Imambara Mughal Sahiba- Seeking Attention

An Old Photograph of Imambara Mughal Sahiba

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

“Please donate generously for the repair of Imambara Mughal Sahiba. You will get in return Sawab-e-Jariya”. The blogger heard this announcement on loudspeaker at Dargah Hazrat Abbas in Lucknow with a mixed feeling. He found the fund raising effort to restore the lost glory of a beautiful Imambara soothing. But the announcement saddened him because it indicated the failure of Imami leaders of Lucknow to persuade the government to dole out funds for repairs of the crumbling shrine. Further, it also revealed the indifference of the affluent descendants of Awadh’s royal family towards the Imambara built by a daughter of their ancestor king Muhammad Ali Shah. Soon after listening to the appeal for donation, the blogger saluted the non-affluent lovers of Imam Hussain who had taken upon themselves to renovate the Imambara that needs to be preserved for its perishing architectural ‘Stucco Art’. Moreover, it is also considered to be an emblem of world famous Chikan work of Lucknow due its striking embellishment through Stucco art.     

The Imambara is located in Wazir Bagh about a kilometer from Dargah Hazrat Abbas in Rustam Nagar. It was erected by Ummatus Sughra, Fakhr-un-Nisa Begum who was addressed as Mughal Sahiba. Her father King Muhammad Ali Shah-the builder of Hussainabad Imambara, had married Mughal Sahiba to     Mujahid-ud-Daula, Zain-ul-Abideen Khan. He was not only handsome but fearless also. He didn’t want Wajid Ali Shah to abdicate his throne. Rather, he wished to fight against the annexation. But Wajid Ali surrendered to his fate and exiled to Calcutta. Mujahid-ud- Daula out of his loyalty also joined the exiled King but soon became disenchanted. He left the country for visiting but expired on his way.Mughal Sahiba breathed her last in Lucknow on December 8, 1893 and lies buried in the Imambara she had erected and wanted to decorate on the pattern of Hussainabad Imambara.

Beautiful Stucco Work at the Imambara 

Like many other historical monuments of Lucknow, Imambara too suffered vagaries of the weather and absence of any provision for its maintenance by its builder resulted in the collapse of its edifice. Little attention was paid to its damaged condition till the end of 20^th century. However from 2002 onwards, discussion for its renovation began with the initiative taken by Syed Anwar Abbas Rizvi who had to his credit a number of books and articles on the shrines and monuments of Lucknow. He also managed the support of May Kay Judy-a conservation architect with a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. Rizvi also roped in his endeavor Dr. Neeta Das who has also done her Masters in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati USA. Even the organization of Awadh’s royal family exhibited interest. A project report was also prepared that estimated requirement of about Rs.50 Lakhs on the repairs and renovation of the Imambara. A lull followed thereafter. Newspapers and channels occasionally highlighted Imambara’s dilapidated condition but Lucknowites remained indifferent. Even those who had initiated the campaign to save Imambara from extinction preferred to remain silent out of sheer frustration over the government apathy and NGOs involved in heritage conservation. A prominent daily carried in August  2015 an article with photographs of the crumbling edifice of the Imambara. The effort evoked no response from the government that has been spending millions on beautification of Lucknow but it surely prompted a group of people to save the Imambara. The announcement that the blogger heard was a result of their initiative. May Allah bless the endeavor with quick success? Ameen.