Raja Tikait Rai

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

Portrait dated to the 18th century

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
    • Repertoire On Wajid Ali Shah & Monuments of Avadh, Avadh Cultural Club, Lucknow, 1974

    References
    1. India Environment Portal - Monument to hunger
    2. NAWABS OF OUDH & THEIR SECULARISM - Dr. B. S. Saxena
    3. Hindu Followers of a Muslim Imam, Yoginder Sikand Archived 1 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
    4. Directorate of Archeology (U.P.) Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
    5. Kanpur>>Excursions>>Bithoor Archived 18 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
    6. Kanpur city guide
    7. Hasnain, Nadeem (2016). The Other Lucknow. Vani Prakashan. pp. 64, 65. ISBN 978-93-5229-420-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    8. Lucknow City Development Plan 2006 Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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