Kanpur's Imambara Agha Meer and its Strange Story

. Imambara with 'Paratha' as Reason behind its Existence By Prof.Mazhar Naqvi Can ‘Paratha’ be behind the existence of an Imambara? The question apparently sounds strange. But a look at the history of imposing Imambara ‘Agha Meer’ in Gwaltoli area of Kanpur confirms the pivotal role played by ‘Paratha’ in its construction. However, no conclusion should be derived by anyone that Agha Meer who also lies buried inside the Imambara was a man without any love for Ahle-Bait. His devotion for Imam Husain could be gauged from a more impressive Imambara and Karbala built by him in Lucknow. Agha Meer was Prime Minister of Awadh during the reign of Badshah Ghazi-Uddin Haider. The king had conferred upon him the title of Nawab Mutmudaula Bahadur. He was an able administrator and even Lord Auckland has described him as the most effective among the courtiers of Awadh kingdom in his accounts. He was well- built, about seven feet tall, dark complexioned and with a long nose on his face. Fanny Parks in her memoirs titled ‘Wanderings in search of the picturesque’ has given a detailed description of his arrival to Kanpur from Lucknow along with his large entourage. She claims to have seen over 40 carriages loaded with his treasure, containing mainly gold coins, precious stones and jewels. Badshah Ghazi Uddin Haider appointed him as his Prime Minister, The king offered him the coveted office as an acknowledgement of the instrumental role played by him in getting him declared as an independent monarch by the British. Badshah also gave him considerable power in all the matters of the state. Agha Meer took advantage of his position and amassed great amount of wealth through the use of his powers. He used his wealth to acquire a pond, Bengali Bagh and Sheikhon Nala. After getting the acquired land properly leveled up he constructed a series of buildings and the locality came to be known as ‘Agha Meer Ki Dyohri’ soon. His properties stretched from Jubilee College to Lucknow City Railway Station. Agha Meer not only built a large Imambara on his newly developed property but also built his famous ‘Daulatpura Kothi’ containing reception halls, Toshakhana, Jawaharkhana, Library, Guest House, and Consultation rooms. He also built a Karbala near Lucknow Zoo and an Inn in Narahi area. Both Nevil and Ian Sheppard have mentioned Karbala and Inn in their works. After 1857, the British had confiscated Karbala and Inn and handed over them to Freemasons. His other properties were purchased by Munshi Nawal Kishore who started a school but gave it to the colonial government after two years. Nawab Mutmuddaula’s sojourn with power did not last much. Though he had enjoyed the trust of heir apparent, King Naseer-Uddin Haider also but it was the latter who not only disgraced him but also put him under house after confiscating his properties and wealth. He was released and allowed him to resettle in Kanpur with his family and treasure after the intervention of British authorities. An interesting story is popular in Awadh region about the downfall of Agha Meer from the position of Prime Minister to an ordinary citizen of British India. It was an unwritten rule in the royal kitchen that no one would question any cook about the quantity of material procured by him for preparation of any dish or item for the ruler. Once Agha Meer questioned a cook as to how much ‘Ghee’ he was using to fry a Paratha for the King during his inspection of Kitchen. Upon coming to know the quantity as 5 kg for each Paratha, he scolded the cook and reduced the quantity of ghee to 1 kg for one Paratha. He accused the cook of befooling the innocent Badshah. The king took the matter as his personal insult. He not only summoned the Prime Minister but also slapped him, saying “What do you think of yourself? How dare you reduce the ghee being procured by a poor ‘Bawarchi’ (Cook).Don’t I know how much money you are making by betraying my trust”. After this incident, the glorious days of Agha Meer began fading and finally he had to make an unceremonious exit from Lucknow. In Kanpur, he initially settled at the locality close to Karbala Nawabganj and then, purchased Kothi of one Bakshi Grant facing Ganges and located on a sprawling earthen mound in Gwaltoli. He used the Kothi as his residence and also earmarked its one portion for exclusive use of Muharram ceremonies and azadari. The area surrounding Kothi, popularly known as Imambargah Agha Meer, is called ‘Choti Karbala’ and majority of Muharram processions terminate there. From exterior, Imambara looks like a British mansion with grave of Agha Meer in the center. Architecture wise, it is probably the only Imambara in India with pure British design as its occupants never made any attempt to modify it on the pattern of traditional design of Imambara nor preferred any amendment in other parts. His descendants attribute this to the deep depression that engulfed Agha Meer after his ouster from power. The sighting of Muharram moon always served as antidote for his depression as he energized himself to hold Muharram rituals with total devotion and grandeur. Since, he lost his position, power and wealth due to ‘Paratha’ , the construction and purchase of buildings by Agha Meer in Kanpur is linked with fried Roti with layers that is still eaten with mouth watering ‘Kababs’ not only in Lucknow and Kanpur but now all over the world with Tundey Kababi as the benchmark. While all the roofs have collapsed, only portion containing the ‘Alams and Tazia’ and hall for holding Majlises have survived the vagary of weather and lack of maintenance. The Imambara is under the management of Anjuman-E-Mohammadia whose Life President is Nawab Haider Ali Khan, a direct descendant of Nawab Mutmudaula Bahadur.