Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (Born – Lucknow, 19th July, 1823 ; 10th Zeeqat 1238 Hijri) is best known for the thumri "Babul Mora", which has been sung by almost every light Indian classical singer. He was the eldest son of Amjad ali Shah and started his tenure with some promising actions. Realising the need of an army to counter the threat posed by English forces posted in Lucknow, he added some new platoons with fancy names. He in person attended the parade regularly in the mornings and coined persisanised words of commands. To offer justice to the oppressed population he allowed the common man to present his petition verbally or in writing directly to him. For this purpose two peshkars would march in front of his carriage whenever he would choose to go out for a pleasure ride. These activites were not liked by the English and they advised him that such things were beyond the dignity of the King and the resident disapproves them.

In few months Wajid Ali Shah (official name M. Hazrat Khalid, 'Abul Mansur Nasir ud-din, Padshah-i-'Adil, Kaiser-i-Zaman, Arangha Sultan-i-'Alam, Muhammad Wajid 'Ali Shah Bahadur) himself got bored with administration and he came back to his original interests of dance, music and company with fair sex. He acquired deep interest in poetry.

When Wajid Ali Shah was a young boy, some astrologers warned his parents that he would become a Yogi, and advised them that the boy should be dressed up as a Yogi on each birthday of his so as to counteract the effect of the evil stars. When he ascended the throne in 1847 at the age of 24, he had a fabulous annual income of more then fifteen lakhs of rupees, most of which he squandered on music, dance and drama. First of all, he established his famous Parikhaana (abode of fairies) in which hundreds of beautiful and talented girls were taught music and dancing by expert-teachers engaged by the royal patron. These girls were known as Parees or fairies with fancy- names such as Sultan pari, Mahrukh pari and so on. On each birthday of his, the Nawab would dress up as a Yogi with saffron robes, ash of pearls smeared on his face and body, necklaces of pearls around his neck, and a rosary in his hand, and walk pompously into the court with two of his Parees dressed up as Jogans. Gradually he made it into a spectacular pageant or Mela known as Jogia Jashan, in which all citizens of Lucknow could participate, dressed as Yogis, irrespective of caste and creed.

Later on, when his favourite venue, the Kaisarbagh Baradari was built, he began to stage his magnificent Rahas, obviously a Persianised name for Rasleela, full of sensuous poetry, his own lyrical compositions under the pen-name "Akhtarpiya" and glamorous Kathak dances. Ranbir Singh gives details of Wajid Ali Shah's book entitled "Bani" in which the author mentions 36 types of Rahas all set in Kathak style (with colourful names like "Mor-Chchatri", "Ghunghat", "Salami", "Mor Pankhi" and "Mujra"), and gives exhaustive notes about the costumes, jewellery, and stage- craft. Rahas, prepared at a fabulous cost of saveral lakhs of rupees, became very popular, and was performed at the Kaisarbagh-Rahas Manzil, most probably, "the first Hindustani Theatre Hall". Many have regarded Wajid Ali Shah as "the first playwright of the Hindustani theatre", because his "Radha Kanhaiya Ka Kissa" staged in the Rahas Manzil was the first play of its kind. It featured Radha, Krishna, several sakhis, and a vidushaka-like character called "Ramchera". Songs, dances, mime, and drama were all delightfully synthesized in these Rahas performances. He dramatized many other poems such as Darya-i-Tashsq, Afsane-i-Isbaq, and Bhahar-i-Ulfat. It is said that Amanat's "Inder Sabha" was inspired by these dance-dramas, written, produced and staged by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

But all this pomp and splendors were wiped out in less than eight years. In February 1854, Wajid Ali Shah was deposed by the British Resident and exiled into far-off Matiaburj near Calcutta. Even when the shocking ultimatum was given to him, Wajid Ali Shah appealed to his beloved subjects not to offer any resistance, and to maintain peace.

When it ceased, Wajid Ali Shah sat in mute silence for a long while, and then expressed his feelings: "All this time I was in a dreamland as though transported by unknown hands to my Kaisarbagh Baradari. Ah, what I have left behind! Now, only the sweet memories linger."

The loyal citizens as well as their beloved ruler hoped for a long time that the latter would regain the throne of Awadh and "return to bestow a fresh spirit to the lifeless people"; but their dreams were never fulfilled. Wajid Ali Shah died on September 1, 1887 and was buried in Imambara Sibtenabad, in Matiyaburj.

Wajid Ali Shah's most popular Thumri really turned out to be one of the saddest and sweetest of parting songs.

baabul moraa, naihar chhu-to hi jaae
chaar kahaar mil, morii Doliyaa sajaaven
moraa apanaa begaanaa chhu-to jaae
aanganaa to parbat bhayo deharii bhayii bidesh
je baabul ghar aapano, main chali piya ke des