The Lucknow Album/Noor Bukhsh ki Kothi or Light-giving House

by Darogha Ubbas Alli

NOOR BUKSH-KI-KOTHI

OR

LIGHT GIVING HOUSE.

View No. 21.

So named because, when illuminated, from its great height it lighted up the neighbourhood for miles around: it was built by Newab Saadut Ali Khan and became the residence of one of his sons. Sir Henry Havelock took advantage of this building, and, from it, saw his way through the enemy's third line of defences so as to effect an entrance into Kaiser Bagh : the enemy detected him in the act, and until lately, the walls of that house bore the marks of a shower of grape aimed at him from the guns below.

Immediately at the back is Zahoor Buksh-ke-Kothee, another Imambarra, now the premises of the Church Mission Press. These buildings, together with the one on the opposite side of the road, formed one enclosure surrounded by high walls. During the rebellion the place was occupied by the enemy in great force, and had to be taken by storm. The walls have since been demolished ; and the whole place being opened out, and the different edifices almost entirely rebuilt, no trace of its original appearance remains.

Entering now the Kaiser Baugh by the Northern gate, or archway, through which the unfortunate captives, Sir Mountstuart Jackson, and the rest, were led to a savage and barbarous massacre, an open court has to be passed, called " Jelloo Khana," or place where Royal Processions used to parade and form up in preparation to start : then to the right, through another archway, the Chenee Baugh appears ; so called from the circumstance of its having been ornamented with China, or what appeared to be China, vessels ; another archway, flanked by green mermaids, leads into " Huzrut Baugh." On the right is the " Chandeewalee Barradurree" so named from the fact of the columns and roof having been, originally, covered with silver, the whole of which was torn off and appropriated by the rebels of 1857 notoriety, anxious to plunder alike friend and foe : afterwards, the Chandeewalee Barradurree became the office of the Oudh Gazette, now extinct, and the building has been sold to a private individual.

There was a building on this spot, called Khas Makan, used by the ladies of the Court, but, as it has been pulled down, and the ground, upon which it stood, levelled, it is needless to relate its history, it must sink into oblivion, according to the fate of works produced by human ; hands this work only professes to treat of the histories of such as remain, either intact, or in ruins.

Close by, " Badshah Munzil" is seen. This building was used by the King as the Council-house, for the State reception of the British Resident, it was in those days finely decorated; but it was here that General Outram read the stern decree of Government, by which the kingdom of Oudh was inexorably annexed, and the monarchy was put an end to. Because the ex-king ceased to be King from this house, the natives call it the " Gharut Munzil," or, " desolated house."

The quarters over the mermaid archway, just passed, were originally occupied by Nawab Ali Naki Khan, primi mortis, so that he. might be close to the King, and thereby have the earliest opportunity of knowing all that was going on. The buildings adjoining were the residences of the chief mehals; and afterwards the Rebel Begum, Huzrut Mehal, held her court there* In the stables near that place, the British captives were kept for some weeks.

 

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