Legacy of Sa’adat Ali Khan at centerstage in heritage walk

Lucknow: To rescue the magnificent palatial structures of the Nawabi era from the clutches of obscurity, there is a pressing need for residents to come forward and establish an intimate bond with the marvelous tombs, kothis, pleasure gardens, and gateways of Lucknow. With this theme as its major underpinning, Citizens for Lucknow (CFL) -- a group of heritage enthusiasts, historians, academicians, and Samaritans -- organised a heritage walk on Sunday morning.Braving the misty winter morning, laden with the dreary coldness of Saturday night, nearly 50 residents from all walks of life assembled outside the tomb of Sa’adat Ali Khan in Kaiserbagh. Soon, the sun obliged with its presence, offering a perfect setting for a walk that artistically blended the leisurely stroll with evocative storytelling by noted historian PC Sarkar, who is fairly well-known for unearthing lesser-known facts about Lucknow in his books and talks. Christened as “Legacy of The Later Nawabs”, the walk set off with Adity Chakravarti, the convener of CFL, offering the keynote address and setting the tone for the walk. Chakravarti was of the opinion that these walks not only cast away the veil of nonchalance that has led to the dismaying decay of the colossal architecture of Awadh but also infuse a sense of ownership among the locals towards the priceless inheritance that we seldom value.“These walks are very much needed to generate a sort of awakening among the people of Lucknow to come forward and forge intimate bonds with the inheritance of the city. As these walks gain currency and more people become part of it, we can hope for stronger citizens-led advocacy for restoration and preservation of these structures that are unfortunately reeking of negligence,” she pointed.As the participants were led to the tombs of Sa’adat Ali Khan and his begum Khurshid Zadi, Sarkar led the pack and narrated the lesser-known facts about the forgotten Nawab of Lucknow and his legacy. From briefing about the glorious reign of Sa’adat Ali Khan to sharing snippets of interesting stories of his contribution to enhancing the architectural beauty and cultural depth of Awadh, Sarkar opened a portal to the glistening past of Awadh.“Sa’adat Ali Khan was considered to be the best ruler of Awadh in terms of administration, construction activities, and also his contribution to the treasury,” Sarkar recalled. “Another interesting, and also lesser-known fact, about him is that he brought his mother to Lucknow (she was a khurd or junior begum in Faizabad, overshadowed by Bahu Begum), so proper regard could be given to her,” he added.