P is for Patna: An Alphabet of Hope for my hometown
Photo by Sidhant Shreshthaa on Unsplash
In a tribute to her hometown, Yashnashree presents an alphabet of hope for Patna, an A-Z from the amaltas to ‘hum’ and from Nalanda to ‘yaari’.
Inspired by Jerry Pinto’s essaem (essay + poem) on Bombay, An Alphabet of hope for the city of dreams, here’s my tribute to my hometown, Patna (Bihar).
A is for amaltas, the bright yellow flowers that dot the city, running across the length and breadth of the scenic drive through Bailey Road.
B is for Bhojpuri, the language that is more misunderstood than appreciated. Popular, nuanced, infamous, and beautiful.
C is for Chhath. It is not just another festival; it is a sentiment for Biharis. A reminder of our oneness with nature, a reminder of our eco-friendly roots. It is a celebration of our gratitude to the endless source of energy that is the sun.
D is for Dussehra, when the whole city turns into one big celebration ground, with pandals and special food and dance and music and lights. D doubles up the celebrations as we merge our Bihari and Bengali sensibilities and take the festive fervour up a few notches.
E is for engineering and our collective obsession with it. Ask the high-school crowd! Need I say more?
F is for Fagun, our very own Spring. The outburst of colours in nature sets the mood for the festival of colours: Holi.
G is for Golghar, the iconic granary that might as well have been a stupa, a historic monument to catch the most scenic views of the city. G is also for Gandhi Maidan, once a golf course and horse racing track, and now, the city’s favourite spot for meetings, book fairs, melas, cricket matches, and more.
H is for Hum. It’s a sentiment, not a language error. Because we believe in the collective power of humanity that binds us together. H is for the heritage that we carry and must always remember. H is for our homeland.
I is for identity and our underlying struggles with it.
J is for Jaiprakash Narayan, the Lok Nayak who instilled the spirit of revolution in the students of Bihar. The man whose call for social justice led to Total Revolution and Bihar Movement.
K is for knowledge, and for our keenness for that knowledge.
L is for Litti, the food synonymous to Bihar, the dish that (arguably) puts us on the Indian cuisine map. L is for Lok Geet, the rich folk culture and unique texture of our native music.
M is for the museum, the unnecessary yet swanky new one as well as the neglected old one. M is also for Maurya Lok where the groovy pulse of the urban youth can be found.
N is for Nalanda, a reminder of our rich educational past. Now a World Heritage Site and tourism destination, Nalanda ruins are a treasure trove of history and learning. N is for Naivedyam, the quintessential beloved laddoo from Patna.
O is for ogling, for mastering the habit of doing it, and the discomfort of being at the receiving end of it.
P is for Patliputra, and the people that make this city. P is for the iconic Pal Hotel and the nostalgia of eating out for the first time. P is for Planetarium, a favourite day outing for kids. P is for Patna Sahib. P is for Pathar ki Masjid. P is for Padri ki Haveli.
H is for Hum. It’s a sentiment, not a language error. Because we believe in the collective power of humanity that binds us together. H is for the heritage that we carry and must always remember. H is for our homeland.
Q is for the quiet of home, the slow life that we all know and live here. The quietude we love and crave as we move from this hometown of ours.
R is for River Ganga, its ghats, its sunsets, and the way it humbles us with its mighty presence. R is for the rain that floods our streets more than it waters our crops.
S is for the sweltering summers that last longer than Mumbai monsoons. S is for sparrows, the tiny goraiyas that visit our homes during these long, hot summer days, chirping away, looking for water. S is for the innumerable Sudha booths across the city, our very own Mother Dairy equivalent, known especially for its pedas. S is for Sattu, our local superfood!
T is for thekua, Bihar’s own special cookie. T is for tea. Our appreciation of the kadak chai as well as our understanding of the subtle flavours of Assam and Darjeeling leaf teas, from Barnwal Tea Centre to the roadside chaiwallas.
U is for unique, whether it’s our accent (for which we are mocked too) or the sensibility we bring to the table.
V is for Valmiki Nagar, our historical connection with the learned scholar and writer of the epic Ramayana.
W is for the whiff of jasmine that fills the air all around during summer, the delicate white beli flowers whose fragrance can be sensed from afar.
X is for Xavier’s, and all the myriad educational campuses nurturing the brightest minds of tomorrow.
Y is for yaari, the word that translates into our very own local flavour of friendship and camaraderie.
Z is for the zoo, Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan – the city’s iconic picnic spot and a hideout for young couples seeking some privacy. Z for the zest of life shared by all who call Patna their home.
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Yashnashree is a freelance writer and poet from India, with a background in print journalism and digital content marketing. Dogs, tea, books, cinema, road trips, and single malt are some of her favorite things - in that particular order. When not sipping on tea and reading books, she sometimes blogs at mytinkertoes.wordpress.com. You can find her on Instagram: @yashna_shree.
