When Urdu shayars earned patronage of Sayajirao Gaekwad

VADODARA: That the royal Gaekwads patronized artists of all hues is a known fact. But very few know that several Urdu shayars, too, made erstwhile Baroda state their home. In an effort that is first of its kind, a city-based Urdu poet has traced the history of shayars who settled and flourished in Baroda state since 1850 under the royal Gaekwads.
Zaheer Qadri, who was awarded for his book 'Sabaat' from Gujarat Urdu Academy in 2003, has now penned a book that brings to fore the little known facts about Baroda state's tryst with Urdu shayars.
Qadri has traced the 150 years of Urdu shayars settled in Baroda state during the rule of Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad and flourished later during the tenure of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III.
"The bloody clashes post 1857 revolt against East India Company had caused unrest across the country. Many eminent and learned Muslims, including Urdu poets, fled from northern regions like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to escape violence. Their search for a safe haven ended in Baroda state that was largely peaceful due to compromise between Khanderao and British government," Qadri told TOI.
"Khanderao warmly welcomed several poets and offered them jobs and land to settle in his kingdom. Several Urdu poets stayed back and enriched the state's literature with their poignant as well as romantic shayaris," Qadri revealed.
According to Qadri, over 25 shayars shifted to Baroda state during the rule of Khanderao and Sayajirao Gaekwad III in middle of 19th century and beginning of 20th century.
"They enriched the city's cultural vibrancy by organizing mushayaras and poetry contests. They wrote several books and put Baroda on national map along with poets from Delhi and other northern areas. Sayajirao also supported them," Qadri told TOI and added that he decided to write a book on the shayars as the subject had been rarely explored. The book titled 'Tazderaaye Sukhanvaraane Badoda (History of Shayars in Baroda) is expected to hit the stands next month.
Qadri has dedicated the book to Sayajirao Gaekwad III under whose rule the Baroda state flourished in areas of art and culture.