‘Nawabs shaped Awadh’s Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, culture & tradition’

Lucknow: The nawabs of Awadh played a key role in shaping Ganga-Jamuni ‘tehzeeb', the shared Hindu-Muslim cultural tradition that continues to define Lucknow, historian Ravi Bhatt said on Sunday while speaking on the city's historical development and Lucknow completing 250 years of becoming the capital for the first time.Speaking at an event organised by The Club of Lucknow in Gomtinagar, Bhatt said Lucknow emerged as a major cultural centre in the 18th century after it became the capital of Awadh.
"With political authority shifting from Delhi, the nawabs focused on building institutions that supported art, literature, and social practices across communities. Their courts encouraged interaction between different traditions, which gradually shaped a common cultural space," he said.Bhatt referred to the reign of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula to explain how governance and culture were linked. He noted that structures such as Bada Imambara were built not only for religious or administrative purposes but also to support people during periods of hardship."These initiatives reflected an approach where public welfare and cultural expression went together," he said.Explaining Ganga-Jamuni ‘tehzeeb', Bhatt described it as a way of life seen in festivals, language, food habits, and social conduct in Lucknow. He said the city's customs show how Hindu and Muslim practices influenced each other over time rather than remaining separate.Bhatt also spoke about the etiquette tradition of Awadh, often referred to as ‘tehzeeb', which developed through courtly norms and everyday interaction. He explained that Urdu poetry in Lucknow grew as a medium that absorbed local themes while drawing from Persian literary forms.He said understanding this historical process is important as Lucknow undergoes social and urban change and noted that such discussions helped reconnect the city with its cultural history.

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