Not as grand as Chattar Manzil but not too bad either!
Sultan Khana in Calcutta where Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is said to have lived in exile for a few years .
It’s location is disputed by his descendants. Please read full post.
Popular version mentioned by Rosie Llewellyn in her book:
After Nawab Wajid Ali Shah landed in Prince Ghat after his long journey from Lucknow he was housed in Bungalow no. 11 in Garden Reach.
This was an expanse of 13 bungalows built by Europeans on the bank of River Hooghly.
It was the property of the Maharaja of Brdwan and had been the residence of Sir Lawrence Peal the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Initially rented at ₹500/ month it was later bought and renamed Sultan Khana
Two adjoining buildings were also purchased named
Asad Manzil and Murassa Manzil.
Now called BNR House, in Garden Reach-BNR Colony area it is the official residence of the GM Railways and they were kind enough to invite us for a visit.
It was built in 1846 as the residence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The architecture was inspired by the portico of the Temple of Winds of Athens.
Metcalfe house built in Calcutta in 1844 had a similar design and was the template for this house.
It is from here that Nawab Wajid Ali Shah planned the township of Matia Burj.
( My information is based on the plaque in the BNR house)
The descendants disagree
Manzilat Fatima great granddaughter of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah however contradicts this information and has sent me Dr Mitra’s quote:
“Wajid Ali Shah rented a palatial house in Garden Reach paying five hundred rupees per month for it. The house was a riverside resort of the Maharaja of Burdwan. However, the English records state that the government was conducive to finding a decent abode for the ex-king and his retinue. Therefore, a palatial riverside resort that belonged to Sir Lawrence Peel, the former chief justice of the Supreme Court in Calcutta, at Garden Reach was rented out to him. Wajid Ali’s own book Sheo-e-Faiz indicates that after his arrival in Calcutta Wajid Ali stayed in the house of Burdwan’s Maharaja, which was rented at five hundred rupees per month. Wajid Ali Shah’s writing testifies―
Raja Bardhawan ki kothi panch saye ki kiraet per raisa.
Meaning-Burdwan’s Maharaja’s kothi was rented at five hundred rupees per month. Therefore, the information that Sir Laurence Peel’s house was arranged by the British, is not true. Moreover, the mansion of Laurence Peel is more than five kilometres away from the Shahi Masjid along the river. Contemporary narrator Abdul Halim Sharar, described Shahi Masjid as King’s personal worship place located adjacent to his palace – Sultan Khana. If BNR house belonged to Sir Lawrence Peel, then how could the King took rent from Burdwan Maharaja?
Rosie Jones mentions in her book that the BNR building was the Sultan khana which is not correct. I have personally asked this question to your father and he vehemently opposed the BNR theory. The image of Sultan Khana which was the original building belonged to Burdwan Maharaja has no resemblance with BNR house.”
Kamran Meerza brother of Manzil at posted:
https://www.facebook.com/566287668/posts/10158825099487669/
The great poet & writer King of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah did not stay in the BNR house instead he stayed in the Kothi of Raja Burdwan which was rented for about Rs 500 rupees. This building was later demolished by the King himself when he had the Sultan Khana built for himself in Matiaburj. We can get the evidence in the writings of the King himself.
You can read the book ‘Pearl by the river’ by Dr. Sudipta Mitra for more information.
