Raja Tikait Rai Explained

Raja Tikait Rai "Bahadur" (c. 1760–1808) was the Diwan of Awadh from 1791 - 1796 CE in the regime of Asaf-ud-Daula. He belonged to North Indian Kayastha community of India.

Famine of 1784-85

Nawab Asif-ud-daula along with his prime minister Mirza Hasan Raza Khan and deewan Raja Tikait Rai, established a charitable institution (Rifah-e-Aam) which provided relief to thousands. Asif-ud-daula distributed salaries to the people with finance minister Raja Jhau Lal and deewan Raja Tikait Rai .[1]

Welfare construction

He also constructed many temples, mosques, bridges and dug tanks all over the state, which can still be seen.[2] He also built imambaras to house alams.[3] In Tehsil Bithur, Kanpur there is a Baradari[4] and a bathing quay built of red stone on the banks of Ganges known as Patthar ghat,[5] [6] built by Raja Tikait Rai.

Raja Tikait was also named the royal yajmān (patron) of Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya as a result of his donations.[7]

In memory

Raja Tikait Rai Ka Talab - This was built by the Nawabs. It is a pucca talab/tank with a separate bathing ghat for women. It also has the Sitala Mata temple where an annual fair is organized.[8]

Notes

  1. http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/node/768 India Environment Portal - Monument to hunger
  2. http://oudh.tripod.com/misc/noosec.htm NAWABS OF OUDH & THEIR SECULARISM - Dr. B. S. Saxena
  3. http://www.law.emory.edu/ihr/yogi1.html Hindu Followers of a Muslim Imam, Yoginder Sikand
  4. http://www.uparchaeology.org/projection_conservation_9.htm Directorate of Archeology (U.P.)
  5. http://kanpurnagar.gov.in/excursions.html Kanpur>>Excursions>>Bithoor
  6. http://www.indnav.com/servlet/Browse?mt=goToName&name=Kanpur Kanpur city guide
  7. Book: Hasnain, Nadeem. The Other Lucknow. 2016. Vani Prakashan. 2016. 978-93-5229-420-6. 64,65. en.
  8. https://jnnurmmis.nic.in/toolkit/LucknowCdp/Chapter1&2.pdf Lucknow City Development Plan 2006

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