Genre: Fiction, Historical, Drama.
Very few people have ever read about the various accounts of Indian Freedom Fighters, & even lesser have read or known about the “1857 Uprising” of how it all began. Mourad takes us back to 19th century Lucknow, in this beautiful tale of politics, love, deceit & the rich high class society of what w...as once known as “Paris of India”, Lucknow.
19th century city of Gold & Silver, Lucknow, ruled by the last known Nawab, Waji Ali Shah, was a city of excesses. The royalty, it seems, ate gold & slept on silver beds…of course not literally. It was an era of excesses, a city of excesses. Wajid Ali Shah, to whom we attribute the “once upon a time” culture of Lucknow, is a monarch who spends most of his time partying, throwing lavish bashes, planning extravaganzas of gargantuan proportions for all in Lucknow…royal, noble, rich, citizens & poor. His people loved him…he attributed to the city’s progress in music (the numerous lovely Courtesans of Awadh), arts, culture, handicrafts (Chikan & Zardozi work), gourmet cuisines (the Kebabs you love today & have always heard of), well laid out living standards & a certain amount of snobbery in Awadh residents of who they were….quite like the Parisian French. Lucknowites & their Monarch had a long-standing romance based on an extravagant lifestyle…and in the middle of all this comes the story of little Muhammadi…an orphan in Awadh who is taken into a “Kotha” or a Courtesan house (often mistaken to be a whorehouse as we know today, but not quite).
Muhammadi wows the young monarch Wajid Ali Shah, by showcasing her skills in poetry. A gifted & exceptional poetess, she & the King fall in love with each other, get married, she earns the title of Begum Hazrat Mahal & they live happily ever after!! Quite a Cinderella story you think…a girl risen from rags to riches & marrying a Prince Charming. Only if life was written by Grimm Brothers too(will do a detailed series of them later ). The British oppression is increasing in form of East India Company. The Nawab of Awadh is dethroned & his state is annexed, as it is an important state that provides riches in abundance. The larger than life Monarch, suddenly comes across as a helpless man, who has only know how to lead a life of riches & cannot lead his men & army against East India Company…he is deported to Kolkata to live a life under constant vigil & his people are left behind…their lives changed, their excesses rudely cut short, their lifestyle butchered. Amongst those who stay back are Nawab’s many wives, one of them being Begum Hazrat Mahal whom he just abandons.
The Begum, an intelligent & sharp princess, takes active interest in upcoming rebellion & awaits, plots, conspires to raise the greatest rebellion known in India…the 1857 uprising. Read how this fairytale, suddenly becomes a terse political web of plotting, scheming, deceit & a major rebellion. How the leaders of that time, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, Tantiya Tope, Nana Sahib & Mangal Pandey get aligned to strike against the British, the very first time in Indian history.
These stories form a forgotten part of History text books today, relegated to one corner, but it is Mourad’s fluent storytelling that transports you to Nawabi Lucknow & the smoothens you into the era of rebellion almost as if you are in the era. The book is not a historian’s take, so she has taken some creative liberties, that do not hurt. It is NOT a heavy read, for a story on historical freedom struggle. It moves on with an easy pace & smoothens the reader in page by page, account by account. A beautiful account of a legend forgotten.
TIP: Recommend to pick up the book any of these summery weekends when you do not wish to venture out of your home. 2 days is all you need to finish this book. It is an engrossing & easy read, but one that lingers on your mind, & transports you back to a magical time. Available in Full Circle in GK 1, M Block & Flipkart.com (Price Rs.277 on Flipkart)See More
Very few people have ever read about the various accounts of Indian Freedom Fighters, & even lesser have read or known about the “1857 Uprising” of how it all began. Mourad takes us back to 19th century Lucknow, in this beautiful tale of politics, love, deceit & the rich high class society of what w...as once known as “Paris of India”, Lucknow.
19th century city of Gold & Silver, Lucknow, ruled by the last known Nawab, Waji Ali Shah, was a city of excesses. The royalty, it seems, ate gold & slept on silver beds…of course not literally. It was an era of excesses, a city of excesses. Wajid Ali Shah, to whom we attribute the “once upon a time” culture of Lucknow, is a monarch who spends most of his time partying, throwing lavish bashes, planning extravaganzas of gargantuan proportions for all in Lucknow…royal, noble, rich, citizens & poor. His people loved him…he attributed to the city’s progress in music (the numerous lovely Courtesans of Awadh), arts, culture, handicrafts (Chikan & Zardozi work), gourmet cuisines (the Kebabs you love today & have always heard of), well laid out living standards & a certain amount of snobbery in Awadh residents of who they were….quite like the Parisian French. Lucknowites & their Monarch had a long-standing romance based on an extravagant lifestyle…and in the middle of all this comes the story of little Muhammadi…an orphan in Awadh who is taken into a “Kotha” or a Courtesan house (often mistaken to be a whorehouse as we know today, but not quite).
Muhammadi wows the young monarch Wajid Ali Shah, by showcasing her skills in poetry. A gifted & exceptional poetess, she & the King fall in love with each other, get married, she earns the title of Begum Hazrat Mahal & they live happily ever after!! Quite a Cinderella story you think…a girl risen from rags to riches & marrying a Prince Charming. Only if life was written by Grimm Brothers too(will do a detailed series of them later ). The British oppression is increasing in form of East India Company. The Nawab of Awadh is dethroned & his state is annexed, as it is an important state that provides riches in abundance. The larger than life Monarch, suddenly comes across as a helpless man, who has only know how to lead a life of riches & cannot lead his men & army against East India Company…he is deported to Kolkata to live a life under constant vigil & his people are left behind…their lives changed, their excesses rudely cut short, their lifestyle butchered. Amongst those who stay back are Nawab’s many wives, one of them being Begum Hazrat Mahal whom he just abandons.
The Begum, an intelligent & sharp princess, takes active interest in upcoming rebellion & awaits, plots, conspires to raise the greatest rebellion known in India…the 1857 uprising. Read how this fairytale, suddenly becomes a terse political web of plotting, scheming, deceit & a major rebellion. How the leaders of that time, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, Tantiya Tope, Nana Sahib & Mangal Pandey get aligned to strike against the British, the very first time in Indian history.
These stories form a forgotten part of History text books today, relegated to one corner, but it is Mourad’s fluent storytelling that transports you to Nawabi Lucknow & the smoothens you into the era of rebellion almost as if you are in the era. The book is not a historian’s take, so she has taken some creative liberties, that do not hurt. It is NOT a heavy read, for a story on historical freedom struggle. It moves on with an easy pace & smoothens the reader in page by page, account by account. A beautiful account of a legend forgotten.
TIP: Recommend to pick up the book any of these summery weekends when you do not wish to venture out of your home. 2 days is all you need to finish this book. It is an engrossing & easy read, but one that lingers on your mind, & transports you back to a magical time. Available in Full Circle in GK 1, M Block & Flipkart.com (Price Rs.277 on Flipkart)See More
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