the slope had been hacked. There were two contractors supervising the work from the top of the bund. It does seem like the large drain from Jiamau will come around and meet up with the Fairydale drain before it enters the River Gomti.
Friday, Feb 25, 2011.

Friday, Feb 25, 2011.

Friday, Feb 25, 2011.

Traffic chaos: Lucknow's GPO crossing

 The GPO crossing after 2pm on Wed Feb 9, 2011. It's a normal afternoon! The lower pic shows the entrance to the Narhi market. Pics taken from above the Coffee House.

Moets, Defence Colony Market

Moets, Defence Colony Market, New Delhi is where my brother, Richard, worked for almost 20 years. He died from cancer on Jan 5, 2011 and was buried at the Indian Christian Cemetery at Paharganj the same evening.

Out at the Defence Colony market, New Delhi, a proud Sardar riding a Triumph, which I'd not seen before, was surprise when I asked him if I could take his picture.