Clearly Off-topic but, can you tell me how exactly you found LKO backward, buddy? I & my family don't live there but have visited the place numerous times and if you ask me I can never call it backward. The roads in LKO infact are even better than Delhi at many places.. The city got beautiful Gardens, Sahara shahar (city) and old monuments.. Hazrat ganj actually gives me glimpses of Canaught place (CP, Delhi). and most of the residential areas there are well planned and look nice too.. Now if you have been to the oldest of the oldest part of LKO then I can not comment but then each city has its share of good and bad and so does LKO.. Not saying LKO is one of most advanced city but it certainly can not be called backward by any means..
The biggest issue i see in the city is the way people drive there.. Even the traffic police waala can not stop anyone jumping the lights and they honk like crazies.. But I like that madness too..
I went a while ago.. so I cannot state the conditions now..
My ancestral home(whatever is left of it)
Mostafa Manzil, Katra, Abo Tarab, Lucknow
My grandmothers father was the editor of an urdu daily from the area(apparently the paper shut down due to mismanagement by his sons) and was a staunch congress supporter.
He was close friends with Nehru.. and was able to simply walk into the PM's office whenever he wished..
I must admit I was saddened on a personal level when I visited that area since that very compound was once frequented by the likes of Jawaharlal Nehru and ironically maulana Azad..looked like a rundown area when I visited it.
None of his sons or even those of his cousins migrated right after 47... but as time passed they realized that India was not offering them all that was promised.. so one by one they moved to Pakistan.. those that did move to Pakistan prospered greatly.
My grandfather hailed from elsewhere.. had joined the IN in 45.. opted for Pakistan.. and we've done great.
Do I really want to give a hoot about India's Muslims? No..
These people are doing fine now.. although not as good as their cousins.. but to each their own.
Accomplished in their own right..but they do speak of issues in the community which I reflected upon.
Things have improved since then a LOT..
my mothers uncle is currently part of the comitte on labour.
I cant say.. I spoke to relatives out there..and they were very happy on fb.
The Compound itself looks brand new.. and renovated..
Perhaps there is hope..
After all.. what other person on PDF can say that he has members of family sitting in the govts and armed forces of both India and Pakistan