Imambara Built by British Resident

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Lucknow is perhaps the only city in the world to have an Imambara built by a British resident. Though the unique Imambara is no longer traceable yet there is no dearth of literature revealing the interesting story behind its construction. The British Resident Colonel John Baillie had built the Imambara to fulfill the will of Khwajasara Tehsin Ali Khan. Sir John Baillie had assumed the receivership of Khwajasara’s property after his death on August 27, 1818. Colonel Baillie did so because Tehsin had left a will in which he had desired the resident to take over the receivership of his property to build an Imambara over his grave.  

History unfolds an interesting story behind Teshin’s strange will, his more faith in the resident and less trust in  Indian masters i.e. ruling Nawab and his family members, including queens. Tehsin was initially in the service of Nawab Shuja-Ud-Daula at Faizabad.H also enjoyed the confidence of Nawab’s principal wife Bahu Begum who was too powerful to prevail upon her husband also.

During the regime of Asafuddaula ,he became superintendent of the Tosha khana.He also maintained the personal affairs, valuables of Nawab and his royal household. He had deep affection for Asafuddaula. On the death of Nawab, Tehsin renounced the world and became a keeper of Nawab’s grave. He discarded his costly attires and began wearing garments like a wandering mendicant.

Wazir Ali, the successor of Asafuddaula, persuaded Tehsin to return to the palace. He bestowed upon him the khilat (robe of honour) and elevated him to the post of Nazir (estate superintendent) for the royal palaces. However, his relationship with Wazir Ali strained after sometime. One day when Nawab in his anger decided to punish him, Tehsin took refuge in the Residency. The Resident ensured his shelter and security. In lieu of the favor, resident  utilized his services to prove Wazir Ali as not the real son of Asafuddaula. Since Asafuddaula had declared Wazir Ali as his heir apparent in his lifetime and also spent lavishly on his marriage the masses did not buy the British theory that Wazir Ali was an illegitimate son.

 The British then used the pretext of bad governance to dethrone Wazir Ali in January 1798. In place of Wazir Ali, the British declared Saadat Ali Khan as the next ruler and reinstated Tehsin in his earlier position. Tehsin had been also ,managing the affairs of Bahu Begum who kept touch with him whenever in Lucknow. The sisters of the ruling Nawab and other female relatives at Faizabad resented the control of Bahu Begum and Tehsin in their matters. They petitioned the Nawab to dismiss Tehsin in August 1812. He agreed but the resident intervened on behalf of Tehsin and pressurized Nawab to recall his order. The Begums staged a dharna at Asafi Imambara for four months. The move proved futile and they returned to Faizabad in frustration.

The fluctuating fortunes prompted Tehsin to prepare a will. He appointed the British Resident as receiver of his property. The Resident Colonel Baillie honored the will and took control of the property. He built Imambara –cum- mausoleum over the grave of Khwajasara adjacent to the mosque built by Tehsin in his lifetime. The construction of the mosque by Tehsin also has an interesting story behind it. The mosque is believed to have been raised from rubble obtained during the construction of Bara Imambara built by Asafuddaula as a project for famine relief in 1784.

It is a well-known fact that the Nawab ordered round the clock construction of majestic Imambara to offer employment to respectable persons who could not work in the day time due to fear of being identified. Thus the reputed persons worked at night but since they were not skilled their work was inferior and had to be demolished every day by the professional masons during every day. This resulted in accumulation of rubble in huge quantity. When Tehsin saw the rubble, he requested the Nawab to allow him to use it for the construction of a mosque in Chowk. area of Lucknow. Nawab granted him permission gladly and Tehsin Ki Masjid came to existence. It is still very much in use and keeping the memory of its builder alive.( References available on request)