Opinion Tandoor

For more than three and a half decades now Agra District and Sessions Court has witnessed refusal of work by lawyers on any given Saturday. On 13th March 1982, the Agra Bar association called a Saturday strike, demanding the creation of a bench of the Allahabad high court in Agra. With the demand unmet, the strike continues to be observed every weekend till today.

हो सकता है कि अलग-अलग शोध में हिन्दुस्तान में किताबों के पढ़ने के चलन के बारे में अलग-अलग नतीजे निकले हों पर आम तौर पर बातचीत के माध्यम से जो तस्वीर उभर कर सामने आती है उससे पता चलता है कि हमारे समाज में किताबें पढ़ने का चलन काम हुआ है और किताबों, लेखकों और साहित्य में हमारी रूचि भी। ऐसा शायद इसलिए है कि मनोरंजन और सूचना के लिए नित नए माध्यम अब बेहद आसानी से उपलब्ध होते जा रहे हैं जिनकी सामग्री त्वरित रूप से ग्राह्य हो जाती है जबकि पढ़ने के लिए समय और धैर्य दोनों की आवश्यकता होती है।

ऐसे में कुछ पुराने समय से चली आ रही ऎसी परम्पाराएँ हैं जो किताबों के शौक और शौकीनों के लिए कुछ आस बनाए रखती हैं और संभवत: नए लोगों को भी इस शौक से जोड़ पाने में कामयाब होती हैं। ऎसी ही एक परंपरा है पुस्तक-मेला। एक ही जगह पर कई सारे प्रकाशनों की ढेर सारी दुकानें और कुछ सस्ती और कुछ बहुत सस्ती किताबों को खरीदने के मौके, असल में यही है पुस्तक-मेले का सार। पर इसके अलावा पुस्तक मेला एक ऎसी स्पेस भी तैयार करता है जिसमें शहर के लोग एक साथ आकर किताबों की दुनिया से रूबरू हो पाते हैं। ऐसा ही एक पुस्तक मेला राष्ट्रीय प…

Cultural heritage is an important foundation for a strong and cohesive society but becomes especially vital to draw from, in times of socio-cultural and socio-political upheavals. Agra became the city of Sulh-I-Kul (Peace with all) during the reign of Akbar in the sixteenth century. This theme got imbibed not only in its architecture but also its culture and history. Over the years, the idea of Sulh-I-kul has been invoked many times to remind the larger social discourse of the importance of peace and communal harmony. This Monday marked the beginning of one such event being organised in Agra called Rang-E-Sulh-I-Kul. Organised by coming together of various city based organisations and initiatives, the four day event from 5th to 8th March 2018, now in its second edition is trying to bring together city's youth in order to rejuvenate the cultural milieu of the city and revive its socio-political heritage of 'Sulh-I-Kul'.

Narratives are an integral part of our lives. As narratives are built, they in turn, build our histories, legacies as well as heritage. With time these narratives get consumed even as they are being continuously formed and re-formed. Their contexts, contours and details change and yet they remain the same in so many ways. In our hurried and busy existences, it may be difficult to witness these changes or these narratives. That’s why every now and then it becomes important to take some time out, take a step back and absorb this ever-evolving history and heritage.
One such opportunity is the ongoing Indian Heritage Walk Festival. Set in different Indian cities, this festival jointly organised by the Sahapedia and Yes Bank is celebrating the heritage of these cities the entire month of February, by organising walks based on different themes, including one in Agra as well. Centuries of history, different rulers and regimes and their architectural and socio-cultural legacies make, the onc…