India, Feb. 8 -- The Urdu term 'arzi' encapsulates the essence of a written petition or formal request, often directed towards authorities such as government offices or courts. This custom of filing arzis flourished during the Nawabi era, a period that was succeeded by Colonial rule in Lucknow. The context of this phenomenon is rooted in the political transformations that occurred in Awadh, which had become a vassal state under British control. Initially led by a 'Nawab' and later by a nominal 'King' following the Battle of Buxar in 1764, Awadh's governance shifted dramatically. In the prevailing situation, where alternative means of seeking justice were limited, both common citizens and members of the aristocracy, many of whom hailed from Lucknow, found it necessary to express their 'requests' to the British authorities in Calcutta. Arzis varied from straightforward appeals for financial assistance or land grants to intricate matters concerning legacies and issues of succession. Interestingly, the local 'native' populace had considerable trust in the British sense of justice and fairplay, often opting to circumvent native authorities in favour of addressing their grievances to Calcutta for resolution. In fact, the ex-King Wajid Ali Shah also continued to submit petitions to the British all through his later life for various reliefs, even though he had been dispossessed of his crown and titles by the very same British in 1856. In this brief article, we will examine some of the more intriguing cases concerning the world of arzis. One of the earliest incidences of arzi was that of Bahu Begum, the widow of Shuja-ud-Daula, who petitioned the Marquis of Wellesley at Calcutta to issue instructions to the Resident at Lucknow, directing him 'not to permit any of the relations of her house, except the English, to have any concern nor in any manner to interfere in her affairs.' Peeved with Sa'adat Ali Khan, the ruling Nawab, she continued to petition the British on various matters, including her 'will' and assets till her death in 1816. Ironically, Bahu Begum had more faith in Calcutta and on some of her own courtiers like Jawahir Ali Khan and Darab Ali Khan at Faizabad, than on the Nawabi court at Lucknow. Dulhan Begum, widow of Asaf-ud-Daula, had also submitted petitions to the British, listing a litany of grievances and demands, including the right to her 'properties' in and around Delhi, as well as her jagir (estate) in Awadh. Despite his best efforts to govern Awadh satisfactorily and keep the British satisfied, at one point of time, Sa'adat Ali Khan, the sixth Nawab, had petitioned the British, offering to abdicate in favour of his son, Ghazi-ud-Din Haider. His arzi submitted to the EIC in November 1799 had proposed that 'he would with his own hands raise one of his sons to the masnad and himself retire with whatever personal money he was left with, promising not to stay in Awadh or interfere in the smallest degree in the affairs of the country.' Nasir-ud-Din Haider, the second 'king' of Awadh had died without an heir. His succession was marred by armed conflict, but ultimately, Nasir-ud-Daula, half-brother of Sa'adat Ali Khan was propped up by British, who assumed the role as third 'king' of Awadh, Mohammad Ali Shah. However, the British were flooded by a flurry of petitions from Kaiwan Jah and Munna Jan, both from Nasir-ud-Din Haider's troubled past. One Iqbal-ud-Daula, the son of Shams-ud-Daula - second son of the late Sa'adat Ali Khan, also fancied himself as the true successor to the Nawabi masnad; he continued to petition the British on the issue of succession. None of the arzis or petitions succeeded. In an unusual twist of fate, in 1947, arzis were submitted by various individuals and groups for restoring the status of Awadh 'as an independent kingdom.' A letter of Prince Yusuf Mirza from Calcutta, dated August 11, 1947, petitioned the Viceroy 'to restore the kingdom of Oudh to the heirs of Wazid Ali Shah on the ground that the kingdom was never annexed but its administration had been taken over by the British for the benefits of the subjects.' Petitions of a similar vein were submitted to Jawaharlal Nehru, then Vice President, Governor General's Council, New Delhi, and to Sarojini Naidu, Governor of the United Provinces. Another petition, this time from Sita Ram Singh, only surviving descendent of Maharaj Narpat Singh, from Ruiya (present day Ruia Garh, Hardoi), one of the five 'states' of Awadh, stated that 'Wajid Ali Shah was only a chakladar of the king of Delhi, and declared himself a Nawab when the Mughal empire dwindled and then shamefully surrendered himself to the English; his descendents had no right on Awadh.' Bodies such as Oudh Restoration Mission, Oudh Ex-Family Association, Oudh Wasikadars and Political Pensioners Association submitted memoranda in a similar vein. On January 15, 1948, the Govt of India was constrained to note that if the memorialists 'do not openly retrace their steps and accept the existing order, withdrawing all such claims and baseless assertions, their pensions and wasikas will be liable to be discontinued (sic).' On May 12, 1948, the nascent Indian government reminded the memorialists that 'the sooner they reconciled themselves to a position what has obtained [sic] for the last 100 years, the better is their own interests [sic].' PC Sarkar, a former scientist, has authored several books on the forgotten heritage of Lucknow...