The chess players in the picture are from Satyajit Ray's 'Shatranj ke khilari' - a film set in 19th century Lucknow. It captures the spirit of the times - when the British were trying to annex the State of Awadh. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the ruler. An artist and poet, he was no match for the wicked, wily Brits. While the drama of annexation was going on, two rich noblemen, Mirza Sajjad Ali and Mir Roshan Ali, who were inseparable friends were deep in the game of chess (shatranj). So intense was their obsession with the game, they neglected all their duties to home and state. Even as the soldiers of the East India Company marched into Lucknow, these friends went off to a village nearby so that they would not be disturbed!
The 'nawabs' on our lane start their game of cards in the morning and carry on till late in the night. They sit in the shade of the trees, and when the sun moves around the trees, they merely get up and rearrange themselves in another spot. Since it gets dark by about 5.30 these days, their night games are under the lamp posts - surreally beautiful! People who pass by, whether residents of the complex at the end of the lane or hawkers, are drawn to these bindaas groups. Some stay on and get immersed in the game, some give advice, some sit or stand around quietly and some discuss the game among themselves. The card players carry on - unmindful to all, and completely oblivious to the fact that there may be demands on them - demand of work, demand of family... When they take their breaks, they call for tea from the chaikada at the end of the lane, light up, relish each sip of their tea, and talk quietly to each other - they may, like true citizens discuss the doings of the politicians and the latest news of local and world affairs...a picture of nawabi decadence!! (only, while the chess-playing nawabs of Lucknow were rich, these need to work to keep not only their body and soul together, but also the bodies and souls of their families together...). Nevertheless, for the day, they are nawabs, and there is no tax on dreaming!!!