Follow us

In the nine years of his reign, soon after he built his own palace at Qaiserbagh, Wajid Ali Shah made Lucknow a cultural centre. He staged the magnificent rahas (musicals) in a state-of-art theatre called Baradari. His dramas on Krishna’s love life were full of intense poetry. His own compositions were written under the pen-name ‘Akhtarpiya’. In dazzling Kathak performances, two of his favourite wives, Yasmin Pari and Hur Pari, often played the leading roles of milkmaids.
(‘Debauchery, dissipation and low pursuits’ by Nidhi Dugar Kundalia, The Hindu, June 4, 2017)

One of Wajid Ali Shah’s biggest contributions was the development of Pari Khana, a school for music and dance. In his book Musammi Ba Banni, Shah recorded that 180 female artists were employed in Pari Khana and were taught by instructors in a space heavily fortified by female sentinels skilled in martial arts and weapons. The central hall of the school, decorated with chandeliers, hosted famous musicians and dance masters such as Thakur Prasad and the Kalka-Binda brothers.
(‘Debauchery, dissipation and low pursuits’ by Nidhi Dugar Kundalia, The Hindu, June 4, 2017)



(Courtesy ‘Dances of the world on postage stamps,’ Alkis Raftis)

Snippets - Monthwise listing