Lucknow :
The Royal Family of Avadh, a body of descendents of erstwhile Nawabs of Avadh, wants the Modi government to revise the amount of wasiqa, the royal pension scheme initiated by Bahu Begum, the mother of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulah for the eternal benefit of her relatives, descendants and close servants. The scheme was continued by the East India Company and then the British rulers. After independence, it became responsibility of ministry of home affairs, government of India. Given in the form of silver coins, the pension was converted into currency notes which reduced its value.
The allowance lost its value further owing to division among beneficiaries. “In the 1850s, different wasiqas in the form of silver coin worth Rs 10 lakh were distributed among 168 persons,” said Ravi Bhatt, who has authored books on Lucknow’s history. “Today the number of beneficiaries is 1,800 and conversion from silver coins to currency has reduced the total value of all wasiqas to about Rs 22,000. This means less money and more claimants. As a result, the pension of more than 500 wasiqa holders is less than Rs 10,” he added.
General secretary of Royal Family of Avadh, Shikoh Azad says “changeover from silver coins to currency notes defeated the purpose of the scheme. No effort was made to revise the amount. In the interest of the community, we now want the wasiqa amount to be increased 100 times,” said Azad.
He added that Rajnath Singh had promised to revise wasiqa. The senior BJP leader and Lucknow MP is now also Union home minister. “Rajnath Singh assured to take up the matter. Our delegation will meet him next week with draft of the proposal,” claimed Azad, whose father is a wasiqedaar.
The delegation would also be talking about what the government did with loans and saving certificates given by nawabs of Avadh to East India Company. “The cumulative worth of these loans and certificates 200 years ago was Rs 198.33 crore and Rs 88.9 lakh, respectively. We want to know what the government has done with that money over the past 66 years,” asked Safdar Nawab, a royal descendent.
The royal family wants the interest accrued over this amount to be passed on to the descendents as royalty. “That’s our money and we have a right to it. But, we are as generous as our ancestors and will not mind a portion of it to be contributed to India’s defence services or for internal security,” said Nawab Jahangir Agha.
Royal family of Avadh wants Modi government to appoint a commission with representation of the descendents to “study all aspects of this tradition and recommend accordingly,” said Nawab Ibrahim Ali Khan, president.
Revision of wasiqa will change the fate of many holders living in penury. Begum Sabiha Kazmi, for example, who is a royal descendent, work as zardozi artisan to meet ends. The 60-year-old wants her granddaughters to study buthas no means. “A few thousand rupees can help us lead a better life,” she said.
For the well-to-do wasiqa holders, pension is an attestation of their royalty. “Money is not the issue for me and I use the wasiqa amount for charity. But wasiqa as an emblem of royalty and will help us keep the legacy of Lakhnavi tradition alive,” said Naseema Raza.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Shailvee Sharda ,TNN / June 18th, 2014