Lucknow: Hindi litterateur Amritlal Nagar used to describe himself as “Chowk University ka vice-chancellor” because of his deep association with the area. A documentary with the same title was premiered by Documentary Film Theatrical Trust and Indira Gandhi Rashtriye Kala Kendra, Delhi at UP Sangeet Natak Akademi on Saturday during the 7-day Amritotsav festival being organised to mark the 108th birth anniversary of the author. The documentary was written and directed by Nagar’s grand-daughter-in-law Savita Sharma Nagar and Rajesh Amrohi.
Elaborating on Nagar’s love for Chowk, Savita Sharma Nagar said, “He has written mostly about Chowk in his work. In ‘Boond aur Samundra’ he talked about the lanes of Chowk. He has described the barber, cobbler, vegetable vendor, lanes and temples of Chowk because he lived here after coming to Lucknow.
It’s his love for Chowk which is seen in his works”. Actor Anil Rastogi said Nagarji and Chowk had become synonymous. “Whenever any author or poet used to visit Lucknow, he used to first go to Chowk to Nagar ji’s kothi (house).
People used to identify the place Chowk with his name. He produced several of his creations in Chowk,” he said. Indian People’s Theatre Association’s Rakesh Veda said, “Nagar ji used to connect with people easily.
He always talked simply in local dialect, never showed any airs about being a writer”. Chief guest, member of parliament, Dinesh Sharma, said, “Nagar ji’s literature is a guid.