Theme park with a difference

Developed and funded by the UP Housing Board, Aurobindo Park at Indira Nagar, which dedicates itself to the disabled and the senior citizens is a novel concept in itself. A paradise for morning walkers, health & yoga freaks. 13500 square meters of lush green environment of park, has been levying user charges from day one, with no resistance from the members. Free entry and wheel chairs for the disabled make it a numro-uno in its genre in Lucknow. A book counter sells spirituality books. A cyber café, spiritual library and some kiosks selling convenience goods are additional services provided at the park.

Where does one find lush green environment at a stretch in 13,500 square meters, with a Cyber Café, a spiritual library and kiosks for shopping of convenience goods? At the Aurobindo Park, sector 13, near munshi pulia at Lucknow. Specially designed, as a theme park, to suit the special needs of the physically disabled and the senior citizens, the park has no stairs but only planes, slopes and inclined planes; right from the entrance. The paths that leads to every room and other parts within the park is also so made that a person on a wheel chair can move to any part without any hindrances. It also provides wheel chairs and has special toilets designed for the disabled.

The Aurobindo park, has done a Puspangadan, from the very beginning by levying 'user charges' in various categories on its visitors. Contrary to what happened at NBRI, "the 550 members and 300 daily visitors of the park did no agitation and protests as they knew it was to be a paid service and were mentally prepared for it", says Yogendra Singh, the in-charge of the park. "Free entry during construction period prompted some anti-social elements to enter, which has stopped after the formal inauguration on August 15, 2001 (when the user charges were introduced) all such elements disappeared", adds Singh.

Named after the famous Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, himself a great freedom fighter and a spiritually oriented person, the park was conceptualised by, Shri Rakesh Kumar Mittal, an IAS, when he was the Commissioner of UP Housing Development Board (UPHDB). Built over a period of one year during which protests from some quarters like, the union, were also raised. But, all's well that ends well.

The place with its lush green environment has become a virtual paradise for the morning walkers and health freaks. The 400-meter long, calibrated walking-track is paved with chequered tiles, which have qualities to heal by acupressure. There is a clock conveniently located at the track to time your speed. Free Yoga classes by Retd. Lt. Colonel ManMohan Swaroop Bhal, is a novelty of its own kind. A weighing machine and special equipments for the disabled, are also on the anvil.

The park is an UPAVP funded attempt to make better citizens. One can see the inner walls of the parks painted with thought, views and inspirational quotes from great men like Gandhi, Buddha and Aurobindo. A book-counter, which sells books related to spirituality and the cause of the disabled, has also started functioning. James Allen's, "As a man thinketh", Mira Aditi's, " The revolt of the earth" and other titles related to Aurobindo and Swami Vivekanand adorn the counter. "The sale of the books is not for the purpose of profit. The proceeds are handed to Kabeer Shanti Mission an NGO with the philosophy, "Total National Happiness is more important than Total National Income", relates Mr. JP Dhaunduial, who voluntarily mans the book counter.

"Though the entry for disabled is free, gate-crashing is a penal offence and recently four such enthusiasts were "properly attended" to by the police from the nearby outpost." Singh is apprehensive that the increasing number of visitor is already rendering the place small but he is confident that with the dedicated staff and the committed UPAVP they are prepared to handle the forthcoming situation. Some new facilities are also proposed to be started soon. Mr. Rakesh Mittal adds that he wanted, "to develop this park as a model and later convert all parks in the city on this pattern." The idea is to provide multi utility services at the single point.

Email: tellsachin@yahoo.com

Contributed By : Sachin Agarwal

He writer is a Lecturer in Commerce at National Post Graduate College, Lucknow and freelance journalist.