Mehmood M Abdi
But she was known more as ‘Curfew wali Dulhan’, which she sportingly acknowledged. (Exponent of Oral History and Culture) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news.
Parents discussed “aaj bahot kasheedgi hai“ (it’s tense today) and preferred their kids indoors. Family elders unanimously suggested “multavi kar diya jaye” (postpone the event). One old man said “Amaa aaj pata chala shahar ki sadkey kitni chaudi hain” (never knew the city streets were so wide). Another oldie retorted “To aapke liye roz curfew lagwa dein?” (so, would you like curfew imposed for you every day?). Khuda naa khwaasta (God forbid!) said said the former, disapprovingly. To a roar of loud laugh someone just impromptu said “Curfew wali Dulhan”.
People born in late 90s and after may not grasp how unpredictable and volatile Lucknow frequently got during 1960s to 90s of the last century. Frequent sectarian clashes routinely pockmarked the face of the city. It was as difficult to predict when a trivial discord would erupt into a full-scale riot as to foretell an earthquake. Denominational differences between Shia and Sunni sects needed most unassuming causes to erupt into public disorder. Kite of one sect’s flyer falling in a locality inhibited by the other sect or collision of two bycycles, though of the same brand, but with riders of opposite sects, was reason enough to arouse group sentiments. As localities of the two sects skirt each other and often overlap too, authorities restricted public movement by imposing curfew which the colloquial ‘taksali’ speakers of Lucknow called ‘karfu aardar” (curfew order). For them imposition of martial law in Pakistan was “Mashallah lag gaya hai. In terms of the extent of violence, however, it mostly remained limited to brickbatting which in Lucknow Lingo called ‘Gummey chal gaye or gummay bazi (stone/brick pelting). Water tap in Lucknow’s colloquial is called ‘bamba’, brick is called ‘gumma’ and half brick ‘addhaa’. So situation largely remained confined to gummey bazi and addhe bazi. Sporadic stabbing and arson were also witnessed. That was more than enough for mild mannered Lucknowites. In anticipation of impending trouble schools of Lucknow were shut. In such social setting, wedding of a boy from a reputed family of old city was fixed with a girl from western UP. As Lucknow walas are sluggish enough to travel, even to adjacent Kanpur, the overnight journey to the bride’s place was a complete no-no. That too, during the chilly north Indian winters. Somehow, the bride’s side was convinced to come to Lucknow for performing the wedding which they agreed to. Boy’s side arranged a good accommodation for them in central Lucknow. As luck would have it, on the day of nikah, as the groom was ready to leave for brides place, rioting erupted and most of old Lucknow was put under curfew. How to reach the nikah venue was a million-dollar question. Many suggestions came up. But many were concerned about the bride side’s disposition as travellers from a different city. Fortunately, a senior police officer was there among the baraatis and he coordinated with local police. With not much time in hand, two police trucks and a jeep arrived to take the baraat out of the groom’s curfew-bound home. All baraatis were made to sit in police trucks but when the ‘dulha’ was asked to sit in a police jeep he declined, saying people would think he had been arrested. Somehow, he was persuaded to treat the police jeep as ‘dulha ki motor’. Blaring sound of two big police truck alerted from wherever the baraat passed and residents made speculations of all sorts. But, what they saw on peeping through the closed windows was beyond their imagination. One truck full of decked up womenfolk in ghararas and the other with ceremoniously dressed men, all smiling, as they took the police truck ride was a sight that left them confused. Old men wearing ‘kantop’ (woollen monkey cap) were enjoying the ride most. Craning their necks out to see the empty streets. Ceremonies were hurriedly concluded and safe return of the baraat was ensured the same way. Baraatis quickly jumped into waiting police trucks. Bride and the groom sat in the police jeep. In Lucknow weddings, it’s customary to give ‘khitab’ (title) to new brides, which becomes their new name in their new home. Unlike Shah Zamanee Begum, Aftab Zamanee Begum of still olden days, lesser and easier khitabs are given to new brides. Sartaj Dulhan, Mahtab Dulhan, Mahnaz Dulhan and Sarfaraz Dulhan, etc are so common that with one title there might be many dulhans in different families. When it came for title of this new bride many names were tossed. Later a formal khitab was given to the bride. Download the TOI App.