AWADH FROM MUGHAL TO COLONIAL RULE: STUDIES IN THE ANATOMY OF A TRANSFORMATION By Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri, Gyan Publishing, Rs 990
The history of Awadh continues to intrigue both the historian and the common man. Even today, people have not lost interest in Awadh's multi-facetedness. In spite of the occasional strain among its communities and sects, Awadh is recognized for common dialects that have led to the creation of Ramcharitmanas as well as Sufi premakhayans.
Awadh's unique ability to accept change during radical transformations evokes awe among historians. Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri's book examines this facet of Awadh. However, some of the issues raised in relation to this aspect seem irrelevant. But the remarkable thing is that the author has relied extensively on historical documents. Awadh from Mughal to Colonial Rule has the power to transport the reader to a different era.
Jafri's book is a perfect example of how research should be conducted, especially in a discipline such as history. The book would appeal to the discerning reader for two reasons. First, Jafri is intensely curious about documents of the yore. Second, Jafri delved into these tattered manuscripts to retell the history of the bygone days. The decoding could not have been easy, but Jafri's narration makes the job less difficult for the reader.
The author also explores the world of mysticism. This will certainly attract a different kind of readership. But the question is whether the agrarian aspects of Awadh had any relation with mysticism? Or, can the ways of the Sufi saints throw some light on the agrarian conditions and land disputes of the time?
Jafri had access to papers of certain religious establishments that give an insight into the land revenue and rent arrangements from the Mughal to the colonial periods. His knowledge of Persian and Urdu languages has helped him in his research.
Apart from Awadh's agrarian conditions, Jafri also talks about Muslim saints, their followers and the system of inheritance. The saints were equally popular among Hindus and Muslims. It is also surprising to learn that these saints spent most of their earnings from land on fakirs and mendicants. The saints did not discriminate among the beneficiaries on the basis of their religion.
The farmans of Aurangzeb and Bahadur Shah can be found in the book. These are a treat for people who want to know how the Mughal emperors ruled a vast country like India.
The title more or less sums up the content of the book. Jafri has done a historical appraisal of Awadh from the Mughal times till it was annexed by the British. The book also gives a valuable account of the agrarian conditions prevalent during the British period. Jafri concentrates on those who controlled land, such as zamindars as well as officials like amils, mustajirs and chakledars. The main thrust of the book is on the power-play among the different actors dealing with land and land revenue. Jafri has also been able to highlight the sufferings of the peasants. He goes on to show how the colonial power - the British - entered the chaotic administrative machinery with the promise of change only to make the conditions worse for the common people. Significantly, local power-brokers became the masters of the land in the name of providing rent to the State.
The book is a beautiful mix of diverse themes. It balances statistics with a readable prose, examines agrarian conditions and the life of the scholarly rebel, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, and contrasts colonial interventions with the serenity of the Sufi tradition. The book ends with Jafri's critical evaluation of madrasa education in the khanqahs. This should be an added bonus for those who want to learn about the education system of those times. Jafri's Awadh has brought out unexplored areas. He has made a valuable contribution to the study of an important subject.
