Imambaras Desecrated and Destroyed by British

Chota Imambara that Escaped British Wrath

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi 

The desecration of Imambaras by the British after recapture of Lucknow is one of the blackest chapters of Indian history. The vengeance exhibited by the British army against the shrines dedicated to the memory of Imam Husain and Dargah Hazrat Abbas even surpassed the destruction of temples by Emperor Aurangzeb in Mathura and Varanasi. While there are royal ‘Farmans’ to show that Aurangzeb had also granted Jagirs and donated lands to temples, the British authorities never made an attempt to rebuild the Imambaras destroyed by them. Britons who consider themselves as the most tolerant community and prefer to be known as Gentlemen not only razed to ground holy shrines but also ensured their desecration.

The greatest among all the Imami shrines in Lucknow in terms of grandeur and splendor, Bara Imambara suffered the most at the hands of victorious soldiers. They used it as stable for months, consumed alcohol near the grave of its builder Nawab Asaf Ud Daula and placed cannons facing the city on its floors. They also did not spare the grand mosque adjacent to Imambara and covered with it with filth and garbage. Even after restoration of normalcy, the authorities took their own time to return Imambara back to Muslims.

Another popular shrine Dargah Hazrat Abbas in Rustam Nagar was also plundered and looted by victorious army under the command of Sir Collin Campbell. The soldiers played havoc with the shrine and took away precious jewels with them. They showed no respect to the standard (Alam) and other relics preserved at Dargah. They used its compound for accommodation and dealt severely if any caretaker or devotee objected to their unruly behavior. They also did not allow ceremonies to take place also at the shrine during their stay there.

Imambara Sibtainabad, containing also the grave of King Amjad ali Shah, in Hazratganj also met the similar fate. A fierce battle took place between Indian sepoys and British forces near Imambara when a massive attack was initiated to recapture luck now in 1858.In the accounts of two British authors, namely Lang and Russell, the plundering and looting of Imambara is clearly mentioned. Moreover, the British also used it as a church till 1860.Lord Canning during his second visit to Lucknow had attended a service in Sibtainabad Imambara when it was being used as a church. Nawab Sultan Bahadur, one of the descendants of the royal house of Awadh, somehow managed to host Majlises and other rituals during Muharram before it was handed over to Civic Improvement trust for upkeep and maintenance. During colonial rule, the outer gateway of Imambara was demolished to pave way for the construction of shops. A major portion of the imambara was also given on rent.

The British forces also destroyed the Imambara and mosque built by Faujdar Khan near the Hardinge Bridge. Faujdar was a senior commander in the army of Nawab Vazir Asaf Ud Daula. His Imambara was strategically located and the British decided to destroy it to minimize the chances f its use by any rebel in future. Faujdar had also built a Karbala in Mukarram Nagar and it was quite popular as well. On Yaum-e-Ashura( 10^th day of Muharram), Asaf Ud Daula used to visit the Karbala barefoot and offer nazar after burial of tazias.

Two Imambaras built by Nawab Sarafaraz Ud Daula who held the office of Naib –E-Kul during the regime of Nawab Asaf Ud Daula were also demolished. The Imambara built by him in Gharyali locality was demolished after the recapture of Lucknow and his second Imambara fell prey to evil eyes of British when they decided to lay down Victoria Park after razing it to ground. Sarafaraz Ud Daula’s Imambaras were worst affected because British held him responsible for the emergency of Imami faith in Awadh kingdom and the patronage offered by him to first Mujtahid Maulana Syed Dildar Hussain Naseerabadi popularly known as Ghufarn Maab.

As devotees of imam Hussain challenged the might of British empire under the leadership of Begum Hazrat Mahal, the victorious soldiers of Queen Victoria target their holy places specifically both for destruction and desecration. They also raided the Dargah of Sharaf Ud Daula and destroyed it on the pretext of being very close to residency. A sketch of the Dargah was prepared by Ozias Humphery, a European artist in 1786.The Imambara of Zahoor Baksh was also demolished and a church was built over it. There is doubt over its exact location but most of the writers have traced its origin in the vicinity of Hazratganj and Qaiserbagh.

The Karbala built by Agha Mir, the prime Minister of Awadh during the rule of Badshah Ghazi Uddin Haider, was also confiscated. It was a surprise move as the prime Minister was banished to Kanpur by King Naseer Uddin Haider and considered as an ally of the British Empire. It was located near Wingfield Park( Lucknow zoo) and given to freemason Lodge. Another example of British persecution of an Imambara is the office of Lucknow Development Authority ( LDA). The LDA office was originally an Imambara and it was built by Darogha Ghulam Hussain. He was a favorite of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan who had appointed him as Darogha Astabal (Master of the Horse).Taking advantage of his position he amassed lot of wealth and purchased properties at several places. But he also spent lavishly on the construction of imambara and other charitable works.   

The British forces, comprising of Gurkha and Sikh soldiers also desecrated Qadam Rasul (Foot Print of Prophet) near Shah Najaf on the bank of Gomti River. They did so because the shrine was used by native sepoys as a powder magazine and its walls had provided them shelter against the heavy shelling. Moreover, the British also converted the imambara of Amin Ud Daula, the founder of Ameenabad Market and locality, into office of a tahsil.

Even the Imambara of Basheer ud Daula who had the distinction of serving all the five Badshahs of Awadh did not escape the British vendetta. Located near Chini Bazar, the imambara was demolished because Basheer ud Daula’s residence was used by the followers of Hazrat Mahal. Another reason for destruction of imambara was an amount of Rs.20000 given by Basheer ud Daula to warrior Begum Hazrat Mahal in her fight against the British regime. ( Reference available on request)