Asaf-ud-Daula

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Not to be confused with Afzal ud Daulah(the 5th Nizam of Hyderabad).

Asaf-ud-Daula
Grand Vizier, Nawab

Mirza Asaf-ud-Daula (23 September 1748 – 21 September 1797) was the

Oudh.[2]

Reign

Asaf-ud-Daula became Nawab at the age of 26, on the death of his father,

British East India Company, outmanoeuvring his younger brother Saadat Ali who led a failed mutiny in the army. British Colonel John Parker defeated the mutineers decisively, securing Asaf-ud-Daula's succession. His first Chief Minister, Mukhtar-ud-Daula , was assassinated in the revolt.[4]

The other challenge to Asaf's rule was his mother

Chait Singh, which was attested by documentary evidence.[2]
Ultimately this removed Umat-ul-Zohra as an obstacle to Asaf's reign.

In the aftermath of Saadat's revolt, Asaf sought to restructure the government, particularly by appointing nobles favourable to his cause and British officers to his military. Asaf appointed Hasan Riza Khan as his chief minister. Although he had little experience in administration, his assistant Haydar Beg Khan turned out to be a valuable support. Tikayt Ray was appointed as the finance minister.[4]

Asaf was known for his generosity, particularly the offering of food and public employment in times of famine. Notably, the Bara Imambara in Lucknow, was constructed during his reign by destitute workers seeking employment. A popular saying of his time spoke of his benevolence: "Jisko na de Maulā, usko de Asaf-ud-daulā" which translates to "to whom even God does not give, Asaf-ud-Daula gives."[5]

He was painted several times by

Johann Zoffany.[6]

Shifting the capital

In 1775 he moved the capital of Awadh from Faizabad to Lucknow and built various monuments in and around Lucknow, including the Bara Imambara.[citation needed]

Architectural and other contribution

  • Asfi mosque, named after the Nawab, Asaf-ud-Daula.
    Asfi mosque, named after the Nawab, Asaf-ud-Daula.
  • Bara Imambara (Asafi Imambara), an imambara, was built by Asaf-ud-Daula, in 1784 at Lucknow.
    imambara, was built by Asaf-ud-Daula, in 1784 at Lucknow
    .

Nawab Asaf-ud-Dowlah is considered the architect general of

Asafi Imambara, which attracts tourists even today, and the Qaisar Bagh area of the downtown Lucknow
where thousands live in resurrected buildings.

The

Asafi Imambara
is a famed vaulted structure surrounded by beautiful gardens, which the Nawab started as a charitable project to generate employment during the famine of 1784. In that famine even the nobles were reduced to penury. It is said that Nawab Asaf employed over 20,000 people for the project (including commoners and noblemen), which was neither a masjid nor a mausoleum (contrary to the popular contemporary norms of buildings). The Nawab's sensitivity towards preserving the reputation of the upper class is demonstrated in the story of the construction of Imambara. During daytime, common citizens employed on the project would construct the building. On the night of every fourth day, the noble and upper-class people were employed in secret to demolish the structure built, an effort for which they received payment. Thus, their dignity was preserved.

The Nawab became so famous for his generosity that it is still a well-known saying in Lucknow that "he who does not receive (livelihood) from the Ali-Moula, will receive it from Asaf-ud-Doula" (Jisko na de Moula, usko de Asaf-ud-Doula).

Rumi Darwaza (Turkish Gate)

The

Sublime Porte (Bab-iHümayun) in Istanbul, is one of the most important examples of the exchange between the two cultures.[8]

Death

The simple grave of Asaf ud-Daula under a canopy inside the Bara Imambara; a watercolor by Seeta Ram, c.1814–15 (note:Flag of the Mughal Empire raised higher than the Awadh flag)

He died on 21 September 1797 in Lucknow and is buried at Bara Imambara, Lucknow.

Gallery

  • Bara Imambara, Lucknow, built by Asaf-ud-Daula
    Bara Imambara, Lucknow, built by Asaf-ud-Daula
  • A view of the Palace of the Asaf-ud-Daula at Lucknow, c.1793
    A view of the Palace of the Asaf-ud-Daula at Lucknow, c.1793
  • Asaf-ud-Daula, celebrating the Muharram festival at Lucknow, c.1812
    Asaf-ud-Daula, celebrating the Muharram festival at Lucknow, c.1812
  • A silver ashrafi issued by Asaf-ud-Daula from the Najibabad mint in AH 1211 (1796/7), regnal year 38
    A silver ashrafi issued by Asaf-ud-Daula from the Najibabad mint in AH 1211 (1796/7), regnal year 38
  • A silver ashrafi issued by Asaf-ud-Daula from the Najibabad mint in AH 1211 (1796/7), regnal year 38
    A silver ashrafi issued by Asaf-ud-Daula from the Najibabad mint in AH 1211 (1796/7), regnal year 38
  • Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula seated on a rug smoking a hookah and listening to a party of male musicians, c.1812
    Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula seated on a rug smoking a hookah and listening to a party of male musicians, c.1812
  • Asaf-ud-Daula at a cock-fight with Europeans; this painting most likely depicts the famous cockfight between Asaf al-Daula and Colonel Mordaunt which took place at Lucknow in 1786, c.1830-35
    Asaf-ud-Daula at a cock-fight with Europeans; this painting most likely depicts the famous cockfight between Asaf al-Daula and Colonel Mordaunt which took place at Lucknow in 1786, c.1830-35

Timeline

Preceded by
Wazir al-Mamalik of Oudh

1775 – 1797 		Succeeded by

See also

  • Bahu Begum ka Maqbara, the monument to his mother, Bahu Begum (also known as Umat uz-Zohra Begum)
  • Safdar Jang, grandfather of Asaf-ud-Daula
  • Tomb of Safdar Jang, his grandfather's memorial
  • Claude Martin, French army officer who later served in India for the British East India company
  • Mir Taqi Mir, Urdu poet at the Lucknow court of Asaf-ud-Daula
  • Antoine Polier, Swiss adventurer and soldier who made his fortune in India, and designed a royal residence at Lucknow

Notes

  1. ^ title after death

References

  1. ^ "Indian Princely States A-J". Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Asaf-ud-Dowlah". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 714. ASAF-UD-DOWLAH ... was the son of Shuja-ud-Dowlah, his mother and grandmother being the begums of Oudh
  3. ^ "Full text of "Oudh And The East India Company"". Maxwell Company Lucknow.
  4. ^
    JSTOR 41925390
    .
  5. ^ Basu, P. (1938). The relations between Oudh and the East India Company from 1785 to 1801 (Ph.D.). University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies.
  6. ^ "RCT - Zoffany, Portrait Drawing of Asaf-ud-Daula". Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Rumi Darwaza". Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Lucknow". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.

Further reading

External links
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