Latest news with #TheLifeandTimesoftheNawabsofLucknow
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Time of India
Nawab's elephant & Bakshi-ka-Talab
There are certain places whose names are associated with amusing events. The famous Bakshi-ka-Talab, located about 14 km from Lucknow on Lucknow-Sitapur Road, is one such place. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to historian Agha Mehdi, Nawab Nasir-ud-din Haidar, the 8th ruler of Awadh, once wanted to purchase an elephant. He chose his trusted man on the post of paymaster, Tripur Chand, for the task. Though he was popular as Lalji, Tripur Chand was referred to as Bakshi Tripur Chand because of the nature of his job. The Nawab gave money to Bakshi Tripur Chand to buy an elephant but strangely he did not turn up in court even after an exceptionally long time. Bakshi's rivals started circulating rumours that Bakshi, tempted by the money, had disappeared. When everyone lost all hopes of his return, Bakshi appeared in court. When Nawab Nasir-ud-din sought explanation for the reason for his long absence and asked about the elephant, Bakshi requested the Nawab to accompany him to see the elephant. As he was one of the confidants of Nasir-ud-din, the curious Nawab went along with him to a place near the city where, pointing towards a 'talab' (pond), Tripur Chand said it was the Nawab's elephant. Nawab was pleased to see that the money meant for purchasing the elephant was not spent by Bakshi for his personal gains but for the welfare of common people who were facing acute water crisis. Bakshi Tripur Chand was honoured and rewarded by the Nawab and the 'talab' became popular as 'Bakshi Ka Talab'. Now, the entire locality around this is officially called 'Bakshi-ka-Talab'. (The writer is a well-known historian and the author of 'The Life and Times of the Nawabs of Lucknow')
Time of India
25-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Was Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah poisoned to death?
While living in Calcutta on an annual pension of Rs 12 lakh given by the British, the last Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, died at 10 pm on Sep 21, 1887. A few historians like Mirza Ali Azhar suspect that Wajid Ali's death was not natural but a murder, the conspiracy of which was hatched by the British to save money which was given to him as regular pension. Mirza Ali Azhar says, 'For the past few days, he was practically restored to health.' On the day of Wajid Ali's death, he was reading a book when Hakim Abdul Ali gave him a medicine ('chutney'). After he left, only two persons remained in the room – Zulfiqar-ud-Daulah who was practically blind and Fateh Makandar, who after some time went out to bring 'hukkah' as the Nawab wanted to smoke. At this juncture, his trusted officer Munsarim-ud-Daulah reached the room as though he was waiting for this opportunity and asked the Nawab to take some more medicine from his hand. It is suspected that he had mixed poison in it. Initially, the Nawab refused to take it and said that the 'haqeem' had just given him that but when Munsarim-ud-Daulah insisted, the Nawab consumed the 'chutney'. After some time, the Nawab's condition became serious. Nawab probably realized that his end had come so he twice asked for pen, paper and ink-pot to write but Munsarim-ud-Daulah did not follow his command as he was afraid that Nawab might write something against him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Resort com tudo incluído na Bahia Palladium Hotel Group Undo After the death of Wajid Ali, the historian says that Munsarim-ud-Daulah was followed by a mob of old women who cried aloud: 'O! Langda Munshi (Munsarim-ud-Daulah was called 'Langda' as he limped), may God turn you into a leper! You have killed our protector, may you and your children suffer for it. May God turn you blind.' (The writer Ravi Bhatt is a well-known historian and the author of 'The Life and Times of the Nawabs of Lucknow')
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
A Nawab's secret journey to the throne: How British betrayal dethroned Wazir Ali in 1798
Wazir Ali , the fifth Nawab of Awadh , was only 20 at the time of his coronation. This self-respecting young ruler refused to play in the hands of the British. Therefore, after four months of his coronation, Sir John Shore , the Governor General of India, chalked out a secret plan in Jan 1798 to replace him by his uncle Saadat Ali Khan . On Jan 13, 1798, Saadat Ali signed an agreement to give half of Awadh to the British in exchange for the throne. On Jan 16, Saadat Ali was informed by GF Cherry, the agent of Governor General at Varanasi, that he should secretly reach Lucknow for the coronation. Saadat Ali immediately left his house giving the impression that he was going to attend a dinner but clandestinely got into a waiting palanquin which was equipped for the long journey. For the sake of secrecy, Saadat Ali travelled from Varanasi to Kanpur only with two trusted unarmed men. His personal pistol was the only weapon he had. He reached Kanpur on Jan 19 afternoon, and after a halt of a few hours, which according to the instruction of the Governor-General was organized by Major General Robert, left for Lucknow protected by Colonel McGowan's army. On Jan 20, they reached Mohaan, the pre-decided place near Lucknow. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want Lower Bills Without Changing a Thing? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo The next day, according to the secret plan, Governor General John Shore called Nawab Wazir Ali to Bibiapur Kothi on the outskirts of Lucknow on the false pretext of discussing some important administrative issues and arrested him there. The same day, Saadat Ali's secret journey to the throne ended on a happy note as he was declared the sixth ruler of Awadh by the British and taken to the city in a royal procession. (The writer is a well-known historian and the author of 'The Life and Times of the Nawabs of Lucknow')
