Rampur State

Rampur State was a 15 gun-salute princely state of British India. It came into existence on 7 October 1774 as a result of a treaty with Oudh. Following independence in 1947, Rampur State and other princely states of the area, such as Benares and Tehri Garhwal were merged into the United Provinces. Rampur state had its capital in Rampur city and its total area was 945 sq miles.[2]

Not to be confused with Ranpur State.

Royal State of Rampur
Dar-Ul-Insha
1774–1947
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: "Al Hukumu Lilah Wāl Mulk Lilah"
(Rulership And Sovereignty Belongs To God)

Lā Fata ʾIllā ʿAlī; Lā Sayf ʾIllā Ḏū l-Fiqār.
' (There Is No Conqueror Like Ali And No Sword Like The Zulfiqar)
Rampur State in yellow
CapitalRampur
Official languagesPersian (1774–1887)
Urdu (1889–1947)[1]
Common languagesUrdu, English
Religion
Shi'ism
GovernmentAbsolute Monarchy
Nawab of Rampur 
• 1754–1794
Faizullah Khan (First)
• 1794
Muhammad Ali Khan
• 1794
Ghulam Muhammad Khan
• 1794–1840
Ahmad Ali Khan
• 1930–1966
Raza Ali Khan (Last)
History 
7 October 1774
15 August 1947
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Kingdom of Rohilkhand
Dominion of India
Khusru Bagh Palace of Rampur
Nawab Kalb Ali Khan Bahadur of Rampur, r. 1865–87.
Imambara, Fort of Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, c. 1911.
Sir Kalb Ali Khan, Nawab of Rampur (1832–1887).

History

The Rohilla War of 1774–75 began when the Rohillas reneged on a debt they owed to the Nawab of Oudh for military assistance against the Maratha Empire in 1772. The Rohillas were defeated and driven from their former capital of Bareilly by the Nawab of Oudh with the assistance of the East India Company's troops lent by Warren Hastings.[3] The Rohilla State of Rampur was established by Nawab Faizullah Khan on 7 October 1774 in the presence of British Commander Colonel Champion, and remained a pliant state under British protection thereafter.

Faizullah Khan was a leader among the Pashtuns. His family migrated and settled in Hindustan (now India) during the Mughal Empire. The Pashtuns consisted of high-ranking soldiers and administrative elites of the Mughal Empire. For Rohilla's Rampur State was one of the important princely states in Hindustan.

The first stone of the new Fort at Rampur was laid and the city of Rampur founded in 1775 by Nawab Faizullah Khan. Originally it was a group of four villages named Kather, the name of Raja Ram Singh. The first Nawab proposed to rename the city 'Faizabad'. But many other places were known by the name Faizabad so its name was changed to Mustafabad alias Rampur. Nawab Faizullah Khan ruled for 20 years. He was a great patron of scholarship, and began the collection of Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Urdu manuscripts which now make up the bulk of the Rampur Raza Library. After his death, his son Muhammad Ali Khan took over. He was killed by the Rohilla leaders after 24 days, and Ghulam Muhammad Khan – the brother of the deceased, was proclaimed Nawab. The East India Company took exception to this, and after a reign of just 3 months and 22 days Ghulam Muhammad Khan was defeated by its forces, and the Governor-General made Ahmad Ali Khan, son of the late Muhammad Ali Khan, the new Nawab. He ruled for 44 years. He did not have any sons, so Muhammad Sa'id Khan, son of Ghulam Muhammad Khan, took over as the new Nawab. He raised a regular Army, established Courts and carried out many works to improve the economic conditions of farmers. His son Muhammad Yusuf Ali Khan took over after his death. His son Kalb Ali Khan became the new Nawab after his death in 1865.

Nawab Kalb Ali Khan was literate in Arabic and Persian. Under his rule the state did much work to uplift standards of education. He was also a Member of Council during the Viceroyalty of Lord John Lawrence. He built the Jama Masjid in Rampur at a cost of Rs. 300,000. He was also knighted in Agra by the Prince of Wales. He ruled for 22 years and 7 months. After his death his son Mushtaq Ali Khan took over. He appointed W. C. Wright as the Chief Engineer of the estate. He built many new buildings and canals. Nawab Hamid Ali became the new ruler in 1889 at the age of 14. Many new schools were opened during his reign, and many donations were provided to nearby colleges. He donated Rs. 50,000 to Lucknow Medical College. In 1905 he built the magnificent Darbar Hall within the Fort which now houses the great collection of Oriental manuscripts held by the Rampur Raza Library. His son Raza Ali Khan became the last ruling Nawab in 1930. Nawab Raza Ali Khan was a very progressive ruler who believed in the Inclusion of Hindus and so appointed Lt. Col. Horilal Varma – Bar At Law as his Prime Minister. On 1 July 1949 the State of Rampur was merged into the Republic of India. Rampur today presents a slightly decayed appearance: the palaces of the Nawabs are crumbling, as are the gates and walls of the fort. However, the Library remains a flourishing institution of immense value to scholars from all over the world.

The Nawabs of Rampur sided with the British during Indian Rebellion of 1857[3] and this enabled them to continue to play a role in the social, political and cultural life of Northern India in general and the Muslims of United Provinces in particular. They gave refuge to some of the literary figures from the Court of Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Music
See also: Rampur-Sahaswan gharana

The Nawabs of Rampur gave patronage to traditional music in their court. Mehboob Khan was the chief khyal singer of the royal court of Rampur State, his tradition was followed by his son Inayat Hussain Khan (1849–1919) and in turn by Inyat's brothers-in-law, Haider Khan (1857–1927), and Mushtaq Hussein Khan (d. 1964), which gave rise to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana of Hindustani classical music, the latter being their ancestral place, Sahaswan, in present-day Badaun district.[4]

Rulers of Rampur
A portrait of Nawab Muhammad Khan Bangash, not the Nawab of Rampur but the Nawab of Farrukhabad, ca 1730, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris
Name Reign Began Reign Ended
1 Faizullah Khan 15 September 1748 24 July 1793
Hafiz Rahmat Khan – Regent 15 September 1748 23 April 1774
2 Muhammad Ali Khan Bahadur 24 July 1793 11 August 1793
3 Ghulam Muhammad Khan Bahadur 11 August 1793 24 October 1794
4 Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur 24 October 1794 5 July 1840
Nasrullah Khan – Regent 24 October 1794 1811
5 Muhammad Said Khan Bahadur 5 July 1840 1 April 1855
6 Yusef Ali Khan Bahadur 1 April 1855 21 April 1865
7 Kalb Ali Khan Bahadur 21 April 1865 23 March 1887
8 Muhammad Mushtaq Ali Khan Bahadur 23 March 1887 25 February 1889
9 Hamid Ali Khan Bahadur 25 February 1889 20 June 1930
Regency 25 February 1889 4 April 1894
10 Raza Ali Khan Bahadur 20 June 1930 6 March 1966
11 Murtaza Ali Khan Bahadur – Titular 6 March 1966 8 February 1982


Family tree
  • I. Sayyid Faizu’llah ‘Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (1734–1794; Nawab of Rampur: 1734–1794)
    • II. Sayyid Muhammad Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (1751–1794; r. 1794)
      • IV. Sayyid Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (1787–1840; r. 1794–1840)
    • III. Hajji Sayyid Ghulam Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (1763–1823; r. 1794)
      • V. Sayyid Muhammad Said Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (1786–1855; r. 1840–1855)
        • VI. Sayyid Muhammad Yusef Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur KSI (1816–1865; r. 1855–1865)
          • VII. Hajji Sayyid Muhammad Kalb-i-Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur GCSI, CIE (1834–1887; r. 1865–1887)
            • VIII. Sayyid Muhammad Mushtaq Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (1856–1889; r. 1887–1889)
              • IX. Sayyid Hamid Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur GCSI, GCIE, GCVO (1875–1930; r. 1889–1930)
                • X. Sayyid Muhammad Raza Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur GCIE, KCSI (1908–1966; r. 1930–1949; titular ruler 1949–1966)
                  • XI. Sayyid Murtaza Ali Khan Bahadur MBE (lived 1923–1982; titular Nawab: 1966–1971; family head: 1971–1982)
                  • XII. Sayyid Zulfiqar Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (lived 1933–92; family head:1982-92)
                    • XIII. Sayyid Kazim Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur (b.1960; family head:1992 to present)


Legacy

Dog breed
Main article: Rampur Hound
A palace attendant with a Rampur Hound in 1915

His Royal Highness Nawab Ahmad Ali Khan of Rampur is credited with developing the dog breed known as Rampur Hound. The Rampur Hound far exceeded his expectations. He endeavoured to breed these dogs by combining the Tazi ferocious Afghan dogs with the English Greyhound, more obedient but less resistant to the harsher local weather. He gave the name 'Rampur Hound' to the dogs he bred.[5]

Cuisine

The cuisine of the royal courts over the years gave rise to the Rampuri cuisine, developed by the chefs of the Nawabs. After the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the khansamas (chefs) from erstwhile Mughal imperial courts shifted to Rampur, bringing along with them the Mughal cuisine tradition.[6] Gradually people from other places also found a haven here, adding influences of Awadhi, Hyderabad and Kashmiri cuisine.[7] It is also known for its distinct flavours and dishes with recipes passed on from the royal kitchen, like Rampuri fish, Rampuri Korma, Rampuri mutton kebabs, Doodhiya biryani and adrak ka halwa.[8][9][10]

Music

Mehboob Khan was the chief khyal singer of the royal court of Rampur State, his tradition was followed by his son Inayat Hussain Khan (1849–1919) and in turn by Inyat's brothers-in-law, Haider Khan (1857–1927), and Mushtaq Hussein Khan (d. 1964), which gave rise to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana of Hindustani classical music, the latter being their ancestral place, Sahaswan, in present Badaun district.[11]

See also

References
  1. Rahman, Tariq (2011). From Hindi to Urdu : a social and political history. Orient Blackswan Private Ltd. p. 209. ISBN 978-81-250-4248-8. OCLC 757810159.
  2. Hunter, William Wilson (1881). The imperial gazetteer of India. India: Trübner & Company. pp. 544–546. Retrieved 16 December 2013. Rampur state.
  3. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Rampur" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 877.
  4. Wade. p. 136
  5. Rampur Hound
  6. "Kebabs, kings and other Rampuri tales". MiD DAY. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  7. "The Rampuri flavour: The Rampuri food festival at Mascot Hotel takes you on a voyage of discovery". The Hindu. 30 August 2004. Archived from the original on 22 December 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  8. "The culinary cartographer". Mint. 22 January 2010.
  9. "Sharp cuts from the Rampuri !". Business Standard. 7 January 2007.
  10. "Mutton Korma in Rampur". Indian Express. 28 August 2005.
  11. Wade. p. 136

Bibliography

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