Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Wajid Ali Shah became the tenth and last Nawab of Awadh upon the death of his father, Amjad Ali Shah. His reign was marked by a focus on cultural pursuits, including poetry, music, and dance, rather than administrative or military affairs.

Wajid Ali Shah was a significant patron of the classical dance form Kathak and the semi-classical music genre Thumri. His court in Lucknow became a center for these arts, and his own compositions contributed to their evolution.

The British East India Company annexed the kingdom of Awadh under the Doctrine of Lapse, citing misgovernance. Wajid Ali Shah was deposed and exiled to Calcutta, where he lived under British supervision for the rest of his life.

Following the annexation of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah was exiled to Matiaburj in Calcutta. He spent his remaining years there, continuing his patronage of the arts and establishing a cultural center that influenced Bengali music and theater.