Nawab Manzil I

My favourite uncle at his home: NawabMazil

From time to time we used to visit our relatives in Baroda. Back then in the 30s it was the capital of the princely state of the Maratha kingdom of Gaekwad. Our relatives came from the nawab family who ruled Baroda before it was conquered by the Marathas. They were a joint family of three brothers living together under the same roof in the traditional Indian manner at their grand home called Nawab Mazil.

Nawab Manzil was the opulent family home which housed our relatives and an array of staff – cooks, valets, sweepers and butlers, alongside accountants and secretaries. It was a sprawling and spacious residence. You entered it through a high wooden gate and the front was supported by impressive wooden pillars, painted in soft yellows and greens. There was an inner courtyard and extensive garden plus a majestic staircase leading to the bedrooms. It sparkled at night time, lit by gas lamps.

My three uncles were poles apart in their demeanor, character, habits and thinking. The oldest was Aminuddin Hussain Khan, the middle one Moizuddin Hussain Khan and then was my favourite: Fakhruddin Hussain Khan who we called Dr. Uncle or Chote Manmoon Sahib (younger uncle). All the three were highly intelligent but each had his own leanings and a different sense of humour. When their father Nawab Sadruddin Hussain Khan was alive they led a life of affluence and aplomb. He was a landlord of some substance in those days. When the Maratha Gaekwads conquered Baroda and defeated the nawabs, a treaty was entered into which entitled the nawabs to substantial land ownership that included a number of villages. These holdings were scattered all over Gujarat and brought in a considerable income. Sadly my three uncles lost their father when in their teens.

On one of my early visits to Nawab Manzil   

We lived in Ahmedabad. My father had been married to the sister of these three uncles – though she died and he later married my mother. I have some vivid memories of my first visit to Nawab Manzil in 1932 when I was 5 and my brother Iftikhar was 3. We used to regularly go to Nawab Manzil during our school holidays. Baroda was 60 odd miles from Ahmedabad. We always travelled by railway train. Although our own bungalow in Ahmedabad had its own distinguished charm, we used to love the glamour of Nawab Manzil. We would revel in the sumptuous breakfasts and luxurious dinners – all prepared and served by an entourage of servants. These were lavish experiences which we all enjoyed as a large family. Breakfasts could go on for 1 to 2 hours with the uncles debating various topics from their divergent perspectives. They were more Anglocised than our family and it was at Nawab Manzil that I first discovered marmalade.

To be continued…

[Posted by Meena Kadri on behalf of her father, Munir Kadri. Photos supplied by Suhail Shaikh – Nawab Manzil descendent now living in Paris]