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Coronation of Birjis Qadr, the Last Nawab of Awadh

Volume: 18, No: 01 ; January-2024

Fifth of July 1857, is important not only for Lucknow, Awadh but for the entire Indian Freedom Struggle, an act of defiance. The last Nawab of Awadh, Birjis Qadr, was crowned on the 5th of July 1857. Though many do not agree with this theory and consider Wajid Ali Shah as the last king of Awadh. This is an excerpt based on the Qaisar-ut-Tawarikh” Vol. II, and Freedom Struggle in Uttar Pradesh Vol. II Chapter III. (Shared by Mr. A.K. Srivastava). 
Birjis Qadr

(c) The National Trust for Scotland, Leith Hall Garden & Estate; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation

On Sunday, July 5, 1857, the rains poured heavily. After 6 p.m., the army officers came with the Rajah and took their seats in Qasar-ul-Khaqan. Mirza Ramzan Ali Khan alias Mirza Birjis Qadar, riding the Tamjam used by the last King of Awadh arrived and sat on the throne of Jannat Aramgah.
The officers began to talk together. Some said the boy was very young, others that he was handsome and. delicate and therefore could not be expected to do (hard) work; others accosted him: “You should never become slothful and negligent. We make you King”. Then they said, “We put you some questions and will make you our ruler if you agree.
The first is that we will submit a petition to the King of Delhi and then you will become ours. ruler, in case, he agrees. All the conditions were agreed to, but there was a problem, the royal seal of Birjis Qadr could not be found. Then it was decided that the paper should be left behind for the next day. The Officers of the army said that one paper was not enough, and suggested that every one of them should have a scaled copy. Accordingly, the seals of other office-bearers were affixed and then it was handed over to those officers.
There was another issue should the crowning ceremony be done today or on some auspicious day? Although Miftahuddulah suggested to the Queen to postpone it for an auspicious hour, as it was the evening following Monday and the moon was in Scorpio, Mammoo Khan said that we should not delay. Thus a few minutes before sunset the King was crowned.
Shihab-ud-Din and ‘Barkat Ahmad, the Risaldars of the Risala placed the crown on Birjis Qadar’s head and offered congratulations. The officers offered their swords as Nazar. Subedar of Faizabad Artillery fired a 21-gun salute.
British authority had ceased from the first of July and the city was almost in the anarchy. A well-settled government was required not only to fight the British but also to run the administration, collect revenue provide for the salary of the army and procure ammunition. Astute negotiations, diplomacy and administrative skills were shown by Begum Hazrat Mahal, assisted by Raja Jailal Singh and others. But about that in the second part.

Credits : Freedom Struggle in Uttar Pradesh Vol. II Chapter III (Shared by Mr. A.K. Srivastava). 


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Coronation of Birjis Qadr, the Last Nawab of Awadh

Fifth of July 1857, is important not only for Lucknow, Awadh but for the entire Indian Freedom Struggle, an act of defiance. The last Nawab of Awadh, Birjis Qadr, was crowned on the 5th of July 1857. Though many do not agree with this theory and consider Wajid Ali Shah as the last king of Awadh. This is an excerpt based on the Qaisar-ut-Tawarikh” Vol. II, and Freedom Struggle in Uttar Pradesh Vol. II Chapter III. (Shared by Mr. A.K. Srivastava). 
Birjis Qadr

(c) The National Trust for Scotland, Leith Hall Garden & Estate; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation

On Sunday, July 5, 1857, the rains poured heavily. After 6 p.m., the army officers came with the Rajah and took their seats in Qasar-ul-Khaqan. Mirza Ramzan Ali Khan alias Mirza Birjis Qadar, riding the Tamjam used by the last King of Awadh arrived and sat on the throne of Jannat Aramgah.
The officers began to talk together. Some said the boy was very young, others that he was handsome and. delicate and therefore could not be expected to do (hard) work; others accosted him: “You should never become slothful and negligent. We make you King”. Then they said, “We put you some questions and will make you our ruler if you agree.
The first is that we will submit a petition to the King of Delhi and then you will become ours. ruler, in case, he agrees. All the conditions were agreed to, but there was a problem, the royal seal of Birjis Qadr could not be found. Then it was decided that the paper should be left behind for the next day. The Officers of the army said that one paper was not enough, and suggested that every one of them should have a scaled copy. Accordingly, the seals of other office-bearers were affixed and then it was handed over to those officers.
There was another issue should the crowning ceremony be done today or on some auspicious day? Although Miftahuddulah suggested to the Queen to postpone it for an auspicious hour, as it was the evening following Monday and the moon was in Scorpio, Mammoo Khan said that we should not delay. Thus a few minutes before sunset the King was crowned.
Shihab-ud-Din and ‘Barkat Ahmad, the Risaldars of the Risala placed the crown on Birjis Qadar’s head and offered congratulations. The officers offered their swords as Nazar. Subedar of Faizabad Artillery fired a 21-gun salute.
British authority had ceased from the first of July and the city was almost in the anarchy. A well-settled government was required not only to fight the British but also to run the administration, collect revenue provide for the salary of the army and procure ammunition. Astute negotiations, diplomacy and administrative skills were shown by Begum Hazrat Mahal, assisted by Raja Jailal Singh and others. But about that in the second part.