Smile, You Are in Lucknow… We Must Preserve This Identity

Lucknow | Shabu Zaidi

The moment the name Lucknow is mentioned, people not only across India but around the world think of courtesy, respect, grace, refinement, and a sweet way of speaking. When a person from Lucknow speaks to someone, there is such warmth and courtesy in the conversation that the other person naturally wishes to continue talking.

Lucknow’s identity is not limited to its historical monuments, Nawabi heritage, and famous cuisine. It is equally defined by the mutual respect, affection, and warmth among its people.

There is a popular story that beautifully describes the famous etiquette of Lucknow. A Nawab was about to board a train when another Lucknow resident arrived. The Nawab said, “After you.” The other man replied, “No, after you.” As they continued saying “after you, after you,” so much time passed that the train eventually left.

This is not merely a humorous anecdote; it represents the traditional culture of Lucknow, where respecting others before oneself has always been considered a virtue.

As the saying goes:

“Sweetness in our words, love within our hearts,
We are people of Lucknow, carrying forward the tradition of grace and courtesy.”

However, recently a video from the Ghantaghar area surfaced on social media, showing some young men and women involved in a physical fight between two groups. The video also appears to show chairs being thrown at one another. Such visuals certainly do not reflect the identity of Lucknow, a city known across the country and the world for its culture of civility and respect.

The question is: How did such a large gathering at a historic and popular tourist destination, visited by countless local people and tourists, escalate into a dispute and physical violence? Why could the police or the concerned local police station not prevent the situation in time?

This is not merely a question of law and order; it is also a question of Lucknow’s reputation and its celebrated culture of courtesy.

The police should strengthen surveillance at sensitive and crowded tourist destinations. Active monitoring of CCTV cameras, adequate police presence, and lawful action against those creating disturbances can help prevent such incidents from happening again.

The identity of Lucknow’s people is not defined by fights and violence, but by the timeless tradition of saying “Pehle Aap” — “After you.”

Therefore, it is the responsibility of all of us to preserve the identity of Lucknow that makes people say:

“Smile, You Are in Lucknow.”

Let us ensure that a day never comes when we have to remove these words from the signs welcoming people at the borders of Lucknow.

Lucknow’s culture of courtesy is our heritage, and preserving it is the responsibility of us all.