It was built by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah as a 'palace of mourning' and was named Qasr-ul-Aza. Initial
purpose of this building was to be used as an Imambara
for observing 'azadaari' (mourning) for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain
and his followers at Karbala. After the annexation of Awadh in 1856, the Baradari was used by theBritish
to hold court for petitions and claims by the officers and nobles of the
deposed King's reign and his relatives. Later (around 1923) it was handed over,
as a gesture of appreciation for their submission and loyalty to the Queen of
the British Empire, to the Taluqadars of Awadh
for their 'Anjuman' (association) which was renamed as the British India
Association of Oudh. The Baradari continues to be in their possession and
control. The main hall of the Baradari has two marble statues of the Maharajas,
Man Singh and Digvijay Singh of Balrampur, the founders of the association.
Today the Baradari of Qaiser Bagh, also known as the Safed Baradari
because of its colour (safed that is white), is a place of celebration and
gaeity where the elite of the city solemnise marriages and hold receptions.
Perhaps it would be a shock for the people who have been to such occasions of
joy to learn that initially the building was meant as 'palace of mourning' and
was named Qasr-ul-Aza as such. It was built by the last King of Awadh, Wajid Ali
Shah as an Imambara for observing azadaari (mourning) for the martyrdom of Imam
Hussain and his followers at Karbala.Professor Masood Hussain Rizvi in his book on Wajid Ali Shah has reproduced a
chronogram by Maqbool-ud-Daulah Mehdi Ali Khan, who composed under the
takhallus (pen-name) of Qabool which provides the year of inception of the
palace of mourning Qasr-ul-Aza as 1270 Hijri (1854) by the Sultan, Wajid Ali
Shah.Prof. Rizvi has stated in the book that he had himself seen a book on Lucknow
(in English) at the Amir-ud-Daulah Public Library wherein a photograph showed
the interior of the Imambara with a taazia and alams (banners) and a zakir
(preacher) appeared seated on a mimbar (pulpit) for addressing a majlis
(assembly for mourning).He has also cited the account of a contemporary historian of the period of
Wajid Ali Shah, Kamal-ud-din Haider, who in Qaiser-ut-Tawareekh speaks of one Syed Mehdi Hasan having returned
from a pilgrimage to Karbala, with a zarih (replica of the tomb of Imam Hussain)
made from Khaak-e-shlfa (sacred earth from the place of Imam Hussain's
martyrdom) that is believed to have a curative property. The zarih was
initially placed at Karbala of Dayanat-ud-Daulah on 26th of Shaban 1270 Hijri
(May 1854). The King, Wajid Ali Shah also came to learn of it and donning black
garments proceeded to pay respects to it at Kazmain, along with his nobles who
were also dressed in black, the colour of mourning. Thereafter, he ordered that
the zarih be taken out in a royal procession, and placed in his newly built
Imambara Qasr-ul-Aza at Qaiser Bagh. The King also rewarded Syed Mehdi Hasan
with cash and conferred upon him a khillat (robe of honour).
After the annexation of Awadh in 1856, the Baradari was used by the British to
hold court for petitions and claims by the officers and nobles of the deposed
King's reign and his relatives. Later [around 1923 or later] it was handed
over, as a gesture of appreciation for their submission and loyalty to the
Queen of the British Empire, to the Taluqadars of Awadh for their Anjuman which
was renamed as the British India Association of Oudh. The Baradari continues to
be in their possession and control. The main hall of the Baradari has two
marble statues of the Maharajas, Man Singh and Digvijai Singh of Balrampur, the
founders of the association.
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