An Ode To The Nawab Of Lucknow…

 إ ِ ِنَّا ٰ ِلِل ا َّ ِنَّ ْي ِه َوإ لَ ِ ِج ع إ َرا

‘Indeed we belong to Allah and to Allah we shall return’, this quote from the holy Quran stands true for every living being. We are born and we return to our lord after completing our journey of life which is different for every individual.

The Bhagwat Geeta in Adhyaya 2, Shlok 27 says ‘Death is certain for one who has been born, and rebirth is inevitable for one who has died.’

And so in keeping with the divine destiny the angels of death came at the due time for Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah and severed his wordly ties on 18th April 2023 ending an era in itself. Nawab sahab as he was popularly called by all in Lucknow was a man of many qualities. Representing the culture of Nawabi Lucknow Jafar Sahab was always a smiling host and dost to his guests. Having royal lineage from his mother’s side he was a true representative of Awadhi mannerisms and nawabi legacy. I had the great opportunity of meeting him several times in relation to my academic and research work.

On being invited as a Keynote speaker at the National Seminar(organised at my institute) about the ‘Legacy of the kingdom of Awadh’ Nawab Sahab expressed his keenness and in the most hospitable manner akin to his persona accepted the invitation. His presence at the Seminar added grace to the event and was in keeping with the theme of the seminar. Mr Jafar in his unique style began his address with the ‘Lucknawi aadab’ and eloquently traced the history of the nawabs of Awadh, reminiscing anecdotes from his life. Dressed in a starched white achkan and a ‘do palli topi’ he appeared to be the epitome of the culture of Lucknow. The discourse was thoroughly enjoyed by the academics and students present who were in awe of the Nawab, fluent in his speech and in his instant connection with the audience. After the session, Jafar Sahab was kind enough to answer the questions of those present and even appreciated the organisers in the most charming manner suitable for a nawab.

Another occasion when I got the opportunity to interact with a man of refined cultural values was the celebration of world heritage week. My request for an interview was granted immediately and we were treated to some royal tea during our interaction. Very patiently he talked about the need for the protection of Heritage and how we must work towards sensitising the younger generation towards the protection of our cultural heritage. His style of using poetic verses in urdu added value to his conversations and made them all the more courtly and genteel. While nawab sahab talked it was a delight listening to him. He later showed us around and we were left awestruck by the antiquities displayed on the walls. The glass showcases were stacked with genealogical charts in Persian and Urdu (in beautiful calligraphy) and artefacts unique and elegant. Every wall seemed to tell a story buried in the pages of history. We were also invited to feast our eyes on the collection of some rare gemstones and semi-precious jewels which were the prized possessions of the household. The collection being select and unique belonged to his ancestors and was definitely a legacy.

Nawab sahab in fact was an icon of Lucknawi tameez and tahzeeb, and represented the same in the films and documentaries in which he actively participated in his distinctive style. Even his collection of antique artefacts showcased the grace of the royal households of the erstwhile kingdom of Awadh, no one coming to Lucknow if possible would complete his heritage tour without meeting the man who was the representative of Lucknawi culture all by himself. He was even known for hosting Awadhi banquets at his grand palace called Sheeshmahal (glass palace), in Lucknow for foreign tourists who loved to have a peep into the era of the nawabs. He was a member of various organisations associated with promoting the cultural legacy of Lucknow. He was a man loved and appreciated by all and his passing away has indeed created a void in the social circles of our city, he shall be missed by progeny for his effervescence and graceful presence by all who love Lucknow.

May his Soul Rest in Peace!