Nawab Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur: How the Nawab of Rampur created India’s iconic hunting dog

The Nawabs of Rampurin Uttar Pradeshhave left their mark on various cultural aspects, from poetry to cuisine and more. The royal court cuisine gave birth to the Rampuri cuisine, and the Rampur School of Urdu Poetry is considered the third most important, after Delhi and Lucknow. To this day, their rich legacy continues. Interestingly, the Nawabs are also credited with creating the breed of dog known as Rampur hunting dog.

Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur (1787-1840) was the Nabob of the former princely state of Rampur. He became nawab after his uncle, Ghulam Muhammad, was deposed by the British East India Company and the Nawab of Awadh. He ruled for 46 years from 1794.

The Nawab was a dog lover and passionate about hunting. Ahmad Ali created the Rampur hound by crossing the Afghan hound (Tazi) with the English hound. GreyhoundThe Rampur Greyhound inherited its speed from its English ancestors and its firm appearance and character from the Afghan Greyhound (Tazi). It is one of the best-known Indian greyhound breeds and was named after the princely state of Rampur.

As a result, the maharajas and nawabs kept Rampur greyhounds for hunting because of the breed’s ability to run fast and cover long distances.

The Rohilla state of Rampur was founded by Nawab Faizullah Khan on 7 October 1774, in the presence of the British commander Colonel Champion. The Nawabs of Rampur were descendants of the Rohilla dynasty and played an important role in shaping the culture and traditions of the region.