AWADH

'Awadh' (, Devanagari: अवध), also known in various British historical texts as 'Oudh', 'Oundh', or 'Oude', is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before Independence known as the ''United Provinces of Oudh and Agra''. The traditional capital of Awadh has been Lucknow, still the capital of the modern State.
The modern definition of Awadh geographically includes the districts of Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Balrampur, Barabanki, Faizabad, Gonda, Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Rai Bareilly, Shravasti, Sitapur, Sultanpur, and Unnao. The region is home to a distinct dialect, Awadhi.
Awadh's political unity can be traced back to the ancient Hindu kingdom of Kosala, with Ayodhya as its capital. Modern Awadh finds historical mention only in the time of Akbar, in the late sixteenth century.
Awadh figures in early Indian history as the Kingdom of Kosala , with Ayodhya as its capital.
It was a province of the Mughal Empire, and was ruled by a Nawab (a provincial governor) of the empire from the capital at Lucknow. With the weakening of the central institutions of the empire through the 18th century, this province and its Nawab effectively became an independent state, one of the princely states of India.
Awadh was known as the granary of India and was important strategically for the control of the gangetic plain.It signed a treaty with the British East India Company in 1765, from which time it effectively became dependent on the company. In the later part of the century Awadh ceded major parts of its territory to the company. The company recruited many of its troops from this kingdom, and maintained a Resident there. In 1819, it declared independence from the Mughal empire, one of the few princely states to do so.
In 1856 the East India Company first moved its troops to the border, then annexed the state, which was placed under a chief commissioner. Wajid Ali Shah , the then Nawab, was imprisoned, and then exiled by the Company. In the subsequent Revolt of 1857 his 14 year old son Birjis Qadr was crowned ruler. Following the rebel's defeat, he and other rebel leaders obtained asylum in Nepal.
Those company troops who were recruited from the state, along with some of the nobility of the state, were major players in the events of 1857. The rebels took control of Awadh, and it took the British 18 months to reconquer the region. Oudh was placed back under a chief commissioner, and was governed as a British province. In 1877 the offices of lieutenant-governor of the North-Western Provinces and chief commissioner of Oudh were combined in the same person; and in 1902, when the new name of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was introduced, the title of chief commissioner was dropped, though Oudh still retained some marks of its former independence.

Contents

Under the Mughals

The British Influence

Awadhi Cuisine

External Links

Under the Mughals

Till 1819, Awadh was a province of the Mughal Empire administered by a Nawab. Saadat Khan Burhanul Mulk was appointed Nawab in 1722 and established his court in Faizabad [1] near Lucknow. He took advantage of a weakening Mughal Empire in Delhi to lay the foundation of the Awadh dynasty. His successor was Safdarjungthe very influential noble at the Mughal court in Delhi.
Awadh was known as the granary of India and was important strategically for the control of the ''Doaba'', the fertile plain between the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers. It was a wealthy kingdom, able to maintain its independence against threats from the Marathas, the British and the Afghans.
The third Nawab, Shuja-ud-Daula fell out with the British after aiding Mir Qasim the fugitive Nawab of Bengal. He was comprehensively defeated in the Battle of Buxar by the British East India Company, after which he was forced to pay heavy penalties and cede parts of his territory. The British appointed a resident in 1773, and over time gained control of more territory and authority in the state. They were disinclined to capture Awadh outright, because that would bring them face to face with the Marathas and the remnants of the Mughal Empire.
The fourth Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah shifted his capital from Faizabad to Lucknow and laid the foundation of a great city. His rule saw the building of the Asafi Imambara and Roomi Darwaza which till date are the biggest architectural marvels in the city.
In 1798, the fifth Nawab Wazir Ali Shah alienated both his people and the British, and was forced to abdicate. The British then helped Saadat Ali Khan to the throne. Saadat Ali Khan was a puppet king, who in the treaty of 1801 ceded half of Awadh to the British East India Company and also agreed to disband his troops in favor of a hugely expensive, British-run army. This treaty effectively made the state of Awadh a vassal to the British East India Company, though they continued to be part of the Mughal Empire in name till 1819.
A better lineology can be found at http://www.indiancoins.8m.com/awadh/AwadhHist.html

The British Influence

The treaty of 1801 formed an arrangement that was very beneficial to the Company. They were able to use Awadh's vast treasuries, repeatedly digging into them for loans at reduced rates. In addition, the revenues from running Awadh's armed forces brought them useful revenues while it acted as a buffer state. The Nawabs were ceremonial kings, busy with pomp and show but with little influence over matters of state. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, the British had grown impatient with the arrangement and wanted direct control. They started looking about for an excuse, which the decadent Nawabs readily provided.
In 1856 the East India Company first moved its troops to the border, then annexed the state, which was placed under a chief commissioner - Sir Henry Lawrence. Wajid Ali Shah, the then Nawab, was imprisoned, and then exiled by the Company to Calcutta. In the subsequent Revolt of 1857 his 14 year old son Birjis Qadr was crowned ruler, and Sir Henry Lawrence killed in the hostilities. Following the rebellion's defeat, he and other rebel leaders obtained asylum in Nepal.
Those company troops who were recruited from the state, along with some of the nobility of the state, were major players in the events of 1857. The rebels took control of Awadh, and it took the British 18 months to reconquer the region, months which included the famous Siege of Lucknow. Oudh was placed back under a chief commissioner, and was governed as a British province. In 1877 the offices of lieutenant-governor of the North-Western Provinces and chief commissioner of Oudh were combined in the same person; and in 1902, when the new name of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was introduced, the title of chief commissioner was dropped, though Oudh still retained some marks of its former independence.

Awadhi Cuisine

The Awadh region has its own distinct Nawabi style cuisine, with various kinds of biryanis and kebabs being very popular delicacies.

External Links

★ The complete genealogy of Safdarjung

★ Safdarjung

★ Safdarjung coins

★ Tomb of Safdarjung