It is very interesting and draws a very indecisive balance
between fortunate and unfortunate on part of any city, whose history of the
recent centuries is so highly cherished that people do not wish to even know
beyond it. Perhaps that’s the reason that not many noted historians ever took
pain of peeping behind the glorious period and present the complete case at a
go to those who are keen on knowing the documented history. For some, the myths
are good to hear but do not feed the inquisitive minds that asks for evidence.
Here I have tried to concisely compose the outlined events that lead us to the
present through the documented account of our beloved city Lucknow. The study
runs on the basis of evidences from earliest established civilizations through
ages of Hindu Empires entering into foot-prints of arrivals of Muslims and
finally landing into the history that is widely read.
The earliest probability of the civilization on the areas
that today constitutes Lucknow dates to
archaeological excavations at the Hulaskhera mound, located on the banks of the
Karela Lake in Mohanlalgung ‘tehseel’ which links the city to pre and proto
historic times. The six meter high massive mounds cover an area of 80 acres and
dates from prehistoric times to the Sunga-Kushar era. The finds also include
hoard of silver coins belonging to the period of Vinayak Pal Deva of Kannauj
(c.10thcentury AD) that were unearthed by the priest of Kalleshwari Devi Temple
near the excavation site. According to the excavation experts and related
scholars, the exercise yields archaeological remains of a civilization dating
back to 1000 BC though not thoroughly supported by tangible evidences. The
remains belong to a prosperous agricultural community that had structured
buildings and developed civic system. The antiquarian remains include
terracotta gamesmen and figurines, beads, shell beads and ivory bangles. It
indicated towards an active socio-cultural environment during the 5th century
BC or the period that may be referred as pre-Buddhist. The remains of the
buildings indicate the use of concrete structures, belonging to the beginning
of AD 400. A 20-metre long road across the Lake has also been encountered which
seemed to connect two settlements on either side of the Lake.
The Kushan levels (c. 100 BC to AD 100), yielded number of
silver coins and gold-coated glass beads reflects the prosperity of the
inhabitants. The terracotta human figurines sporting beards and moustaches may
be compared with the Kushan stone sculptures unearthed and stored in the
Mathura Museum. Another interesting find includes a stamped gold plaque bearing
the image of popular deity Kartikeya, wearing a head-dress with three jewels
and holding a spear. The figurine bears testimony to the contact of Hulaskhera
with places outside.
The historic phase (AD 40-900) provides evidence of large rooms
being converted into smaller units. Even the terracotta figurines indicate a
marked decline in the plastic arts. However, the evidence of a brick fort is
notable for the remains of large housing complex, which may have been a
community centre or a nobleman’s residence. During the early historic period,
Lucknow of today and its neighborhood formed part of the once-celebrated Kosala
Mahajanapad. In the accounts of Brahamanas and Jatakas, Kosala existed as a
territory in the time of King Janaka of Mithila. This region was later included
in the Mauryan and Kushan empires. Kushan antiquities including sculptures,
large-sized bricks, terracotta and a coin were recovered from the neighborhood
of present day Lucknow though no direct references are found in historical
narratives and no archaeological findings are found to establish the ancient
past of the said period.
Though most of the historical notes on Lucknow predominantly
took place with the arrival of Muslims but it does not necessarily draw a
conflict in any form on the historical significance of pre-Muslim era. It is
both ethical and honest to highlight the said aspect as those who survive on
the oxygen of controversies always try to grab the food for thought on such
lines. One of the most striking incidents in the post-Pratihara period was the
time that witnessed the arrival of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi who was the nephew of
Mahmud of Ghazni and son of Syed Salar Sahoo Ghazi. His travels were aimed at
publicizing the Islamic teachings but a section of history deals negatively
with his character on the mindset mentioned above. Even though Lucknow was just
one of the places on his journey that started from Delhi and ended at Bahraich
in the year AD 1033, it left a greater impact on this soil as some of his
associates are buried here, primarily at Peer Bukhara and Sohbatiya Bagh areas.
These graves are still in existence and they mark the earliest footprints of
Muslims in this area. The route he adopted from Delhi was via Meerut before
reaching Kannauj from where he crossed the Ganges and going through the
Navadevakula of Hieun Tsang, the famous Chinese traveler, he passed through
Baari Thana, Asiwan, parts of Malihabad before reaching present day Lucknow and
moving on to Satrikh where he stayed for a longer period, to be joined with his
father. Other surrounding places that came under Muslim dominance during this
period were Karra-Manikpur and Hardoi.
The city has been associated with Sultans of Delhi when they
annexed to expand their empire and Sultan Iltutmish granted the aqta of
Kasmandi and Mandiaon on Malik Tajuddin Sanjar, alias Tabar Khan. Through this
assignment, the areas around the city became an integral part of the Sultanate
of Delhi. It was the first instance the similar sounding name came into
existence by ‘Alakhnau’ along with Avadh and Zafrabad when Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
appointed Ainul Mulk as governor of the areas. Lucknow is referred to by the
famous Moroccan traveler Ibn-Batuta in connection with the events, which
occurred between 1338 and 1341. Delhi was in grip of severe famine, and it was
Alakhnau, which supplied large quantities of food grains to the Sultan during
his stay at Swargdwari (it was the capital town of Gaharwars, one of the five
clans of the Rathore, and is currently the area of Qaimgunj tehseel of
Farukkhabad district). Thus, the prosperous condition of Lucknow was
responsible for the rebellion of Ainul-Mulk and his brothers, who were
suppressed by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq with great difficulty.
In 1394, Khwaja-e-Jahan, the founder of Sharqi dynasty of
Jaunpur, brought all the places between Jaunpur and Kannauj under his control.
Lucknow became an important station under the Sharqis. Sultan Bahloul Lodi of
Delhi annexed Lucknow to his kingdom in 1487-88 and assigned it, along with
Kalpi, to his grandson Azam Humayun. It was during his time that a Brahman
Lodhan publicly declared that both Islam and Hinduism were true religions, an
incident which indicates the liberal outlook of the people of Lucknow, even at
such an early date. His bold assertions at that time cost him his life but gave
life to a couplet of Mohsin Kakorvi:
“Simt-e-Kaashi Se Chala Jaanib-e-Mathura Baadal
Barq Ke Kaandhay Pe Laayi Hai Saba Ganga-Jal”
During the reign of Sultan Sikander Lodi, Mubarak Khan
succeeded Azam Humayun. Later, Ahmad Khan became the governor of Lucknow. He
showed unprecedented favors towards Hindus and was accused of idolatry and
renunciation of the faith, he was consequently dismissed and arrested on orders
of Sultan Sikander Lodi in 1509, Saeed Khan succeeded him as governor of
Lucknow.
Then came the brightest period in the history of India and particularly
North India that marked the stepping up of the history of centuries to come. In
the year 1526 after the battle of Panipat, Zahiruddin Mohammad Babur became the
emperor after defeating Ibrahim Lodi. His son Humayun, a Royal prince at that
time, occupied Lucknow in the same year. It felt to Afghans for a short period
of time when Humayun was engaged with Rana Sanga, Babur reoccupied Lucknow in
March 1528 and visited the town on March 21, 1529. Baburnama mentions that
Babur crossed the river Gomti on his way to Faizabad and was impressed by its
climate and flavors of rice. This fact indicates the political and strategic
importance of the region. Lucknow continued to enjoy its affluence. After the
empire slipped off the hands of Humayun in 1539, Isa Khan was appointed to
restore law and order in the territories lying between Delhi and Lucknow. He
also assigned Lucknow to a nobleman, Qadir Shah. Sher Shah raised the status of
the city by establishing silver and copper mints at Lucknow for the first time.
This was also the period when Humayun was facing in-house troubles from his own
brother Kamran Mirza and brother-in-law Mirza Muhammad Zamaan etc. Upon
crossing the Ganges around Bilgram, some of the immediate members of Royal
family decided to stay away from the ruling elite that was on the move and
decided to settle down in the remote areas that are now in Unnao district.
These people were directly the Timurid and Chagtai descendants and as per
Baburnama and later on Akbarnama of Abul Fazl reports, it was against the wish
of Babur as he insisted that Humayun should try his best to maintain peace and
harmony with his brothers and close relatives, even if they make mistakes.
By the time Humayun reoccupied Delhi in 1546, Lucknow became
a permanent part of the Mughal Empire despite frequent risings by the unruly
and desperate Afghan chiefs in the area. During the rule of Akbar (1556-1605),
Lucknow witnessed several administrative reforms of far-reaching consequences
and it became the headquarters of a sarkar of the suba of Avadh. The copper
mint unit was maintained and Akbar is said to have built several mohallas to
the south of Chowk. Shahgunj and Mahmud Nagar were some of the earliest
localities to have come up during that period.
It was during the peaceful reign of Akbar that Brahmans
formed one of the principal sections of the population and the emperor was so
well disposed towards them that he favored them with a lakh of rupees. Since
then, the Bajpai Brahmans of Lucknow have been both famous and influential.
Themohalla conferred upon the Bajpai’s was destroyed during the British rule.
The earliest known Mughal governor of Lucknow, appointed
during the reign of Akbar was Husain Khan Tukriya in 1568. He was succeeded by
Mahdi Qasim Khan, a mansabdar of four thousand, to whom Akbar gave Lucknow as
tuyul. But shortly afterwards in 1572, Lucknow was bestowed on Sikandar Khan, a
retired governor of Avadh who died the following year. It was then given to
Khwaja Amiruddin Mahmud Khwaja Jahan, who was Wazir-e-Mustaqil of Hindustan, he
passed away in 1574. During the closing year of Akbar’s reign Jawahar Khan was
subedar of Avadh. His nayib was Qasim Mahmud of Bilgram under whose supervision
the areas of Shahgunj and Mahmud Nagar were built along with Akbari Darwaza.
Thereafter, it was time for the Shaikzadas to gain the
proximity to the Royal court via all the prevalent practices of the time
reports Akbarnama. Abdur Rahim Bijnori used the relation of his friend Jamal
Bakhtiyar’s sister to reach the Royal court and that impressed the emperor
Akbar so much so that Shaikh Abdur Rahim was invited at one of the Royal
gatherings at Sialkot. It was here in Sialkot in the year 1586 that in state of
intoxication, Abdur Rahim stabbed himself that upset the emperor. After a
period of 12 years in the year 1598, he paid another visit to the Royal court
of Akbar and pacified the relations. It was a symbol of Akbar’s consideration
towards the Shaikh that resulted in construction of Machchhi Bhavan and Panch
Mahal at Lucknow. As per the Ain-e-Akbari and Ma’asirul Umara, Shaikh Abdur
Rahim had married a Brahmin female by name of Kishna who carried the noble
practices, maintained a garden, a sarai, acquired a number of villages and
carried her works for nearly sixty years, even after the death of Shaikh, who
was laid to rest at Nadal Mahal. Lucknow, she continued to have the influence
of his descendants in line with their good relations with the ruling Royals at
Delhi and continued to have periodical jagirs from later Mughals.
Abul Fazl in his Akbarnama has thrown light on rising
importance of Lucknow by virtue of its climate and vegetation, it became a part
of the sarkar of that time in the suba of Avadh. The development of Avadh
continued unhampered during the time of Emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627). Jahangir is reported to have
visited Lucknow during lifetime of Akbar and founded Mirza Mandi to the west of
Machchhi Bhavan. The European traveler De-Laet testifies to the fact that
Lucknow was a thriving centre of trade, a Magnum Emporium in the reign of
Jahangir. It was during these days, a French merchant obtained a permit for
one-year to conduct commercial trade in the region. This trade amassed an
immense fortune, part of which was used to build a mansion. Upon expiry of the
permit, the said mansion was confiscated and given a name of Farangi Mahal as
it was built by foreigners, known at that time as Farangis. This Farangi Mahal
was later awarded to a learned family of Mulla Qutubuddin during the time of
Aurangzeb and became a seat of Islamic teachings and scholars. Another feather
to Lucknow, as per Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri was the allotment of lands in the
adjoining areas of Lucknow to those who belonged to the members of Timurid
& Chagtai descent and had reached the area in the early days with Babur
& Humayun. Primarily, these people belong to the families of those neutral
members who left the Royal camp during the unrest between Humayun, his brothers and immediate family members.
With the passage of time, the rule of Jahangir came to an
end and Emperor Shahjahan (r. 1627-1658) came to the throne of Delhi. He
appointed Sultan Ali Shah Quli Khan as governor of Avadh. Quli Khan’s sons,
Mirza Fazil and Mirza Mansur founded Fazil Nagar and Mansur Nagar to the
south-west of Akbari Darwaza. Subsequently, the governorship of Avadh came to
Mutamad Khan Muhammad Sharif whose brother Muhammad Ashraf built magnificent
buildings and founded the areas of Ashrafabad towards the south of Shahgunj and
Musharrafabad or Naubasta (new locality). These areas were thickly populated by
distinguished Brahmins, Kayasths and other families. He laid out a garden and
as per the chronogram on the gates of this garden, it was named as
Bustan-e-Dostaan (garden of friends). Another noble, Peer Khan founded the area
of Garhi Peer Khan to the west of the city.
Saiyid Nizam Murtaza Khan, son of famous Sadr Jahan of
Pihani was also appointed Faujdar of Lucknow by Shahjahan. The old copper mint
continued to function during the reign of Shahjahan. The English factory
records from 1646 to 1654 show that English factors at the time were doing
brisk business in sugar, indigo and calico at Lucknow. Cloth were bleached at
Lucknow and then forwarded to important trade centers in India.
Emperor Aurangzeb is reported to have visited Lucknow and
ordered the construction of the impressive mosque on the higher bank of river
Gomti. A contemporary scholar and Islamic saint, Shaikh Pir Muhammad of Jaunpur
lies buried in a square tomb to the north-east of the mosque. His learning and
piety attracted large numbers of students and scholars from different parts of
the country and his manuscripts are preserved in the Rampur Raza Library. The
school founded by him remained a center of learning for about a century after
his death in 1668.
During the reign of Aurangzeb, the noted governors were Irij
Khan and then Jamal Khan. After Aurangzeb died in 1707, the Mughal Empire that
had only six emperors in nearly 180 years, witnessed as many as eleven rulers
in next 150 years to come. During the reign of Muhammad Shah, Girdhar Nagar,
the son of Daya Bahadur became the subedar of Avadh. He was the nephew of
Chhabila Ram Nagar, the governor of Allahabad. The wife of Girdhar Nagar
founded the area of Rani Katra to the east of Daulat Gung.
By the year 1722, Muhammad Shah appointed Burhan-ul-Mulk Sa’adat
Khan as the Nayib of Avadh that laid the foundation of Nawabi for 125 years to
come.
Upon deputation by the Mughal Ruler Mohammad Shah, Sa’dat
Khan was appointed the Nayib for the province of Avadh.
List of the Nawabs of Avadh with their titles and period
1- Wazeer ul Mulk
Burhan-ul-Mulk
Meer Muhammad Ameen Musawi Sa’adat Khan 1722-1739
2- Subedar Nawab
Abul Mansur
Muhammad Muqeem Khan Safdarjung
1739-1748
Nawab Wazir ul
Mumalik 1748-1754
3- Subedaar Nawab
Jalaluddin
Shuja’a ud daula Hyder 1754-1762
Nawab Wazir ul
Mumalik 1762-1775
4- Nawab Wazir ul
Mumalik
Asif ud daula
Muhammad Yahia Amani 1775-1797
5- Nawab Wazir ul Mumalik
Mirza Wazir Ali 1797-1798
6- Nawab Wazir ul Mumalik
Yameen ud daula
Naazim ul Mulk Sa’adat Ali Khan II
1798-1814
7- Nawab Wazir ul Mumalik
Ghazi ud din
Rafa’a ud daula Abul Muzaffar Hyder Khan
1814-1818
Badshah-e-Avadh
Shah-e-Zaman 1818-1827
8- Badshah-e-Avadh Shah-e-Zaman
Naseer ud din
Hyder Sulaiman Jaah 1827-1837
9- Badshah-e-Avadh Shah-e-Zaman
Moin ud din Abul
Fateh Muhammad Ali Shah 1837-1842
10- Badshah-e-Avadh Shah-e-Zaman
Naasir ud daula
Amjad Ali Shah Suraiyyah Jaah 1842-1847
11- Badshah-e-Avadh Shah-e-Zaman
Naasir ud din
Abul Mansoor Muhammad Wajid Ali Shah 1847-1856
On February 05, 1856,
the King was deposed and Avadh was incorporated into British Empire. However,
the rebellion had taken place at Lucknow and Berjis Qadr declared his rule that
continued till March 08, 1858.
Once Lucknow as a part of Avadh was incorporated into
British rule, it got under the control of officers as follows:
Chief Commissioners
of Oudh (1856 – 1877)
Maj. Gen. Sir James Outram Feb 01, 1856 – May 08,
1856
Colville Coverly Jackson May 08, 1856 – Mar
21, 1857
Maj. Gen Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence Mar 21, 1857 – Jul 05, 1857
Maj. John Sherbroke Banks Jul 05, 1857 – Sep 11,
1857
Lt. Gen. Sir James Outram Sep 11, 1857 – Apr
03, 1858
Robert Montgomery Apr 03, 1858
– Feb 15, 1859
Charles John Wingfield Feb 15, 1859 –
Apr 20, 1860
Lt. Col. Lousada Barrow Apr 20, 1860 – Apr
04, 1861
George Udny Yule Apr 04,
1861 – Aug 26, 1865
Richard Hutton Davies Aug 26, 1865 –
Mar 17, 1866
Sir John Strachey Mar 17,
1866 – May 24, 1868
R.H. Davies
May 24, 1868 – Jan 18, 1871
Maj. Gen. Lousada Barrow Jan 18, 1871 – Apr
20, 1871
Sir George Couper Apr 20,
1871 – Mar 15, 1875
John Forbes David Inglis Mar 15, 1875 – Feb
15, 1877
Lieutenant Governors of the North-Western Provinces and
Chief Commissioners of Oudh (1877–1902)
Sir George Ebenezer Wilson Couper Feb 15, 1877 - Apr 17, 1882
Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall Apr 17, 1882 –
Nov 21, 1887
Sir Auckland Colvin Nov 21, 1887 –
Nov 28, 1892
Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite Nov 28, 1892 – Jan 09, 1895
Alan Cadell Jan
09, 1895 – Nov 06, 1895
Sir Anthony Patrick MacDonnell Nov 06, 1895 – Nov 14, 1901
Sir James John Digges La Touche Nov 14, 1901 – Mar 22, 1902
Lieutenant Governors of the United Provinces of Agra and
Oudh (1902–1921)
Sir James John Digges La Touche Mar 22, 1902 – Jan 01, 1907
Sir John Prescott Hewett Jan 01, 1907 – Sep
15, 1912
Sir James Scorgie Meston Sep 15, 1912 – Feb 07, 1917
John Mitchell Holmes Feb 07, 1917
– Feb 15, 1918
Sir Spencer Hartcourt Butler Feb 15, 1918 – Jan 03,
1921
Governors of the
United Provinces of British India (1921–1937)
Sir Spencer Hartcourt Butler Jan 03, 1921 – Dec 21,
1922
Sir William Sinclair Marris Dec 24, 1922 –
Jan 14, 1927
Sir Alexander Phillips Muddiman Jun 14, 1927 – Jun 17,
1928
Sir William Malcom Hailey Aug 09, 1028 –
Dec 06, 1934
Sir Harry Graham Haig Dec 06, 1934
– Apr 01, 1937
Governors of the
United Provinces (1937–1947)
Sir Harry Graham Haig Apr 01, 1937
– Dec 07, 1939
Sir Maurice Garnier Hallet Dec 07, 1939 –
Dec 07, 1945
Sir Francis Verner Wylie Dec 07, 1945 – Aug 14, 1947
On Aug 15, 1947 India became independent of the British rule
