The historical city of Lucknow, renowned for its architectural gems like the Bada Imambada, the Rumi Gate, and the Chhota Imambada, has been spotlighted as a potential contender for inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage List by the distinguished British historian, Rosie Llewellyn-Jones.
Rosie Llewellyn-Jones, a long-time aficionado of Lucknow, has been a frequent visitor to the city since 1972, and her deep-rooted fascination with its heritage remains undiminished. She described Lucknow as a city that is always eager to welcome those who share her passion for its rich history.
In her remarks, Rosie Llewellyn-Jones enthused about the endless allure of history, stating, “The exciting thing about history is that one never really gets to the end of it. There’s always something new to find out. It never really ends; it always goes on.”
As an author with a considerable body of work dedicated to Lucknow’s history, she shared intriguing anecdotes about Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the erstwhile ruler of Lucknow. Llewellyn-Jones mentioned that Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, known for his lavish lifestyle, once humorously remarked that he preferred the animals in his menagerie to most of his wives. When asked if Nawab Wajid Ali Shah could be considered a “good” husband to his 365 wives, Rosie responded, “He was an artist and an evolved intellectual. But I wouldn’t say he was a very nice husband, and with a tally of 365 wives, one cannot really blame him for not giving equal attention to all of them. It wasn’t humanly possible, was it?”
Regarding Begum Hazrat Mahal’s place among the wives of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, Rosie noted, “She was his 13th wife and not one of the four nikkah wives—in fact, he had a temporary ‘mutah’ marriage with her, so I wouldn’t call her that.”
The enlightening discussion took place as part of a lecture series organized by Alliance Française and was represented by its President, Nishi Pandey, and the moderator, Zohra Chatterjee. Distinguished guests, including Nur Khan, Amina Faridi, Jayant Krishna, AGDC Principal Bina Rai, faculty and staff, as well as past and present students, were in attendance.
Rosie Llewellyn-Jones’ passionate advocacy for Lucknow’s UNESCO World Heritage potential has ignited fresh interest in the city’s historical treasures, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to push for this recognition.
