Wajid Ali Shah, the last ruler of
Lucknow, was a talented composer as well as a distinguished exponent of
Kathak dance. He also had sound knowledge in art and architecture. He created numerous compositions under the pseudonym 'Aktharpiya' and his other pen name was Qaisar. He wrote over 40 books including a collection of poems, a collection of
thumris, two collections of
ghazals - 'Diwan-i-Akhtar' and 'Husn-i-Akhtar' - and a book on costume and stagecraft used in Kathak performances, 'Bani'. Wajid Ali Shah is also considered the first playwright of the Hindustani theater. He was also the first to conceptualize a zoo and was one of those who conceptualized
Kolkata's
Alipore Zoo. Deposed and exiled by the British, He died in 1887.
