Imambara Agha Baqar
Dr.Mazhar
Naqvi
Hats off to Lucknow Imamis. They have done a remarkable job by restoring
the lost glory of Imambara Agha Baqar. Their efforts need to be replicated by Imamis
elsewhere also. Due to lack of maintenance, a large number of Imami shrines are
in a dilapidated condition all over India. Especially in those areas where the
Imamis are less in number, the situation is grimmer. Hence, it becomes
incumbent upon affluent Imamis to take care of such shrines. Lucknow Imamis
have surely taken in a lead in this direction. In the past two decades, many Imambaras
and Karbalas have been repaired and renovated .Instead of ruinous ,now they
bear a majestic look and Imambara Agha Baqar is one of them. Historically,
Imambara is second oldest of in Lucknow. Built by Agha Baqar who was commander
of 5000 cavalry soldiers during the reign of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, Imambara was
so attractive that it served as a model when Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah decided to
built Husasinabad Imambara almost a century later. It is recorded in contemporary
accounts that Agha Baqar had built Imambara to honor the request of his nephew
Agha Ismail Dilawar Jung. The nephew was not only a devout Muslim but also very
intelligent. He had anticipated the need for an Imambara in Lucknow following
its emergence as a city with considsrable population of Imamis. Jung therefore
requested Agha Baqar to erect an Imambara for observance of Muharram ceremonies
in Lucknow. Baqar not only built the Imambara but also constructed a Musafirkhana
(Travellers’ Lodge) so that devotees from outside Lucknow could get free
accommodation during Muharram and other days.
Like many a shrines of Lucknow, Imambara Agha Baqar also suffered at the
hands of British in 1857.While Asafi Imambara used as a temporary fort, British
soldiers demolished Baqar’s Imambara and Musafirkhana completely. It remained
under the occupation of British until Haider Shikoh, grandson of Mirza Suleman
Shikoh, got the area released in his favor on the plea that Imambara contained
the grave of his father Mirza Kam Bakhsh. Haider Bakhsh also covered his father’s
grave with a shed .Later on, a temporary structure of an Imambara was also
built with a large Panja.( Palm shape icon).It is a part of the renovated
structure in its main hall still and a large number of devotees throng everyday
for the fulfillment of their wishes in front of the icon.
Apart from the grave of Mirza Kam Bakhsh, Imambara also contains the grave
of Shahenshah-E-Qasida and great Urdu poet, Mirza Muhammad Rafi Sauda. Born in
1713 in Sauda moved
to court of Awadh in 1771. Nawab honored him with gifts and offered him a
salary of Rs. 200 per month. His son ‘Asaf-ud- Daula’ bestowed on him title of
‘Mulk-ush-Shu'ara’ with annual pension of Rupees Six Thousand. In 1775, Asaf-ud-Daula
shifted his capital to Lucknow.; Sauda also arrived with him and settled in the
new capital. Sauda breathed his last on 26th June, 1781 at the age of 70 years
and ;laid to rest at ‘Imambara Agha
Baqar ( Reference available on request)
Who lies buried at Imambara Agha Baqar
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