Echoes of Royal Legacy: The Forgotten ‘Wasika’ Pensions of Awadh’s Descendants in Uttar Pradesh
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In Lucknow’s Hussainabad, descendants of Awadh’s royal family still collect centuries-old “wasika” pensions—tiny payments that preserve their fading royal heritage.
A Glimpse into Lucknow’s Royal Past
In the heart of Hussainabad, a historic area in Lucknow, 90-year-old Faiyaz Ali Khan slowly makes his way to the Picture Gallery, a 19th-century relic from the era of the Nawabs of Awadh. His hands may tremble with age, but his eyes gleam with quiet pride. He has come to collect something more valuable than money—his family’s wasika, or royal pension.
Derived from the Persian word meaning “agreement,” wasika refers to a pension granted to the descendants and associates of Awadh’s former rulers. The Awadh kingdom, once a flourishing cultural and political center in northern India, was annexed by the British in 1856, bringing an end to the rule of its semi-autonomous Muslim monarchs known as nawabs.
Although India’s monarchy was officially abolished decades ago and royal privileges—such as privy purses—were withdrawn, small pension arrangements like the wasika have quietly survived. These payments continue in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Rajasthan, offering a symbolic connection to India’s royal past.
A Pension Rooted in History
Historian Roshan Taqui, an expert on Lucknow’s heritage, explains that in the early 1800s, some members of the Awadh royal family loaned money to the British East India Company on the condition that the interest earned would be distributed as pensions to their descendants.
These loans were designed to be perpetual, meaning the Company would never repay the principal—only the ongoing interest. But as the British tightened control over the region, the nawabs’ influence waned.
According to Taqui, some rulers were even forced to lend money to fund the Company’s wars, such as the Afghan campaign. One of the most notable examples was Bahu Begum, wife of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, who in 1817 lent 40 million rupees to the Company. In return, she ensured that her relatives and loyal associates would receive lifelong monthly pensions.
A Tradition That Refuses to Die
Standing before the grand Picture Gallery—built during the reign of Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah—Faiyaz Ali Khan smiles faintly as he describes his journey.
“We’ve been receiving this wasika since the time of our great-grandparents,” he says. “It’s so little now that I only come once a year to collect it.”
His pension is just nine rupees and seventy paise a month (around $0.11), but to him, it is not about the money. “Even if we get just one paisa, we’ll still come and collect it. It’s our honor,” adds his son, Shikoh Azad.
Around 1,200 people, known as wasikedars, continue to collect these tiny pensions—an echo of a bygone era. Over generations, as families expanded, each descendant’s share diminished. For example, if one heir received ₹100 and had two children, the pension would later be split in half, leaving each with ₹50. Today, some receive amounts that barely cover their travel costs.
How the System Works Today
After India gained independence in 1947, a portion of the money loaned by Bahu Begum was deposited in banks to sustain the pensions.
According to S.P. Tiwari, the wasika officer of Uttar Pradesh, about ₹3 million was initially placed in the Reserve Bank of Calcutta, later moved to Kanpur, and eventually to Lucknow. The payments now come from the interest on about ₹2.6 million held in a local bank.
The pensions are managed through two offices inside the Picture Gallery—one run by the Hussainabad Trust and the other by the Uttar Pradesh government’s wasika department. While the Trust still disburses cash payments, most pensions are now directly transferred into bank accounts.
State Minority Welfare Minister Danish Ansari confirms that the practice remains official policy. “The wasika dates back to the Nawabs of Awadh and continues in accordance with historical agreements,” he said.
Critics vs. Supporters: A Debate Over Relevance
Not everyone agrees that these royal pensions should continue. Critics argue that the wasika system represents a remnant of feudal privilege with no place in modern India.
However, supporters believe the payments symbolize historical promises and cultural continuity. Among them is Shahid Ali Khan, a Lucknow-based lawyer and beneficiary whose grandfather served as a minister to Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah.
“This wasika isn’t about money—it’s about our heritage,” he says. Shahid receives two pensions linked to separate loans: one of ₹4.80 quarterly and another of ₹3.21 monthly. He collects them just before Muharram, using the funds solely for religious purposes. “If even a single paisa were spent otherwise, I’d feel guilty,” he admits.
Calls for an Increase in the Pension
Many beneficiaries, including Faiyaz Ali Khan, believe the pension amount should be revised to reflect modern interest rates.
“We’ve been receiving wasika at a 4% rate since the time of the Nawabs,” he explains. “But today’s bank rates are much higher. The value hasn’t kept up with time.”
His son adds that they have appealed several times for an increase but without success. “I spend 500 rupees on petrol to collect nine rupees,” he says with a wry smile.
Experts note that the wasika was once paid in silver coins, each weighing over a tola (around 11.7 grams). When payments switched to Indian currency, their value dropped dramatically.
Shahid Ali Khan plans to file a legal petition seeking either a revision or restoration of the original silver-based value. “If not in silver, then at least its modern equivalent should be paid,” he insists.
When Collecting the Pension Was a Celebration
Longtime recipient Masood Abdullah remembers a time when collecting the wasika was a grand event in Lucknow.
“It used to feel like a festival,” he says. “People arrived in horse-drawn carriages, sherbets were sold, and the streets were filled with music and laughter.”
Women traveled in curtained carts for privacy, and food vendors lined the roads. “It was more than a pension—it was part of our culture,” recalls Faiyaz Ali Khan. “Now it’s just a quiet formality.”
A Legacy Preserved in Spirit
Today, the wasika pension may be little more than a symbolic relic, but for families like the Khans, it remains a living link to Awadh’s royal past. The payments, no matter how small, represent identity, heritage, and pride in a history that continues to flicker in Lucknow’s old quarters.
As the world around them modernizes, the descendants of Awadh’s nawabs still walk through the grand gates of Hussainabad’s Picture Gallery—holding on to a fragment of their royal legacy, one rupee at a time.