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The Life and Times of the Nawabs of Lucknow
Political, social, cultural history of Lucknow District,India;covers the period, 1722-1856; includes accounts of the lifeofvarious rulers of the place.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 18, 2020
I had picked up this book many years ago from Lucknow Airport shop. I am a Luckhnavi and the topic of Nawabs and Awadh’s culture is always a point of interest for any Luckhnavi, especially one who loves reading history.
But after reading this book i felt i wish i had not wanted to know more about the Nawabs. I wish i was living in the La La Land of their “culture” and “administration” stories. For any conscious person, reading this book is enough to make them understand that the whole dynasty was a bunch of wastrels living on the heavily imposed tax on the fertile Indo Gangetic farmers, leaving them with nothing but abject poverty.
What culture? What tehzeeb? What nafasat are we talking of where the wealth is mostly concentrated in the hands of few who were drawing obnoxious salaries and living off the tax paying citizens who themselves were in penury (detailed in chapters with source references).
I will not even get to rampant sexism, as i am practical enough to understand that keeping many wives and concubines was a culture in ancient times in almost all cultures; however what shocked me was marriage of nearly 40 year old monarchs with 11 or 13 year old girls!!!! How can anyone find culture in this? How can we not be horrified by this? And it is very softly explained in the book as “Love”. Who would want their 11 year old to be loved this way?!!
In one chapters abduction and rape of a woman from a prominent Khatri family is called as, “Nawab picked up the girl for a night of Love” - is the author serious? I get it, it was an incident that happens in imperialistic set up, but at least the author should not call it “one night of love”. Why this pussyfooting?
In the name of culture, every page of the book talked of multiple marriages, debauchery, pedophilia, lavish food preparation and royally wasting food (this is not culture, get over it please), dirty politics, and sex trafficking of women and young boys. Yes i know prostitution is one of the oldest professions of the World and all dynasties had prostitution as a significant economy, but economies or dynasties that boast of it live lazily only by trafficking women. The whole system here is a problem, and does not matter if all dynasties had this, reliance on trafficking cannot be called “culture”.
Apart of this i read almost no examples of administration excellence, advancement in science, technology, medical, engineering, cottage industries of various kinds. I did read about Asaf Ud Daula being the only Nawab who made the breath hitching and magnificent Rumi Darwaza and some more such architectural delights. He and Safdar Jung seemed to be the only Nawabs to talk about in the entire dynasty. I was dismayed that Wajid Ali Shah, who i was fond of before reading this book, did not come across as what i had thought.
On the positive side, the poetry cult was encouraged in Lucknow significantly, but then the poets were mostly from Dilli Darbar and migrated to Lucknow due to lavish grants that were then available in Awadh, not anymore in Delhi. But then 1.)very less local talent was developed and this was migratory talent who came for greener pastures, so no rocket science here 2.)the Nawabs faced zero war situation in their entire tenure. They never had to face invading forces, so naturally they had the privilege to maintain their status as they wanted thanks to the income from fertile Indo Gangetic belt and zero opposition. So again, no rocket science here 3.)The poets were given rich grants on whose money exactly? Did the Nawabs bring the money from somewhere? It was all tax money of average citizens who never enjoyed such pleasures. There is a clear difference even today in the culture and language of Lucknow and just outside Lucknow. Why did the supposed “rich culture” not reach there too? Ever.
Amidst craft economy Chikankari, Mukaish is mentioned, and yet again as imports from Bengal that got polished by Dilli Darbar, and practised here later by migrating artisans from Delhi. So i am left wondering what did my Nawabs really do in their 160 year old rule?
The book in itself has abrupt chapters. It seems like author is wanting to write but ending abruptly lest he may write something that would be frowned upon. It was not written chronologically. Still after more than half the book is read it picks up.
I was happy to read some positive chapters on my school’s founder Major General Claude Martin, who established La Martiniere. Though a trader out and out, he at least worked hard to make a fortune and got the land he built our Alma Mater on, with the Boys’ school building now being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the very least he worked his way up, and did not create “culture” with taxed money.
Again i will say i wish i had not read this book, so that my false impressions could always be maintained.
Nonetheless, now that i have, i will certainly read books mentioned in the exhaustive bibliography of this book.
But after reading this book i felt i wish i had not wanted to know more about the Nawabs. I wish i was living in the La La Land of their “culture” and “administration” stories. For any conscious person, reading this book is enough to make them understand that the whole dynasty was a bunch of wastrels living on the heavily imposed tax on the fertile Indo Gangetic farmers, leaving them with nothing but abject poverty.
What culture? What tehzeeb? What nafasat are we talking of where the wealth is mostly concentrated in the hands of few who were drawing obnoxious salaries and living off the tax paying citizens who themselves were in penury (detailed in chapters with source references).
I will not even get to rampant sexism, as i am practical enough to understand that keeping many wives and concubines was a culture in ancient times in almost all cultures; however what shocked me was marriage of nearly 40 year old monarchs with 11 or 13 year old girls!!!! How can anyone find culture in this? How can we not be horrified by this? And it is very softly explained in the book as “Love”. Who would want their 11 year old to be loved this way?!!
In one chapters abduction and rape of a woman from a prominent Khatri family is called as, “Nawab picked up the girl for a night of Love” - is the author serious? I get it, it was an incident that happens in imperialistic set up, but at least the author should not call it “one night of love”. Why this pussyfooting?
In the name of culture, every page of the book talked of multiple marriages, debauchery, pedophilia, lavish food preparation and royally wasting food (this is not culture, get over it please), dirty politics, and sex trafficking of women and young boys. Yes i know prostitution is one of the oldest professions of the World and all dynasties had prostitution as a significant economy, but economies or dynasties that boast of it live lazily only by trafficking women. The whole system here is a problem, and does not matter if all dynasties had this, reliance on trafficking cannot be called “culture”.
Apart of this i read almost no examples of administration excellence, advancement in science, technology, medical, engineering, cottage industries of various kinds. I did read about Asaf Ud Daula being the only Nawab who made the breath hitching and magnificent Rumi Darwaza and some more such architectural delights. He and Safdar Jung seemed to be the only Nawabs to talk about in the entire dynasty. I was dismayed that Wajid Ali Shah, who i was fond of before reading this book, did not come across as what i had thought.
On the positive side, the poetry cult was encouraged in Lucknow significantly, but then the poets were mostly from Dilli Darbar and migrated to Lucknow due to lavish grants that were then available in Awadh, not anymore in Delhi. But then 1.)very less local talent was developed and this was migratory talent who came for greener pastures, so no rocket science here 2.)the Nawabs faced zero war situation in their entire tenure. They never had to face invading forces, so naturally they had the privilege to maintain their status as they wanted thanks to the income from fertile Indo Gangetic belt and zero opposition. So again, no rocket science here 3.)The poets were given rich grants on whose money exactly? Did the Nawabs bring the money from somewhere? It was all tax money of average citizens who never enjoyed such pleasures. There is a clear difference even today in the culture and language of Lucknow and just outside Lucknow. Why did the supposed “rich culture” not reach there too? Ever.
Amidst craft economy Chikankari, Mukaish is mentioned, and yet again as imports from Bengal that got polished by Dilli Darbar, and practised here later by migrating artisans from Delhi. So i am left wondering what did my Nawabs really do in their 160 year old rule?
The book in itself has abrupt chapters. It seems like author is wanting to write but ending abruptly lest he may write something that would be frowned upon. It was not written chronologically. Still after more than half the book is read it picks up.
I was happy to read some positive chapters on my school’s founder Major General Claude Martin, who established La Martiniere. Though a trader out and out, he at least worked hard to make a fortune and got the land he built our Alma Mater on, with the Boys’ school building now being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the very least he worked his way up, and did not create “culture” with taxed money.
Again i will say i wish i had not read this book, so that my false impressions could always be maintained.
Nonetheless, now that i have, i will certainly read books mentioned in the exhaustive bibliography of this book.
December 3, 2018
Assorted short stories on the various Nawabs of Awadh. Except the change in their names their life histories were more or less similar. Wastrels all of them. Does make you go back and watch Mirza Ghalib and Shataranj ke Khiladi on you tube
December 18, 2020
The Life and Times of the Nawabs of Lucknow (Paperback) by Ravi Bhatt- Nawabs that he discusses, but also about the Begums, the princes, the Tawaiffs, the ministers, and many other people associated with the court and culture of Lucknow. As there was no war expenditure during the 160- year rule of Nawabs, income from fertile agricultural lands Indo-Gangetic plains and business flourished. Asaf Ud Daula being the only Nawab who made the breath hitching and magnificent Rumi Darwaza and some more such architectural delights.
Amidst craft economy Chikankari, Mukaish is mentioned. Chapters on Major General Claude Martin, who established La Martiniere School. Though a trader out and out, he at least worked hard to make a fortune and got the land he built our Alma Mater on, with the Boys’ school building now being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the very least he worked his way up, and did not create “culture” with taxed money. The book keeps the reader charmed by its individual stories of Nawabs, Begums, Twaaifs, Ministers. It is a worth reading good read Book.
Amidst craft economy Chikankari, Mukaish is mentioned. Chapters on Major General Claude Martin, who established La Martiniere School. Though a trader out and out, he at least worked hard to make a fortune and got the land he built our Alma Mater on, with the Boys’ school building now being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the very least he worked his way up, and did not create “culture” with taxed money. The book keeps the reader charmed by its individual stories of Nawabs, Begums, Twaaifs, Ministers. It is a worth reading good read Book.
January 15, 2021
3.5/5 star
This book made me go back in time. Not only did I learn more about this beautiful city but also how some of the famous places first originated. As the many nawabs sat on the throne and stuggled to maintain their power, this city was ever so merciful to them. As the nawabs were replaced generation by generation, this city grew more flamboyant, exuberant and special to mark the significance of a great historical era gone by.
This rich heritage was much to offer to a reader! Pick up this book today and lose yourself in the Nawabi period of luxury, power, struggle, corruption, grace, poetry and art.
This book made me go back in time. Not only did I learn more about this beautiful city but also how some of the famous places first originated. As the many nawabs sat on the throne and stuggled to maintain their power, this city was ever so merciful to them. As the nawabs were replaced generation by generation, this city grew more flamboyant, exuberant and special to mark the significance of a great historical era gone by.
This rich heritage was much to offer to a reader! Pick up this book today and lose yourself in the Nawabi period of luxury, power, struggle, corruption, grace, poetry and art.
September 15, 2020
Being from Lucknow, picking up a read on Nawab’s is very exciting, in day to day life you encounter their ever-towering presence in Lucknow right from Aish Bagh to Alam Bagh to HazratGanj etc. But this book really skims the surface of their lives and leaves you wanting for more. This is those kinds of books that you pick up on Wheeler shops of IR to read and forget after train journey is over. Can be given a try but definitely not more than 2 stars.
August 20, 2024
Not very well-written as a work of history but it’s entertaining to read as a tourist visiting Lucknow. It’s basically like a series of short newspaper columns about some of the outrageous things the nawabs (who had too much free time) did. Very easy to read, but there was no unifying thesis for the different sections of the book and I don’t really know how the author even feels about the subject.
November 6, 2019
A haphazardly put together catalogue that leaves a lot wanting. Could have been an interesting read only if the writer had put some effort into it.
August 17, 2020
The author hasn't dived a bit into the stories. Some chapters have no proper ending and some just don't contain enough information.
October 1, 2020
Filled with too many speed breakers for a reader. Bad editing. Not a definitive read. Not one chapter on Lucknow music. Avoid.
July 19, 2021
Lets you learn about the ten Nawab's of Awadh and the various things they became famous or infamous for.
June 12, 2019
This book authored by Ravi Bhatt is really an enchanting read and almost a page-turner. Though the chapters dealing with individual Nawabs swipe back and forth in time, they do encourage you to revise your chronologies and run your brain a little bit. What gives brownie points to the author is that it is not just about the Nawabs that he discusses, but also about the Begums, the princes, the Tawaiffs, the ministers, and many other people associated with the court and culture of Lucknow. A must read for both general readers as well as academicians and scholars who want a fresh review of Nawabi Lucknow. Additional attraction would be the extensive bibliography at the end.
May 28, 2014
Not given in a chronological order, only contains anecdotes and you need to have a prior knowledge of each and every lanes and structures of old Lucknow to get through with the author. The anecdotes were not of much relevance but it will be helpful in understanding the culture of a bygone era of Nawabs which still lingers in Lucknow's social life.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews