An Evening in Lucknow

by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas

Short stories written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Hindi film maker, journalist, novelit and short-story writer. This is a compilation of seventeen short stories.

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (Hindi: ख़्वाजा अहमद अब्बास) (7 June 1914 – 1 June 1987), popularly known as K. A. Abbas, was an Indian film director, novelist, screenwriter, and a journalist in the Urdu, Hindi and English languages. He was the maker of important Hindi films such as Saat Hindustani (1969) and Do Boond Pani (1972), both of which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, Palme d'Or nominated (Cannes Film Festival) Pardesi (1957) and Shehar Aur Sapna (1963), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film.

As a screenwriter, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas is considered one of pioneers of Indian parallel or neo-realistic cinema, having penned films like the Palme d'Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, Neecha Nagar (1946), Jagte Raho, Dharti Ke Lal, Awara, Saat Hindustani and Naya Sansar. Apart from this, he wrote the best of Raj Kapoor films, Awaara, Shri 420, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby and Henna.[1]

His column ‘Last Page’, holds the distinction of being one of the longest-running columns in the history of Indian journalism. The column began in 1935, in Bombay Chronicle, and moved to the Blitz after the Chronicle's closure, where it continued until his death in 1987.[2] He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969, by Government of India.

Reviews

[Ravi Prakash · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Evening in Lucknow by K. A. Abbas is a collection of his 17 best-known stories, his two interviews; one by India Today and the other, by Indian Literary Review, a letter written by Mulk Raj Anand to the writer, an Introduction by the editor, Suresh Kohli and an article about his autobiography ‘I Am Not An Island’, published in The Sunday Statesman on April 10th, 1977.

Let me introduce you to this personality. Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (1914-1987) was, now less known though, a prolific political commentator, short-story writer, novelist, scriptwriter and a film-maker. But he preferred to call himself a communicator. He published 73 books almost in three languages, Hindi, Urdu and English and was involved in making 60 Hindi movies. He won four National Film Awards in India along with Palme d’Or (Grand Prize) in the first Cannes Film Festival and the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. As a director, Abbas is considered as one of the pioneers of parallel or neo-realistic cinema in India and as a screenwriter he is known for writing Raj Kapoor’s best movies like Awara, Shree 420, Jagte Raho, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, Henna etc. I think I have watched most of them, except Bobby. Some of you guys perhaps know that Saat Hindustani (1969) was the first movie of Amitabh Bachchan but the lesser known fact is that it was written and directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. He was the man who launched Amitabh Bachchan. The movie wasn’t a big hit, but it got two National Awards.

In journalism, besides being a great political commentator and a voice of social justice, he was a great interviewer too. In his journalism career, he interviewed several renowned personalities like Russian Prime Minister Khrushchov, American President Roosevelt, Charlie Chaplin, Mao-Tse-Tung and Yuri Gagarin. He was a life-long friend Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

As a writer, he is best known for his short-stories and his two semi-autobiograhical novel Inquilab and The World is My Village, both works are about contemporary Indian history. His works have been translated in many Indian and foreign languages and he received several State and National honors including Padma Shree in 1969.

Now talking about the book, as I have told you earlier it’s a collection of stories. Among 17 stories, the first, “The Sparrows” was truly poignant. Mulk Raj Anand has written a long letter in the praise of this story. It was selected in West German anthology of world’s best stories. As I proceeded, I found different stories with different themes in different settings and a few stories like “Sylvia- the story of a nurse”, and “The Black Sun- the story of a black man in Congo, a black woman in US and an Indian man. The stories of these three characters were well-knitted around the contemporary political and historical events, it reminded me of Kitne Pakistan by Kamleshwar”, and “The Madness of Man- a story in which elephants are characters and there’s no man or woman”- these three were unique, not much in content, but in narrative style.

And yes, the main story, "An Evening in Lucknow" resembles "Shatranj Ke Khiladi" ( Chess Players), if you have watched the movie by Satyajeet Ray or read the story by Premachand, you can identify with it. It talks about the frustrations of Lucknowi Nawabs and their descendants who became redundant in post-independence times.

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas was associated with Progressive Writers Movement and had once been the secretary of Indian Progressive Writers Association (IPWA). So, some of his stories “Flowers for Feet”, “Three Women” and “Revenge” resemble the style and contents of Manto, Ismat Chugtai and Krishan Chandar etc. Two other stories titled, “The Miracle of Prajapur” and “The Umbrella” are great allegories depicting the system of Indian government and British Imperialism. All other stories are based on contemporary social problems of Indian society such as caste, class, gender discrimination, religious orthodoxy, upper-class vanities etc.

Style is conversational, lucid and picturesque.

[Kasturi Dadhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

heart wrenching yet totally gripping!

[Benedict · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Evening in Lucknow is a nuanced exploration of the decline of the Lucknowi Nawabs and their descendants in post-independence India. The story centres on the frustrations and disillusionment of these once-powerful figures, who find themselves redundant and unable to adapt to the changing social and political landscape. Abbas draws a parallel to Premchand’s "Shatranj Ke Khiladi," highlighting the inertia and fading relevance of the old aristocracy.

Abbas’s style is conversational, lucid, and richly descriptive, bringing to life both the grandeur and the decay of Lucknow’s cultural heritage. The narrative is laced with subtle satire, exposing the vanities and outdated values of the upper class while also evoking empathy for their predicament. Through this, Abbas not only critiques the social order but also mourns the loss of a refined way of life.

The story is emblematic of Abbas’s broader literary vision, shaped by his association with the Progressive Writers’ Movement. He uses the personal struggles of his characters to comment on larger issues such as class, social change, and the need for progress. The collection as a whole addresses themes like caste, gender discrimination, and superstition, always with a keen sense of social conscience and a commitment to highlighting the dilemmas of ordinary people.

Ultimately, "An Evening in Lucknow" stands out for its blend of nostalgia, critique, and empathy, offering a vivid snapshot of a society in transition. Abbas’s ability to capture the emotional and cultural complexities of his characters makes this story-and the collection as a whole-a compelling reflection on change, loss, and the enduring spirit of the common man.

[Ashima Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across K. A. Abbas's short stories two years ago, when I read An Evening in Calcutta & Other Stories. I remember feeling an unexplicable sense of awe which led me to wonder why I had never heard of him before - this man who wrote such simple but powerful stories.

So, I looked him up on Google and learnt he was a prolific journalist, screenwriter, novelist, and film director. He wrote in Hindi, Urdu, as well as English with such finesse that it was impossible to determine which language a story was originally written in. The recipient of four National Awards he also wrote movies that made the careers of many actors.

An Evening in Lucknow compiles a collection of 17 of his works that embrace varying themes such as caste, romance, family, and superstition among others. His protagonists hail from cities as well as villages and his stories revolve around capturing their life's conundrum.

While there is often a satirical tone to his writing, what one will note is that they offer a peek into his social conscience and his commitment to causes of a progressive nature. While the characters and their settings may seem ordinary, the underlying context and conflict of the story and the unique way in which he brings a resolution is nothing short of stunning.

An unconventional writer of his time, his stories are an education in understanding the art of creative writing.

[Khakshan Jahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never a huge fan of short stories but this book has some very beautiful ones.

" She was like a plant that had been nurtured too quickly in the unnatural atmosphere of hothouse. She has the look of youth , the colour and smell of youth but not it's freshness and it's sweetness "

[Harman Kaur Dhillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5