The Abandoned Tower of Ambition

Tall buildings symbolise power and authority today, from Burj Khalifa in Dubai to the Petronas Tower at Kuala Lumpur. But this idea, of ‘building up’ seems to have fascinated powerful people through history.

A Nawab in 19th century Lucknow also planned a massive tower to underline the might of his office. Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah was the third Nawab of Awadh and he had some pretty big plans, even though ironically, he had a very short stint at the top! He inherited the title at the age of sixty-three and ruled for just five years between 1837 to 1842. The highlight of his otherwise unremarkable reign was the fine buildings he commissioned in Lucknow.