This unforgettable visit to Allahabad became a reality thanks to Tigmanshu Dhulia’s invitation to the three-day (20, 21 and 22 December 2024) event, Bazm-e-Virasat. Tigmanshu, a close companion from our university days, had been an integral part of our cultural activities back then, and that bond remains as strong today as it was decades ago. The illustration featured here, drawn by Pramod Singh 40 years ago, captures Tigmanshu playing the guitar—a nostalgic reminder of those vibrant times. This post is primarily a visual journey, showcasing moments from Bazm-e-Virasat and our nostalgic return to Allahabad.

Nostalgia and Reconnection
Returning to Allahabad nearly four decades later was like stepping back into a sepia-tinted photograph. The University campus, once our vibrant world, is locked with gated entries, though the whispers of our youthful laughter had faded into its ancient walls. Walking through the familiar lanes and shaded pathways, we felt a rush of emotions—nostalgia mingling with a tinge of disbelief at how life had moved on. We traced our steps to the lush green lawns where debates echoed, to the nukkads and chaurahas where we performed plays and mounted poster exhibitions, to the pso library where dreams took shape, and to the roadside tea stalls that bore witness to countless late-night conversations. These places, frozen in memory, now bore the signs of time, yet they held the essence of a life we once knew intimately.