Lucknow: An evocative evening celebrating the folklore, memory, and hidden histories of the City of Nawabs was hosted by Lucknow Bioscope at Sapphire Suites in Metro City, Nishatganj. The event revolved around the introduction and discussion of Lucknow After The Lamps Go Out by acclaimed author Parveen Talha.
The gathering brought together readers, writers, artists, and admirers of Lucknow’s rich cultural legacy for an engaging conversation on folklore, supernatural traditions, and the city’s fading memories preserved through storytelling.
The evening commenced with an introduction to Parveen Talha and her book by Noor Khan, who described the work as “a gentle reminder of what the city earlier was.” She remarked that while some landmarks of old Lucknow continue to exist physically, many now survive primarily through stories and collective memory, which the author revives through her evocative writing.
A reading session followed, where Valentina Trivedi read the story “Gainda Comes Back” from the collection. The story centres around the character Mehruneesa Begum and reflects the layered emotional and supernatural world depicted in the book. Speaking about the collection, Valentina said, “This book is deceptively small but has an amazing treasure of stories.”
One of the highlights of the evening was a conversation between Parveen Talha and Saman Habib on themes explored in the book, including the distinctions between ghosts and jinns in South Asian folklore. During the discussion, it was shared that some old homes in the Awadh region traditionally reserved a separate room for jinns, reflecting the deep-rooted supernatural beliefs woven into local culture.
Responding to a question about why her stories often revisit past injustices and portray ghosts as figures seeking retribution, Parveen Talha observed, “Ghost stories, they have no explanation for them. There is no part of the world where ghosts and their stories are not popular.”
Speaking about her future literary plans, the author revealed that she hopes to write a book about herself someday, but before that intends to work on a book centred on animals.
Parveen Talha is widely recognised as the first Muslim woman to join India’s Class I Civil Services and later served as a member of the Union Public Service Commission. Belonging to an old Awadhi family, she is admired for her nuanced understanding of Lucknow’s history, culture, and composite traditions. Her earlier acclaimed work Fida-e-Lucknow also explored the city’s social and cultural ethos.
Lucknow After The Lamps Go Out goes beyond conventional horror writing and interweaves stories set in Lucknow’s old quarters, ruined mansions, graveyards, railway platforms, and forgotten houses. The book revisits legends associated with iconic places such as The Residency, Begum Kothi, La Martiniere College, Firangi Mahal, Aminabad, and Malhaur Railway Station, offering readers a haunting yet affectionate portrait of the city’s layered past.
