AK Srivastava
Lucknow: When one visits Sikandar Bagh, the Board of ASI informs that what remains of the original structure is only an imposing gateway, a part of a wall which is common with NBRI and an old mosque, apart from the memory of almost forgotten valour of thousands of Indians who sacrificed their lives fighting against colonial conquerors.
But there are main changes and one must remember them while at Sikandar Bagh, remembering the battle of 16th November 1857.
The most important changes are in the gateway itself, a road which now goes next to Sikandar Bagh coming from Hazratganj and crosses Gomati and the missing pavilion a two-storied building which features prominently in Beato’s popular picture of strewn skeletons of 1858.
I am sharing two old pictures; one is of 1883, from Edward Hacksaw’s album of Indian Photographs titled,’ Sikandar Bagh in 1883’, and this one shows damaged minarets but there is another photograph of Sikandar Bagh which shows that minarets are missing. Thus, it is clear that the minarets were reconstructed.
Old maps show that the road coming from Hazratganj used to terminate at Sikandar Bagh. The area behind it was Sultan Ganj with some village hamlets on the front side of the road (on the side of Doordarshan), there was a Sarai, which features in the battle of 16th November 1857. The direction of movement was from Sikandar Bagh towards, Shah Najaf and Moti Mahal.
Now, once we enter through the gateway a lush lawn verdant lawn welcomes us. On the lawn was placed a two-storied building, which was a summer pavilion during Wajid Ali Shah and on 16th November saw death and maim.
In 1858-59, when Napier redrew the map of Lucknow, post-capture, Sikandar Bagh was bifurcated and a road (Outram Road now Ashok Marg) was the divider. Part of Sikandar Bagh, (on the other side of the Road) became the Horticulture Garden (now botanical garden, part of NBRI). Time and decay devoured the pavilion.
How one wishes a heritage park inside the Sikandar Bagh with old pictures (even prints of them), and maps would have been helpful to a visitor to revisit the battle of 16th November 1857, rather than a few lines on a board.
