Wajid Ali Shah
Nawab of Awadh
Died when: 65 years 53 days (781 months)Star Sign: Leo
Mirza Wajid Ali Shah (Urdu: ???? ??? ???) (30 July 1822 – 1 September 1887) was the eleventh and last King of Awadh, holding the position for 9 years, from 13 February 1847 to 11 February 1856.
Wajid Ali Shah's first wife was Alam Ara who was better known as Khas Mahal (transl. special wife) because of her exquisite beauty.
She was one of two Nikahi wives.His second wife, Muhammadi Khanum, better known as the Begum Hazrat Mahal, rose against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as the regent of Awadh.
His kingdom, long protected by the East India Company (EIC) under treaty, was annexed by the EIC on 11 February 1856, two days before the ninth anniversary of his coronation.
The Nawab was exiled to Garden Reach in Metiabruz, then a suburb of Kolkata, where he lived out the rest of his life on a generous pension.
He was a poet, playwright, dancer and great patron of the arts.He is widely credited with the revival of Kathak as a major form of classical Indian dance.
