Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was not exiled to Calcutta. According to a new biography translated into English by his great-great-granddaughter Talat Fatima, he came to Calcutta on his own wish. His goal was to take a ship to London and present a petition to the British Parliament and the Queen against his dethronement and British atrocities in India. But his departure was stopped, so he stayed in Calcutta, where he lived for over 30 years until his death in 1887 at age 65. Dr. Fatima explained, "People usually think that he was sent in exile to Calcutta, that it was like a punishment from the British. The fact is he came to Calcutta on his own volition." This fresh biography, originally written by Talat Fatima's father Kaukub Quder Sajjad Ali Meerza, is backed by 38 months of research. It clears up confusions about Wajid Ali Shah’s birth, death, coronation, and literary works. The book reveals Wajid Ali Shah was a talented poet and writer. Many of his poems are in Lucknow, but most of his letters—especially love letters to his many begums—are in Calcutta, kept mostly at Fort William. He openly called his love letters "masterpieces in literature," sharing his deep emotions and sufferings. Dr. Fatima said the Nawab had 50 to 60 begums, with 6 to 7 staying with him in Calcutta. He was a unique personality—deeply religious yet secular, writing verses on Radha and Krishna, and composing in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and Braj Bhasha. "Wajid Ali Shah is more relevant today than ever," said Dr. Fatima. "People harp about his relationship with the opposite sex, but that’s mostly because of his own bold pen. This book tells you there is a lot more about him." The English translation of the biography, titled "Wajid Ali Shah: A Cultural and Literary Legacy," is soon to be published by Hachette in India.