Australian MLA finds Canberra architect grave in Lucknow, seeks 'sister cities' status for two

An Australian law maker of Indian origin, Deepak-Raj Gupta, has mooted the idea of making Lucknow and Canberra "sister cities" after discovering the grave of landscape designer and architect Walter Burley Griffin of the Australian capital here in the Nishatganj cemetery.

Gupta, who has been here to attend the seventh conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association of India Region mooted the idea while talking to PTI after laying a wreath on Saturday on Griffin's grave.

The architect had visited the city in October 1935 on an invitation to design the library of the University of Lucknow. He died here in October 1935.

"After discovering late Griffin's grave here, I strongly feel Lucknow and Canberra should become sister cities," said Gupta, a member of the legislative assembly from Yerrabi in Australian.

"I have proposed that Canberra and Lucknow should be given the status of sister cities. This will lead to a number of things," said Gupta, adding it will strengthen the existing bonds between the two cities.

Pointing out the inherent bond between the two cities due to Griffin connection, Gupta said, "The architect of Canberra is laid to rest here in Lucknow. This is a big thing that the person who had designed the capital city of Australia, one of best capital cities, is buried in Lucknow."
Drawing parallel between popular British singer Cliff Richard and Australian architect Griffin, Gupta said, "People know that Cliff Richard was born here (in Lucknow). There is someone who studied here and became famous, and there is someone famous who died here."
Emphasising for the "sister cities" status of Lucknow and Canberra, Gupta said, "There is a very good reason now (to go for the sister cities status), as the person who designed one city has been laid to rest in the other city."
"This will lead to a number of things," he said, adding "A large number of people in Australia do not know this."
"This is a good opportunity for people to know Lucknow. People can come and pay their respects to the designer. I think if the Uttar Pradesh government and the government of Australia promote this, the place may become an attractive tourism destination," he said
"It will also become a place from where students of architecture can draw inspiration," he said, adding: "In future there can be exchange programmes of students between Lucknow and Canberra."