Three Rivers and a Tree: The Story of Allahabad University

by Neelum Saran Gour

The University of Allahabad is the fourth oldest university in India, an institution that has produced innumerable political figures, jurists, bureaucrats, writers and men of letters. Its history resounds with famous names and its inspiring and entertaining campus lore has been passed down for decades. The story of the university has been enriched by the many constituent stories of the personalities therein, European and Indian. It counts, amongst its luminaries, Motilal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Dr Meghnad Saha, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Dharamvir Bharti and many more. Not to forget vice chancellors like Sir Sunder Lal, Ganganatha Jha and Amarnatha Jha, who were legends in themselves. In this book, Neelum Saran Gour fondly recalls the many stories and anecdotes associated with the University to put together a comprehensive history of this iconic institution. Starting from the inception of the college at what was then Lowther Castle to its present-day status, she traces its long journey of almost 128 years, analyzing the history of the University against the backdrop of the emergence of the Indian nation. Along the way she also reflects on some of the unforgettable personalities that peopled the campus. A centre of high learning, a political hub during the national movement and a celebrated literary nucleus, the story of Allahabad University is one that deserves to be told and, more importantly, read by all.

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2015

Reviews

[Abhijit Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most well-researched, yet wittily written history of the iconic Allahabad University. For anyone even remotely connected with it (only my father studied there !), a stirring recollection of the many Giants who trod its portals from the late eighteen eightees to early nineteen seventies. There is a great degree of sincerity and balance with which Ms. Gour has approached this mammoth task and yet managed to keep it alive with many,many anectodes and historical events, touching upon the lives of students, acamedicians and the "management". A delight to read and treasure to own !!

[Deepak Joshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second reading of the book after a long time. The book is a brief History of Allahabad University, and has wonderful stories of the beautiful minds teaching at the institution. The anecdotes, idiosyncrasies and eccentricities of these galaxy of legends and personalities at the institution makes interesting reading. Some of them are Mr.Homersham Cox (mathematician and metaphysician), G.Thibaut ( A Sanskrit Scholar, Translator of Vedanta Sutras, well versed in English, Philosophy, political economy, classical history and astronomy, mathematics) Amarnath Jha (Vice Chancellor, possesses, photographic memory and could speak, read and write in several languages), Professor Ranade ( Eminent Philosopher, Sanskrit Scholar), Ishwari Prasad (Eminent Historian), Raghupati Sahai 'Firaq Gorakhpuri' (Eminent Urdu Poet), Harivanshrai Bachchan( Eminent Poet) and many others. The book takes us through a different era altogether and these galaxies of personalities leave an indelible imprint on our minds.

[Saket Suman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A life without memories is like an unsung song from a musician’s diary and it is only after living, cherishing and concocting those memories that one understands the true essence of moments. It is perhaps the same with writers - some of the best of their works are among those that are written as accounts of their personal memories. Fiction flows effortlessly when coupled with real-life memories and words penned under a nostalgic spell of memories (both sweet and bitter) turn out to be the masterpiece that most writers dream of. But not all writers succeed in such attempts. One of the most persistent problems with recollection that is visible in most writers’ work is that memories tend to take control of the plot and the author is so overwhelmed by these moments from the deepest of his memories that he fails to follow the basic structure that he may have planned earlier and thereby hangs a tale!
Let us travel to “the place of offerings”, which is the literal meaning of the word Prayaga, the original name of one of the oldest cities in India that has played a central role in Hindu scriptures, Allahabad. The name comes from its position at the Sangam (union) of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati Rivers. Allahabad has been a point of regular correspondence in Hindi and Urdu literature for a long time but not so much in English. It was therefore a surprise when two titles, Three Rivers and a Tree and Allahabad Aria from Rupa Publications landed one after the other, within a very short span of time. Interestingly, both these titles have been penned by a single well- known author, Neelam Saran Gour, a professor of English literature at Allahabad University. She has authored eight works of fiction and a pictorial volume on the history and culture of Allahabad.
The first book, Three Rivers and a Tree is the story of the fourth oldest university in India, an institution that has produced innumerable political figures, jurists, bureaucrats, writers and men of letters - the Allahabad University, whose history resounds with famous names and its inspiring and entertaining campus lore has been passed down for decades. The story of the university has been enriched by the many constituent stories of the personalities therein, European and Indian. It counts, among its luminaries, Motilal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Dr Meghnad Saha, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Dharamvir Bharti and many more. Not to forget, vice-chancellors like Sir Sunder Lal, Ganganatha Jha and Amarnatha Jha, who were legends in themselves. The author fondly recalls the many stories and anecdotes associated with the University to put together a comprehensive history of this iconic institution. Starting from the inception of the college at what was then Lowther Castle, to its present-day status, she traces its long journey of almost 128 years, analyzing the history of the University against the backdrop of the emergence of the Indian nation. Along the way she also reflects on some of the unforgettable personalities that peopled the campus.
Gour writes, “A centre of high learning, a political hub during the national movement and a celebrated literary nucleus, the story of Allahabad University is one that deserves to be told…” And having been told with such brilliance, this title must be on your reading list.
The second book, Allahabad Aria is a work of fiction - a collection of eight unarguably brilliant short stories. Neelam Saran Gour steps into the shoes of a mischievous diarist and records the crazy escapades of bureaucrats, diplomats, jurists and captains of industry during their student days in Allahabad. These are all simple stories and yet within their simplicity they profoundly exhibit an essence of Prayaga through the setting and the characters in these stories. A Mughal princess and a betel-selling woman collaborate to protect Jehangir's eldest son, Prince Khusrau. A modest jeweller experiences the warmth of family bonding in a serendipitous group of allies at the Kumbha mela. The last telegram of Allahabad becomes the last testament of love from a man, who has lost his speech, and a young man relives the tortured love that he shared with his long dead alcoholic father. What simpler way to tell the story of a city as old as time than through these creative stories that seem to travel time and generations?
Neelum Saran Gour does a brilliant job in these two books, which go a long way in reminding us the necessity to immortalise the many towns and cities in our country that are as old as time but whose history, cultures and stories are on the verge of being forgotten.
First published in Beyond Books, The Statesman.
http://www.inkstreet.in/2016/02/a-rac...