Remembering a long-forgotten hero- Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Subject : History

Section: Art and Culture

Concept :

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Mirza Wajid Ali Shah, known as Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was born in year 1887 and was the last king of Awadh.
Awadh was significant region and was known for its gardens, granary, and was considered a queen-province of India.
After the 9 year of his rule, The Awadh was annexed in 1856 by EIC and made a buffer state.
Soon after the king was exiled to Garden Reach in Metiabruz and was provided a pension.
He was an excellent connoisseur of art and patronized artists around him.
He spent the last years of his life in Metiabruz on the outskirts of Kolkata.

Contribution to Art

Himself being a poet, a playwright, a gifted composer and an admirer of dance, he patronized various art forms and associated artists.
Dance
A classical Indian dance form, Kathak, was introduced by him as a court dance.
His Kathak teacher was Thakur Prasad ji.
He provided artistic guidance, financial assistance to make this dance form achieve greater heights and a definite form.
He is also believed to start two distinct forms of dance called Rahas and Raas.
Music
He patronized a light classical form of thumri music.
Most famous is bhairavi thumri “Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Jaay”
He also supported and encourages ragas like Tilak, pilu, sendura, khammach, bhairvi and jhanjhauti.
As a gifted musician he composed various musical compositions such as poems, prose and thumris, under a pseudonym Akhtarpiya.
Gazhals : Diwan-i-Akhtar and Husn-i-Akhtar
Ragas : Jogi, Juhi, Shah-Pasand
Hindustani theatre
Establishment of Parikhaana – a place to teach music and dance to beautiful and talented girls by expert trainers.
By staging Rasleela he promoted this theatre art form.
Some historians and experts believe his to be the first playwright of the Hindustani theatre.
Playwright
Radha Kanhaiyya Ka Qissa;
Darya-i-Tashsq;
Bhahar-i-Ulfat etc.
Poetry
He was known to use a poetic takhallus, a pen name used by poets, Qaisar.
Works in poetry
Sawat-ul-Qalub;
Huzn-i-Akhtar
He also patronized the famous poet Mirza Ghalib.