LUCKNOW, Dec. 14 -- Inaugurating a two-day literature festival in the state capital on Saturday, deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said despite rapid changes the city has not lost its soul or cultural essence, adding Lucknow holds a special place in his heart. "Lucknow's culture represents an amalgamation of all festivals and traditions, while its own civilisation and values remain deeply rooted. Even in moments of disagreement, people of Lucknow maintain respect in their language, often choosing 'aap' over 'tum' reflecting the city's mannerism. Besides, the people who contribute to development are the true strength of the city," he added. Tracing the journey of the city from Tonga rides to the metro era, Pathak said the hearts and cultural values of the people have remained unchanged. During the inauguration session, he also launched a book "Kabbu ki Udaan" written by former IAS officer Anita Bhatnagar Jain. As part of the festival, Booker Prize 2025 winner Banu Mushtaq was also felicitated during the Ram Advani Award ceremony. Emphasising the importance of dreaming big, she said: "I always say that our dreams should not be such that we remain confined to selling peanuts. Instead, they should be so big that we can reach the stars. We must keep manifesting such dreams continuously." Other sessions during the day included a session on writer, lyricist Gulzar's life 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai'. A session 'Cinema as New Literature' was held in which filmmaker Sudhir Mishra was present and a book discussion by Sandeep Kumar where former DG, CRPF, AP Maheshwari was also held.HTC...