KANPUR: First Kanpur Literature Festival revived the forgotten memories of the city. If a famous writer Asghar Wazahat stressed on initiation of the dialogues, the historian R Mukherjee maintained that this city was founded by the British rulers. Otherwise, it was simply a rural area. They set up cantonment, mills, and railway lines.
Praising the city’s Mall Road he said that it was the best thoroughfare. Asghar Wazahat stated that it was called ‘Thandi Sadak’ in those past days.
Detailing about his points on 1857 Mutiny, Prof Mukherjee stated that the first bullet had been fired from an English soldier at Sattichaura Ghat here. This was also mentioned in a book written by M Thomson. Indian soldiers did nothing harmful to the British women.
The boats were torched by the Indians which burnt the Englishmen. He also reminded the gathering that there used to be a statue in front of the All Souls’ Church which did not exist at present.
