Latest news with #Lucknowite
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Time of India
Haathi Park runs into jumbo hurdles: Crumbling infra, poor upkeep & neglect
Lucknow: Once a vibrant public space and weekend destination for families, the famous Haathi Park in the Old City is now a picture of neglect. Crumbling infrastructure, broken play equipment, and a complete absence of maintenance have left the park in a dilapidated state, paving the way for drug addicts and criminal elements to take over the premises after dark. Located strategically between the Daliganj railway and road bridges on MG Road, the park was once famed for its concrete elephant structure with internal stairs that children could climb. Now, it stands vandalised and misused, with its trunk and mouth reportedly being used to stash drugs. Mohan Singh, a shopkeeper in the locality, said: "The swings are broken, the lights don't work, and there's no one to guard the area. Criminals and addicts start gathering here every evening. What used to be a safe space for kids is now a spot we avoid after sunset." Discarded syringes, empty liquor bottles and tablet wrappers litter the park's corners. Despite repeated complaints, there was no response from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation or the police. Meera Yadav, a Daliganj resident, said: "It's as if the authorities have abandoned this place." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo "In the 1990s and early 2000s, Haathi Park and the adjacent Buddha Park were among Lucknow's most popular public spaces. With a nominal Rs 5 entry fee, they attracted hundreds daily and were part of every Lucknowite's childhood. While Buddha Park was renovated, Haathi Park was left to decay. It deserves the same attention," said Abdul Rauf, 68, a retired govt teacher from Chowk. Residents are now demanding that the LMC steps in to restore the park, with proper lighting, round-the-clock security and basic upkeep.
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
First-time actors to bring Kakori Train Action to life in Lucknow
To mark the centenary year of Kakori Train Action, the state capital will witness play Bade Aa Se Azaadi: A Touching Story of Friendships and Martyrdom on July 3. Directed by Lucknowite Shubham Tiwari, the play will be staged at the Sant Gadge Auditorium of the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy. Actors during the rehearsal of the play Bade Aa Se Azaadi to be staged in Lucknow on July 3(Photo: HT) Actors and director Shubham Tiwari with veteral theatre presonality Salim Arif in Lucknow Organiser Deepak Kabir, founder of Dastak Manch, says people from non-acting professions will be featured as actors after a month-long workshop. Famous theatre directors Salim Arif and Tariq Khan also gave valuable tips to the budding artistes during the workshop. 'We have an interesting mix of people from across age-groups and professions. We also have retired people, housewives, and a mother-daughter duo. All have one thing in common – love for theatre and the spirit to start acting at any age. This telling and real story of our revolutionaries has inspired them. This being 100 years of Kakori Train Action and the fact that we are in Lucknow where it all happened provides a perfect backdrop,' says Deepak. Rehearsal during the play Bade Aa Se Azaadi(Photo: HT) Last month, IPTA organised Daastan-e-Ashfaq-ulla-Khan by daastango Shehzad Rizvi and Farzan Mehdi. The director says, 'Around 35 people from different professions are part of this play in which 30 will be on-stage. The play will witness live singing by professional vocalists and musicians. Our actors will sing chorus as well including the famous Sarfroshi Ki Tamanna and new patriotic songs as well. All artistes are very excited and putting in a lot of effort in the play.' With a masters degree in theatre and acting and directing for the last 10 years, Deepak says, 'Our focus is not on costly sets. Instead, we are working on acting, sound, lights and other production aspects to impress the audience. Soaked in patriotism, the subject itself is very gripping. Besides the Kakori episode, we will be touching on the life of Bhagat Singh as well.' The Kakori Train Action took place on August 9, 1925
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Lucknow's Shubhanshu Shukla set for space history
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Lucknowite in space. The historic moment will come when Axiom Space's fourth commercial mission to the International Space Station lifts off onboard SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida (USA) on Wednesday evening. The lift-off was initially scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed by a day due to weather conditions. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday informed that the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed from June 10. ISRO cited weather conditions for the postponement of the Axiom-4 or Ax4 mission, which will now take off on June 11 with the targeted time of launch being 5:30 pm (8 am EST). Ahead of the lift-off, his mother Asha Shukla and father Shambhu Dayal Shukla, who live in the state capital's Triveni Nagar, said, 'It's a proud moment for the family. First, he got selected into NDA (National Defence Academy), the air force and ISRO. All these happened one after the other.' 'We are praying for the success of the mission which our son is leading and which holds enormous importance for the country,' Shambhu Dayal Shukla further said. Shubhanshu's elder sister Shuchi Misra said, 'We are eagerly looking forward to the launch. Shux (Shubhanshu's nickname) is incredibly focused yet brimming with joy. Before news of the postponement came, Shubhanshu Shukla's alma mater – a prominent city school – had planned to organise a grand public watch party to celebrate the lift-off. 'We will begin our programme at 3.30 pm on Wednesday as the mission launch has been postponed,' a school official said. The programme was initially planned for Tuesday to enable students, teachers, civic leaders, defence personnel and Shukla's family members to participate. Several hoardings congratulating the 39-year-old Lucknow-born Indian Air Force pilot have come up across the state capital. Shubhanshu will pilot the SpaceX Crew Dragon with NASA senior Dr Peggy Whitson and crewmates from Poland and Hungary on a 14-day research flight. The Lucknow-born Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian to travel to space, 41 years after his idol Rakesh Sharma undertook a spaceflight in 1984 onboard the erstwhile Soviet Union's Soyuz spacecraft for an eight-day stay in orbit. In March 2024, Shukla made headlines as he was one of the four selected for ISRO's Gaganyaan Mission. 'Venturing into the unknown comes with the domain knowledge of being a test pilot,' Shubhanshu Shukla had told HT over phone in 2024. Shukla had then confessed that the curiosity for the unknown was what drove him to apply for this mission and that the feeling of having been selected took a while to sink in. 'It was all so fast and we were so busy at the time. It only sunk in when we had already left for training in Russia. The feeling sank in very gradually,' he had said. He also shared that while he had no apprehensions about the mission, 'harbouring a little bit of anxiety is only sensible as it helps one to introspect.' (WITH AGENCY INPUTS)
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Lucknow-based The Secret of Devkaali writer Neha Soni to debut with direction soon
Lucknow-based writer Neha Soni, known for her feature film The Secret of Devkaali, is set to make her directorial debut. After gaining experience in various departments of the film industry, the Lucknowite now has three scripts she is eager to bring to life as a director. During a recent visit to her home city, she shares, "I have pitched one of my scripts, Hasrat, to actor Sanjay Mishra, and he liked it. It's a love triangle involving an elderly couple, and I am keen to direct it. Throughout my work in the industry, I have gradually refined my skills and remained focused. I have assisted behind the camera and worked in the production department as well, and now I want to take on the direction as well." Neha recalls the initial discouragement she faced when considering a career in the film industry, "My friends and relatives discouraged me on joining the film industry and they gave multiple examples about it but thankfully my parents gave me full support. Somewhere my well-wishers were not wrong but then it depends on how we take up things. It is surely tough for females but that's in every field,' she says. Going ahead with her writing projects, she adds, "I wrote Gucci Ke Joote, which is currently in pre-production with actor Annu Kapoor. I penned the dialogues for Yatrigan Dhayan Dein, a film addressing gutka addiction featuring Markrand Deshpande, which is slated for release soon. Additionally, I adapted a Pakistani singer's book into the script for the musical film Band of Maharajas, which has garnered international attention. This year, I had films Shaila, based in Kashmir, and The Secret of Devkaali released, and we are currently in discussions for a sequel to the latter," she revealed. Originally from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Neha moved to Lucknow after her father's transfer. "I am married to Ajay Soni, an actor based in Lucknow, and we reside in Gomti Nagar Extension, frequently traveling between Lucknow and Mumbai," she says. Talking about her journey Neha, states, "After completing my MBA, I started my career as a banker. However, since my college days, I enjoyed writing shayari, songs, and stories in my own style. While it might be considered 'copy', I would reinterpret existing works in my own words, which eventually led to a job writing blogs. During the pandemic, I began creating vlogs, sketches, short stories, and even wrote for TVF's show Girlyapa. I received a job offer in Mumbai, but it was for a C-grade show, which I declined. I then met Sanjay Chauhan, the writer-director of I Am Kalam (2010), who became my mentor. My book Agar Tum Sath Ho was adapted into the TV show Na Umar Ki Seema Ho."
