And, Chandigarh is barely forty years old. That itself makes the two cities a study in contrast, the common link being that both are metropolitan in nature. Even here is a distinction - Lucknow is the capital of the largest state in India and Chandigarh that of two tiny states. A comparison of the two was a tempting thought and I decided to embark on a long overdue visit to my son at Chandigarh.

Five kms drive to Sector 15 from the bus-stand took just about ten minutes and I could not help marking a few pleasant contrasts with Lucknow. Back there it would have taken at least half-an-hour and thick smog would have made your breathing laboured and eyes smarting. Here the air was clean and traffic moved freely on double lanes. Alone, I roamed and leisurely and observed men and matter; their habits and their character. And all along consciously and subconsciously I compared and contrasted with Lucknow. There were no slums or lower-class inhabitancy nearby and all domestic help cycled down from outside the city.Most part-time maids came only in the day.

Almost 75 per cent of the residential houses in Chandigarh are state-built with regulation front and layout. This makes all the sectors look a bit monotonous. With no provision for a portico, all the cars are parked on the pavement or the setback meant for greenery. A characteristic I found rather disconcerting was the complete lack of Lakhnavi bonhomie. In spite of cheek by jowl houses in those concrete blocks, the neighbours hardly spoke to each other. It is necessitated by the nouveau riche culture of the city. Except the house rent and domestic help, I did not find much difference in the cost of living at Lucknow and Chandigarh. But wants at Chandigarh and penchant to `keep up with the Joneses' are high. Unlike Lucknow, commuting in Chandigarh is a problem if you don't own a vehicle. Ikkas in Lucknow are bane and a boon in the same breath depending on whether you are out of it or in it. They clog the roads and break every traffic rule but come cheap and handy.

In Chandigarh no such convenience is there. Autorickshaws and cycle-rickshaws charge the earth and are available only on stands. City bus service is most infrequent and indifferent. That perhaps explains every house flaunting two-three motor vehicles in India. And everybody drives so fast that in spite of no congestion on the roads one has to be cautious on the street.

In most shopping complexes in Chandigarh, there are huge airconditioned departmental stores where you can buy anything with marginal difference in prices. Sector 17 and 22 shopping complexes are the biggest, but the former is different and a delight. High and low all comes here for shopping or just to stroll around and do a bit of window-shopping. Overall when it comes to shopping, Lucknow takes a sound beating. Hazratganj at best can be compared to Sector 15 market but in Chandigarh there is nothing to compete with Aminabad and Chowk with their lanes, history, traditions and distinct character. That has it's own pleasure and sense of belonging.

Chandigarh is the most status conscious city I have lived in or visited. The layout has further encouraged and augmented it. Also, so far the city has no history, no traditions and no nostalgia to talk about and no generation links to bind them. Hence it is no wonder that if you at all get to talk to them it is about Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar etc. No pride of their city oozes out of their being. And they have no tales to tell about it.

Lucknow on the other hand is a fine blend of cultures and traditions - Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Each one is proud of their ancestry, heritage and traditions. Nafasat, nazakat and tehjeeb of Lucknow is a byword, even if it is dwindling now and undercurrent can be strongly felt.

Everyone and everything has roots here; while Chandigarh belongs to no one. For all practical purposes it's a first generation city, a materialistic city, a Joneses' city. No wonder it is still called Corbusier's city. Yet it would not hurt Lucknow to import some of their clean environment and orderliness. And Chandigarh would be a still better place to live if they took some of Lucknow's bonhomie.