Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Context: Several events have been scheduled to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the final ruler of Awadh, who possessed a remarkable appreciation for the arts. These activities comprise an exhibition, a heritage walk, and informative discussions.

About Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Mirza Wajid Ali Shah, the final ruler of Awadh, held the position from 1847 to 1856.
His second wife Begum Hazrat Mahal, played a significant role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company, acting as the regent of Awadh.
Although his kingdom had been safeguarded by the East India Company under a treaty, it was annexed by the company in 1856.
Following the annexation, the Nawab was exiled to Metiabruz, a suburb of Kolkata, where he spent the rest of his life receiving a generous pension.

Wajid Ali Shah was not only a ruler but also a poet, playwright, dancer, and avid patron of the arts. He introduced Kathak, a significant form of classical Indian dance, as a court dance during a period when the Mughal influence was diminishing, primarily for recreational purposes.

As a Ruler of Awadh

The British East India Company had already annexed a significant portion of Awadh through a treaty signed with the Nawabs in 1801.
The company’s actions had severely impacted the Awadh economy by burdening it with the costs of maintaining the Bengal Army and repeatedly demanding loans.
Wajid Ali Shah became the ruler of Awadh when the East India Company was determined to annex the prosperous kingdom, which was regarded as “the garden, granary, and queen-province of India.”
Upon ascending the throne, he actively participated in the administration of justice, implemented reforms, and reorganized the military.
The British Resident of Lucknow, General William Sleeman, submitted a report highlighting alleged “maladministration” and “lawlessness” in Awadh. This report conveniently provided the British with the justification they needed for the annexation under the Doctrine of Lapse by Governor-General Lord Dalhousie.

Patronage to Music

Wajid Ali Shah patronized music, dance, drama, and poetry, but he was also a gifted composer himself.
Bahadur Hussain Khan, was one of Wajid Ali Shah’s favorite musicians. The Nawab honored him with the title Zia-ud-Daulah.
He adopted the pseudonym ‘Akhtarpiya’ for his musical compositions. Under this name, he wrote poems, prose, and thumris.
His collections, Diwan-i-Akhtar and Husn-i-Akhtar, contain his ghazals.
Much of the knowledge about music in Nawabi Lucknow comes from the text Madanul Moosiqui (‘The Mine of Music’).
During his reign, complex ragas like hori and dhrupad were less emphasized, while easier raginis like tilak, pilu, sendura, khammach, bhairvi, and jhanjhauti gained popularity.
These raginis were favored by the king and easily understood by all sections of society, making them beloved by the common people.
There is a popular belief that Wajid Ali Shah was the creator of the light classical form known as thumri.
Wajid Ali Shah’s innovative ideas and experiments in ghazals played a significant role in shaping the modern-day style of ghazals.

Patronage to dance

In ancient times, Kathak was originally performed as part of temple rituals.
It was under the artistic guidance and patronage of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah that Kathak reached new heights.
During this period, Kathak was also extensively performed by courtesans, who developed the art form alongside its refinement in the court.
Their style of Kathak differed from the court style, often incorporating playfulness known as nakhra.
Wajid Ali Shah introduced two distinct forms of Kathak: Rahas and Raas.
Rahas was a choreographed dance form that incorporated acting, dancing, and music. It encompassed dramatic elements and portrayed different scenes, often with changing settings and locales.
On the other hand, Raas was a religious form of Kathak. Dhrupad, a form of classical music, was primarily sung during Raas performances, which began with its singing.
It was during Wajid Ali Shah’s reign that the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak emerged. The Lucknow style of Kathak is characterized by graceful movements, elegance, natural poise, and a focus on abhinaya (expressions).
Wajid Ali Shah made Kathak the official court dance and also popularized it among the people.

Contributions to literature

The famous poet Mirza Ghalib received gracious patronage from Wajid Ali Shah.
Wajid Ali Shah himself was a prolific writer, utilizing a simple language that conveyed meaning to all, often incorporating Awadhi, the local dialect.
His most significant work, Sawat-ul-Qalub, comprises a collection of 44,562 couplets.
Among his notable works, the autobiographical Huzn-i-Akhtar holds great importance. It portrays the unfavorable and unceremonious treatment he faced at the hands of British authorities.
Another significant work by Wajid Ali Shah is Bani. It serves as a treatise on Music and Dance, offering insights into the mushairas (poetic gatherings) held at Matiya Burj (Calcutta).