Allahabad Guide Map – 1974 – Published Under The Direction Of Dr Hari Narain – Surveyor General Of India

Surveyor General: Dr Hari Narain
Publisher: The Survey Of India, Calcutta
Price: £500
Publication Date: 1974
Edition: First edition thus
Format: Colour printed
Condition: Very good condition
Sheet Size: 113.8cm x 89.2cm
Scale: 1:20000

Condition:

 
The first edition of the new Survey of India Allahabad Guide map. Sheet Size: 113.8cm x 89.2cm. Scale: 1:20000. Condition: Original pictorial wrappers. Original fold lines into 32 sections. Map generally bright and clean with mark to the top left-hand margin. Minor wear to the fold intersections with a short closed tear to the lower left hand side. Reverse is blank. Wrappers a little chipped, dusty and creased. In original and unrestored condition. In very good condition overall. Scarce.

Location: BR: 002714

Allahabad in 1974: A Short Description

 
In 1974, Allahabad (officially renamed Prayagraj in 2018) was a city of major political, educational, and religious significance in post-independence India. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, it remained a vital centre of law, academia, and national politics during a turbulent period of India’s modern history.

Political Landscape

The year 1974 was politically charged in India, and Allahabad was at the heart of it. The city gained national and historical importance due to the Allahabad High Court ruling against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The Indira Gandhi Verdict

In June 1975, the Allahabad High Court declared Indira Gandhi’s 1971 election victory from the Rae Bareli constituency invalid, citing electoral malpractices. This decision was made by Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha, and although the verdict itself was delivered in 1975, the legal proceedings and atmosphere in Allahabad in 1974 were crucial to the build-up of the case.

Allahabad, thus, became a focal point for democratic processes and judicial independence. The political climate was tense, with growing opposition to Gandhi’s leadership, which eventually led to the imposition of the Emergency in June 1975.

Student Movements and Unrest

1974 also witnessed student activism across India, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Allahabad, being a major university town, saw student protests, sit-ins, and rising dissatisfaction with inflation, unemployment, and corruption.

Allahabad University, often called the ‘Oxford of the East’, played a prominent role in shaping political consciousness. The campus was alive with debate, ideological clashes, and mass mobilisation. Some student leaders from this period would go on to become significant political figures.

Socio-Economic Conditions

Like much of India in the early 1970s, Allahabad was grappling with:

• Economic stagnation
• Rising inflation and food prices
• Labour unrest and strikes
• Strain on urban infrastructure

The city, though historically and culturally rich, was beginning to show signs of neglect in terms of public services and industrial development. Power shortages, water supply issues, and congested housing were growing concerns for its urban population.

Religious and Cultural Life

Despite the political turbulence, religious life in Allahabad continued robustly. The city hosted the Magh Mela in early 1974—an annual religious gathering and bathing festival at the Triveni Sangam, which draws millions of devotees.

While the Kumbh Mela was not held in 1974 (the previous one was in 1971, and the next would be in 1983), Allahabad remained a year-round pilgrimage destination. The Allahabad Fort, Hanuman Temple, and Akbar’s monuments continued to attract both pilgrims and tourists.

Institutions and Influence

• Allahabad High Court remained one of the most respected legal bodies in India.
• Allahabad University was still a leading centre of education, though it was beginning to suffer from political interference and administrative challenges.
• Anand Bhavan, the ancestral home of the Nehru family, stood as a symbolic centre of the Congress party’s legacy and was already a public museum.
• Several prominent literary and scholarly figures of the Hindi world lived in or passed through Allahabad during this period, contributing to its cultural atmosphere.

Infrastructure and Daily Life

In 1974, Allahabad’s infrastructure was typical of a second-tier Indian city. Public transport relied heavily on buses and cycle rickshaws. The Allahabad Junction railway station was a major hub connecting northern India to eastern and central regions.

There was a noticeable lack of industrial growth, which contributed to a reliance on government employment and education. At the same time, the city maintained a reputation for its intellectual and legal culture.

Conclusion

Allahabad in 1974 was a city at a crossroads—deeply entrenched in India’s past but increasingly aware of its role in shaping the country’s future. From courtrooms to classrooms, it was alive with discourse, dissent, and a search for direction. As the site of a historic legal challenge to central authority and a hotbed of student activism, Allahabad was a microcosm of India’s larger democratic journey in the 1970s.

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