The British and hookah smoking in Colonial India

Navrang India June 27, 2025

 Where did the word "hookah" come from, and what does it mean? The prevalence of the Indian word hookah in English-speaking countries is the result of the British colonial rule  in India first under the East India company and later  under the direct administration in London(1858–1947). Hookah smoking was more prevalent under the company rule and after the administration under  Queen Victoria, this  social custom gradually  declined.

British officer smoking hookah/ before his servant-.pinterest.com

 A ''hookah'' (Hindustani) is  a single or multi-stemmed instrument for vaporizing and smoking plain or flavored tobacco called ''shisha'' in which the vapor or smoke is passed through a water basin - often glass-based  before inhalation. 
 
Believed to have  been  invented by one  Abu’l-Fath Gilani, a Persian physician of  Mogul  ruler  Akbar in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, India , the custom of  hookah smoking had attracted  the elite Persians. There the instrument,  design and mechanism  underwent changes to the current design and shape.  This costly custom of smoking hookah  was popular,  in particular, among the nobility during the Mogul time. 

There  was hesitation in the early time  because smoking Tobacco like drugs was considered a taboo then. How did tobacco reach India? Some historians say  it was introduced by the  Jesuits and later its use became widespread among the common people as well. In medieval India, smoking hookah  was a matter of prestige among the zamindars and landed classes.  In India it was more a Muslim social custom than  Hindu custom and was quite prevalent among royal family members and rich people.  Hookahs come in different shapes and sizes and rich and affluent people used  decorative hookah encrusted  with costly gems.

The  English in India were actively involved in mercantile trade initially in 1600s. Later in the mid 18th century CE the East India  company expanded  their trading activities in fertile Bengal. Being in the good book  of the  rulers, they  got  special favors from the ruling  class with respect to trade. After firmly setting  their foot in Bengal, driven by greed to grab more  money and land, EIC senior officials went after the task of land grabbing from Maharajahs and Nawabs across the land. The lack of unity among the Indian rulers was an added advantage  for the foreign invaders. 

Soon after the major victory  at the Battle of Plassey(June 1757) against the ruling Nawab  of Bengal and his subsequent murder (planned by Robert Clive with dissident Amirs), the English company put  a  puppet Nawab on the throne  for future  exploitation.  Necessity arose  for the British officials to  mingle with  the rulers and official of the court  to discuss trade dealings.  Among the rich  senior officials, Amirs and  rulers it was a social  custom  to smoke hookah. Frequent meeting with them made them take a fancy toward hookah smoking. 

 ''In 18th century Bengal, breakfasts of cold ham, fish, rice and fruits were followed by the hookah chaperoned by brandy-Pawnee while the sahibs emitted smoke in “odoriferous spicy gales; crowds of Bengallee servants in  attendance.”

The British, being shrewd as they  were, later looked upon hookah smoking  it as a symbol or an emblem of social integration with the native cultures.  In the course of their long official meetings and deliberations with the Muslim rulers, in particular, they were introduced to the custom of regular  smoking of hookah  after hearty  stately meals.  Over a long period of time, they  adopted some Indian customs to be at ease with the natives,  while remaining distinctly British without shedding their social customs and norms, not to mention their  arrogance,  racial exploration and Britishness.

Many Europeans  who had been in India for some time, became "absolutely slaves to their hookahs that were ever at hand''  excepting while sleeping, or eating lunch or dinner. " It was a way of relaxation in the midst of their hectic official work in a strange, hot country

A hookah  en.wikipediaorg

 In order to  take the hookah stand wherever they went on official  work, etc., the colonists  had employees  to carry the  hookah stands and such workers are often referred to as hookah or pipe bearers or hookah burdars. many English officials set aside a small amount of their salary to pay the hookah-bearers.
 
Many Europeans  who had been in India for some time, became "absolutely slaves to their hookahs that were ever at hand''  excepting while sleeping, or eating lunch or dinner. " It was a way of relaxation in the midst of their hectic official work in a strange, hot country.

Antique Indian brass Coco shell hookah, Mogul period.pinterest.com

In the  18th  century and prior  people started smoking tobacco in water pipes. And by the beginning of the 19th century, it became widespread throughout Europe. because of its popularity in England.