About​ Nagram

Historical Origins

Nagram Imambargah
Imambargah Wajahat Husain Rizvi
Nagram is a historically significant town located in the Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Once part of the ancient ilāqa of Nagram, it has deep roots in the region’s political, cultural, and religious history.

Nagram is believed to have been founded by a Bhar chief named Nal, and was a prominent estate during the reign of Akbar, when it was officially recognized as part of the Nagram estate. The Bhars were later deposed by Sayyad Miran, and eventually exterminated by Sultan Ibrahim of Jaunpur, marking a major shift in the region’s power dynamics.

Source: Gazetteer of the Province of Oudh, 1877, Benett W. C.

🧬 Lineages & Families

  • Sayyads of Nagram trace their lineage to Malik Yusuf and Sayyad Miran, early Muslim invaders.
  • Chaudhri Azam Ali, a notable figure, is said to have migrated from Khojid in Arabia twelve generations ago under Shekh Habibullah. He is credited with driving out the Amethia Rajputs, who previously held the pargana under Jaipál Singh.
  • This Musalman family acquired three or four villages, which they still hold, including a portion (taraf) of Nagram.

🛍️ Economy & Trade

Nagram was historically known for its corn market, with grain sales recorded at 12,000 maunds. However, this quantity was insufficient even for the town’s own population of 4,900, indicating limited trade or underreporting.

🕌 Cultural Composition

The town’s population includes:

  • Sayyads
  • Shekhs
  • Chhattris (mostly of the Janwár tribe)
  • Kurmis, who have risen to prosperity and acquired significant landholdings

🏯 Transition to Haidargarh

During the rule of Haidar Beg Khan, nāzim and prime minister of Nawab Asif-ud-daula, the administrative headquarters of the pargana were moved from Nagram to Fatehgarh. This led to the renaming of the pargana as Haidargarh, though Nagram retained its historical identity.

⚔️ Role in the 1857 Rebellion

During the 1857–58 uprising, the Kurmis of Nagram invited the Amethias of Kumhráwán to lead them, reflecting the enduring legacy of Amethia influence in the region.

🏘️ Infrastructure & Settlements

Nagram is one of the four major towns in its pargana, alongside Amethi, Goshainganj, and Mohanlalganj. It features a large bazar and is part of a pargana comprising 171 villages, with 60 held by taluqdars and the rest by smaller communities.