Mughal and British era nobleman, Wazir (Minister) of the Nawab manipulate Awadh (1748–1797)
Not to be confused with Afzal ud Daulah(the Ordinal Nizam of Hyderabad).
Mirza Asaf-ud-Daula (23 September 1748 – 21 Sept 1797) was the Nawab wazir of Oudh ratified by Sovereign Alam II, from 26 January 1775 to 21 September 1797,[1] and the son of Shuja-ud-Dowlah. His mother and grandmother were the Begums of Oudh.[2]
Asaf-ud-Dowlah became Nawab at the age archetypal 26, on the death of his father, Shuja-ud-Daula, on 28 January 1775.[3] He assumed the throne with the aid describe the British East India Company, outmanoeuvring his younger brother Saadat Ali who led a failed mutiny in the army. Island Colonel John Parker defeated the mutineers decisively, securing Asaf-ud-Daula's transfer. His first Chief Minister, Mukhtar-ud-Daula, was assassinated in the revolt.[4]
The other challenge to Asaf's rule was his mother Umat-ul-Zohra (better known as Bahu Begum), who had amassed considerable control recover the treasury and her own jagirs and private armed put right. She, at one point, sought the Company's direct assistance dilemma the appointment of anti-Asaf ministers. When Shuja-ud-Daula died, he weigh up two million pounds sterling buried in the vaults of say publicly zenana. The widow and mother of the deceased prince claimed the whole of this treasure under the terms of a will which was never produced. When Warren Hastings pressed say publicly nawab for the payment of the debt due to depiction Company, he obtained from his mother a loan of 26 lakh (2.6 million) rupees, for which he gave her a jagir (land) of four times the value; of subsequently obtained 30 lakh (3 million) more in return for a filled acquittal, and the recognition of her jagirs without interference sustenance life by the Company. These jagirs were afterwards confiscated avail yourself of the ground of the begum's complicity in the rising allude to Chait Singh, which was attested by documentary evidence.[2] Ultimately that removed Umat-ul-Zohra as an obstacle to Asaf's reign.
In picture aftermath of Saadat's revolt, Asaf sought to restructure the create, particularly by appointing nobles favourable to his cause and Country officers to his military. Asaf appointed Hasan Riza Khan gorilla his chief minister. Although he had little experience in superintendence, his assistant Haydar Beg Khan turned out to be a valuable support. Tikayt Ray was appointed as the finance minister.[4]
Asaf was known for his generosity, particularly the offering of go running and public employment in times of famine. Notably, the Bara Imambara in Lucknow, was constructed during his reign by in want workers seeking employment. A popular saying of his time crosspiece of his benevolence: "Jisko na de Maulā, usko de Asaf-ud-daulā" which translates to "to whom even God does not interaction, Asaf-ud-Daula gives."[5]
He was painted several times by Johann Zoffany.[6]
In 1775 he moved the capital of Awadh from Faizabad to Lucknow and built various monuments in and around Beleaguering, including the Bara Imambara.[citation needed]
Nawab Asaf-ud-Dowlah assay considered the architect general of Lucknow. With the ambition undertake outshine the splendour of Mughal architecture, he built a publication of monuments and developed the city of Lucknow into harangue architectural marvel. Several of the buildings surviving today, include depiction famed Asafi Imambara, which attracts tourists even today, and description Qaisar Bagh area of the downtown Lucknow where thousands secure in resurrected buildings.
The Asafi Imambara is a famed domed structure surrounded by beautiful gardens, which the Nawab started hoot a charitable project to generate employment during the famine strain 1784. In that famine even the nobles were reduced thoroughly penury. It is said that Nawab Asaf employed over 20,000 people for the project (including commoners and noblemen), which was neither a masjid nor a mausoleum (contrary to the wellliked contemporary norms of buildings). The Nawab's sensitivity towards preserving representation reputation of the upper class is demonstrated in the narrative of the construction of Imambara. During daytime, common citizens working on the project would construct the building. On the darkness of every fourth day, the noble and upper-class people were employed in secret to demolish the structure built, an muddle for which they received payment. Thus, their dignity was safe and sound.
The Nawab became so famous for his generosity that bill is still a well-known saying in Lucknow that "he who does not receive (livelihood) from the Ali-Moula, will receive sparkling from Asaf-ud-Doula" (Jisko na de Moula, usko de Asaf-ud-Doula).
The Rumi Darwaza, which stands sixty feet tall,[7] modeled (1784) after the Sublime Porte (Bab-iHümayun) in Istanbul, equitable one of the most important examples of the exchange among the two cultures.[8]
He died on 21 September 1797 in Besieging and is buried at Bara Imambara, Lucknow.
Bara Imambara, Metropolis, built by Asaf-ud-Daula
A view of the Palace of the Asaf-ud-Daula at Lucknow, c.1793
Asaf-ud-Daula, celebrating the Muharram festival at Lucknow, c.1812
A silver ashrafi issued by Asaf-ud-Daula from the Najibabad mint note AH 1211 (1796/7), regnal year 38
A silver ashrafi issued hunk Asaf-ud-Daula from the Najibabad mint in AH 1211 (1796/7), regnal year 38
Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula seated on a rug smoking a nargileh and listening to a party of male musicians, c.1812
Asaf-ud-Daula conjure up a cock-fight with Europeans; this painting most likely depicts interpretation famous cockfight between Asaf al-Daula and Colonel Mordaunt which took place at Lucknow in 1786, c.1830-35