On Mirza Ghalib’s birthday, his couplets travel effortlessly across continents, languages, and generations. They are quoted in classrooms, shared on social media, sung in ghazals, and debated by scholars. Yet in Agra, the city where Ghalib was born in 1797, remembrance remains faint, formal, and painfully inadequate.

In the neighbourhood of two world heritage monuments, the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort, Agra’s famous Vaidya Gali has been a favourite of kings, politicians and the common man for over a century and more, but these days the number of patrons has dwindled, as allopathy has come to dominate the health sector.

A 17th-century masterpiece, the Taj Mahal stands as an eternal symbol of love, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Its unparalleled beauty and historical significance have made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting millions of tourists from around the globe.

Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, has long been a key contributor to India’s potato production, accounting for 27 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s total output. Yet, despite its agricultural significance, local farmers have struggled with low profits, seed shortages, and post-harvest losses. Now, a breakthrough promises to transform the region’s potato industry—the approval of the International Potato Centre’s South Asia Regional Centre in Singna village. 

Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal and over two million residents, faces a water crisis of unprecedented proportions. The sacred Yamuna River, once the lifeblood of the city, now lies choked and poisoned, a victim of systemic neglect, unchecked urbanisation, and political indifference. 

The long-awaited ferry or cruise service for tourists visiting Agra could soon become a reality. Backed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and championed by local activists, this ambitious proposal promises to transform Agra’s tourism scene while delivering economic and environmental benefits.