The Story behind Bada Imambara - Lucknow's Architectural Marvel

- By Aishwarya Javalgekar

The Bada Imambara is the most popular monument in Lucknow. It is also called Asifi Imambara  after Asaf-ud Daula, the Nawab of Awadh who is entombed in the Imambara's central hall.

The grand Bada Imambara facade (Photo credits: Wikipedia)

Not only is this Imambara marvelous to look at, it has a back-story, that adds more romance to this beautiful monument. 

In 1785, Awadh was hit by a devastating famine, leaving thousands of people jobless and starving. Nawab Asaf-ud Daula took up the grand project of building this Imambara to provide employment to these people. People were given food in return for work. Thus the Nawab made sure that his subjects did not starve during the famine.

Zoffany's painting: 'Asaf ud-Daula, Nawab Wazir of Oudh', 1784. (Photo credits: The New York Times)

The common people used to work during the day to build the structure, while noblemen and the other elite worked at night and demolished parts of the structure for payment. This brilliant scheme kept the construction in progress for almost a decade! 

It is inspiring to see how a simple project helped thousands of people, saving an entire kingdom from devastation and poverty. And the Bada Imambara remains a living reminder of the Nawab's brilliance and generosity. 

Even today, there is a well-known saying in Lucknow - 

Jisko na de Maula, usko de Asaf-ud Daula

(He who does not receive (livelihood) from God, will receive it from Asaf-ud Daula)