India, Sept. 7 -- In the city of Lucknow, where the echoes of history resonate through its splendid architecture, two structures are known as 'Lal Baradari'. This nomenclature often confounds not only the common populace but also writers, heritage aficionados and official entities, leading to a considerable amount of confusion. To lay this matter to rest, we shall delve into the past and clarify the distinction. The term 'baradari', steeped in medieval significance, denotes a grand hall or pavilion characterised by twelve entrances. Such halls, adorned with multiple archways, were not unusual in Islamic architectural traditions. An illustration of this can be found in the remnants of an immense brick and stone 'baroduari', erected in 1525, in Gour - the ancient capital of the Bengal Sultanate, in present-day Malda district of West Bengal. Coming back to the heritage of Lucknow, we encounter 'Qasr-ul-Sultan', a magnificent edifice established by Sa'adat Ali Khan, the sixth Nawab of Awadh. Over time, this grand structure came to be informally known as the 'Lal Baradari' (in picture). The building itself was a remarkable creation, its exterior enveloped in a rich red plaster that imparted a striking resemblance to red sandstone. In contrast to the grand Mughal constructions, the monuments of the Nawabi epoch in Lucknow were predominantly fashioned from bricks and finished with 'chunam' or lime plaster, as the builders lacked convenient access to the stone quarries of Rajasthan or Chunar. Architecturally, the Lal Baradari of Lucknow presented a vast, double-storeyed format, featuring a low basement with rectangular window openings that lent it a sense of grandeur and a commanding upper level adorned with a series of lofty, engrailed arches. Above these arches were wide eaves and a flat roof with typical 'chattris' commonly seen in Nawabi architecture. The plan of the upper story consisted of a series of inter-connected, rectangular rooms. There were conjectures that the basement or 'tykhana' of the building was connected to other nearby buildings like the Chhattar Manzil by way of underground passages. However, recent excavations in the area did not reveal any such passages, at least in the Lal Baradari, although passages were unearthed on the Chhattar Manzil side. Sa'adat Ali Khan had held his first court here; subsequently, the building's importance grew when the coronation of Ghazi-ud-Din Haider, the first king of Awadh, was held in the premises, with a Mujtahid placing the crown on the head of Ghazi-ud-Din in the presence of JR Monckton, the British Resident. Strangely, a post-1857, photograph of the area by the husband-wife duo, Robert and Harriet Tytler, reveals the existence of a domed structure where the Baradari exists today. Did the building sport domes, before being structurally modified by the British post 1857, much like the 'Safed Baradari' or 'Qasr-ul-Aza' at Qaiserbagh? Perhaps we will never know. Lal Baradari was also referred to as the 'Westminster Abbey of Oudh' by some writers, since it performed the function of a Throne Room, Coronation Hall, Grand Durbar and Hall of Assembly during Nawabi rule. With the ascent of Nasir-ud-Din Haider as the second king of Awadh, the oriental practice of sitting on a 'takht' equipped with a velvet cushion (masnad) was replaced with a gold and ivory 'throne', a square canopy, supported by wooden poles covered with beaten gold hung above the throne, which was ornamented with precious stones. A magnificent emerald, said to be the largest in the world, hung at the front of the canopy which was of crimson velvet, matching the window curtains. A gilt chair stood upon the right of the throne for seating the Resident. The premises also saw the infamous episode of Mirza Faridun Bakht (Munna Jan) being propped up as Nasir-ud-Din Haider's successor by Badshah Begum, the dowager queen of Ghazi-ud-Din Haider. Badshah Begum, accompanied by her armed forces, had tried to push through the coronation of Munna Jan, as heir to the throne on July 7, 1837, which was resisted by the Col. Low, the Resident, aided by British soldiers from the Madiaon cantonment. The begum and her protege were eventually arrested and deported, but the Throne Room was plundered in the process. Post-1857, the Lal Baradari saw yet another significant event, when Governor General Lord Canning held his public darbar here on October 25, 1859. Canning announced the Queen's general pardon for her subjects and also distributed proprietary rights, titles and possessions to several ta'aluqdars of Awadh, who had remained loyal to British interests during 1857-58. During colonial rule, the building functioned as a library, and was subsequently converted into a museum. Even the spacious basement or tykhana of the Lal Baradari served as a godown for the health department for many years. After India attained Independence, the Baradari was handed over to the UP State Lalit Kala Akademi. Despite frequent restoration attempts, its former grandeur is yet to be revived. The second Lal Baradari of Lucknow is situated within Badshah Bagh, which was later utilised to accommodate the Lucknow University campus in 1922. The royal gardens were built by Ghazi-ud-Din Haider, but the buildings inside are credited to Nasir-ud-Din Haider, his successor. Apparently, there were three buildings within the premises, one of which was 'a square house washed in red ochre for the convenience of European wives'. This building survives till date within the campus as the 'Lal Baradari'. For a while, it housed a bank and other establishments of the university, but had to be abandoned later due to its precarious condition. This Nawabi building seems to have a bleak future now, since there are no immediate plans by any authority to repair or restore it. In fact, it was never a true baradari, although its name remains more popular than the building itself. The writer, a former scientist, has authored several books on the forgotten heritage of Lucknow...