Development of art and architecture during the mughal period

 Dr. Mazafar Hussain

Abstract

Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings or other structures. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements. However, Mughal kings in India are the lovers of art and architecture. The kings ruled in India from 1526 AD to 1857 A.D. During this long period the art and architecture highly developed in India. India saw different kinds of building or monuments during the Mughal period. Today, the buildings are the symbol of mixed culture of Islam and Hinduism. This paper discusses about the popular buildings or monuments which are established during the Mughal period. How the art and architecture/ developed during the Mughal period will be discussed in this paper.

Keywords: Mughal dynasty, Kings, Mughal  Architecture.

1. A brief history of the Mughal dynasty:  During the 16th century Iran witnessed the rise of the Safavid dynasty after a period of upheaval and India saw the rise of Mughal Empire. Iran and India became great power under these two dynasties. The intercourse between Iran and India was faced covering politics, diplomacy, culture, literature, trade, religion etc. The language of Mughal court was Persian. Mughal patronage of culture co stantly attracted Persian scholars. Persians were absorbed in the expanding services of the Mughal Empire. The relation between Safavid and Mughal was marked by alliance of Shah Ismail with Babur and the friendship of Shah Tahmasp and Humayun. Babur founded Mughal dynasty in India after defeating Ibrahim Lodi in 1526 AD. at Panipat which is known as the first battle of Panipat. Babur who was originally a Timurid from the Persian region of Samarqand received help from Shah Ismail and established himself in Kabul and then in Delhi and Agra. After his short reign of 5 years Babur was died in 1530 AD. Babur was followed by his son Humayun. He ascended the throne of Delhi this year. In 1540 AD. Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri, but Humayun was able to flee to Iran. He again returned to India and defeated Sher Snah Suri with the military help of the Iranian king Shah Tahrnasp. His second phase of reign lasted from 1555 to 1556 A.D. Humayun was followed by his son Akbar. In 1556 A.D. Akbar (re. 1556-1605 A.D.) was declared emperor in Delhi at the age of thirteenth after the death of Humayun. I Bairam Khan was a faithful friend of Humayun. He being the guardian of Akbar began to rule? The great . king Akbar died on October 25, 1605.3 Akbar was followed by his son Jahangir who ruled Delhi from 1605 to 1627 AD.4 Jahangir was followed by his son Shahjahan, who ruled India from 1627 A.D. to 1658 A.D.5 He was followed by Aurangzeb (1658-1707 A.D.), Bahadur Shah (1707-1712 A.D.), Faruk Shiyar (1712-1719 A.D.), Muhammad Shah (1719-1748 A.D.), Ahmad Shah (1748- 1754 A.D.), Alamgir II (1754-1759 A.D.), Shah Alam II (1759- 1806A.D.), Akbar II (1806-1837 A.D.) and Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857 A.D.). Bahadur Shah II was considered as the last king of Mughal Dynasty.

2. Development of art and architecture during the Mughal period

All the great Mughals except Aurangzeb appreciated music and liberally patronized this enchanting art. Music was looked upon as one of the distinctive accomplishments of a Mughal prince. The imperial Mughals were great patron of art and architecture. They had keen interest in planning of forts, palaces, mosques, tombs and even the new townships. They had their own ideas about the construction of buildings by the free amalgamation of the foreign and indigenous styles. It resulted in evolution of what was called the Mughal architecture which was in fact, the national Indian architecture of that age." Babur who had left behind in central Asia magnificent architecture of Timurids was not impressed by the urban life style and buildings of the Indians. It is said that the only place which moved him to any degree of enthusiasm was Gwalior where he was thrilled to see magnificent fort, palaces and other public building constructed by its Rajput rulers."

Humayun, who built a palace for himself in Delhi, which was named "Din Panah". It was raz to the ground by his political rival Sher Shah Suri probably to wipe out the symbols of the Mughal rule in India. Some other buildings of Babur and Humayun might also have suffered the same fate during the Sur interlude. Two Mosques of Humayun's time, one at Agra and other at Fatehabad in Hissar are also in partial ruins. The first two rulers of the Mughal dynasty on account of their taste and experience indirectly contributed to the establishment of a tradition favorable to the erection of buildings finer than those of the period of the Sultanate of Delhi. During Humayun's stay in Persia Humayun visited several places including Sistan, Herat, Jam Mashhad Qazwin, Tabriz and Ardabil. Humayun had to accede to the demand of Shah Tahmasp of Persia to accept the Shia faith. On his return from Persia he is believed to have reverted to being a Sunni. Through his experiences of the two countries the Indo-Iranian architecture established in India, which is the mark of Indo-Iran art and culture.

The new style of architecture begun by Sher Shah was greatly developed by Akbar whose tolerant sprit and artistic sense gave full play to Persian and Hindu  influences. Most of the edifices of Akbar's time were built with red sandstone, a very hard material, but Akbar worked wonders with it. One of the earliest buildings is the tomb of Humayun at Delhi, which bears evident traces of Persian influence but was also influenced by the Indian art traditions. Its Indian features are evident from the free use of marble and absence of colored tiles so frequent y used by the Persian builders. Akbar adorned his capital Agra with many magnificent buildings such as the Dewan i-Am, the Dewan-i-Khas and the palace known as Jahangir Mahal. The Jahangir Mahal shows striking features of the Hindu style. But his most important buildings are to be found at Fatehpur Sikri, twenty six miles distant from Agra. Here he converted a hilly tract, the lair of wild beasts into a city which became a museum of exquisite artistic genius. The most impressive buildings of Fatehpur Sikri are the tomb of Shaykh Salim Chisti and the Buland The tomb is one of the most elegant shrines in India. The Buland Darwaza is a massive gateway, 176 feet high and was built to commemorate Akbar's conquest of Gujarat, It is the highest gateway in India and one of the biggest in the world. Jodh Bai's palace at Fatehpur Sikri is also a magnificent structure. In it the synthesis is the most striking feature of the architectural achievements of Akbar whose tolerant spirit allowed the Hindu artist to make use of decorative designs characteristic of Hindu and Jain temples. Akbar's mausoleum at Sikandara is a unique sepulchre modelled on the Budhist Vihar of India. It was planned by Akbar but constructed by Jahangir. A careful study of Akbar's buildings will bear out the of Abul Fazal's observation that "his majesty plans splendid edifices and dresses the work of his mind in the garment of stone and clay.

Jahangir had fine artistic sense but his tastes were for painting rather than for architecture. The two most important building of his reign are the tomb of Akbar at Sikandara and the tomb of Itimad-ud Daulah. Shah Jahan was the most prolific and magnificent builder among the Mughal emperors and in his time the art of building in India reached its zenith of perfection. In this building we don't find out the originality and grandeur that marked Akbar's structures.

But in exquisite beauty of form, in symmetry of design and skilful decoration of Shah Jahan's buildings are unequalled. They may be regarded as "the Jewel caskets magnified into architecture." He spent crores of rupees upon his building and they are to be found in various parts of the empire. But Delhi and Agra share the best of them. The lovely Moti Masjid (pearl mosque) at Agra is remarkable for its purity and unadorned beauty. But finest flower of Mughal art is famous Taj Mahal, a noble mausoleum erected by Shah Jahan over the grave of his beloved wife Mumtaz. It displays a rare "combination of the finest art and the most expert construction "and still regarded as one of the wonders of the world. With Shah Jahan's death the Mughal art and culture in all its manifestation began to decline. His puritanic son Aurangzeb cared little of architecture and less for painting. In the absence of royal patronage the style of architecture declined and few building erected in Aurangzeb's reign like the Badshahi Mosque, are but pale imitation of older models.

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3. Concluding remarks

From above discussion it may be said that the Mughal dynasty is the important dynasty ever. Mughals ruled and used their power in India. The Mughal kings were Muslim which is why the kings established Muslim culture in India. The Mughal kings are the lovers of art and architecture. The monuments or buildings mentioned above are also the symbol of culture of a country. During the reign of Mughal period the art and architecture hugely developed in India, which is the mixed architecture of Indo Iran style.

Footnote :

1. Dutta, Dr. Ajit Kumar, Bhuyan, Prof. Pranjal. Indian History, 1st edition.2001, P-185.

2. Talukdar, Sri Nirmal: 1975, History oflndia, P-143

3. Dutta, Dr. Ajit Kumar, Bhuyan, Prof. Pranjal. Indian History, 1st edition.2001, P-190

4. Talukdar, Sri Nirmal: 1975, History oflndia, P-153

5. Talukdar, Sri Nirmal, History oflndia, Pub. 1975, P-156

6. Mehta, J.L. 1987, Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India, Chandigarh, P-283

7. Ibid. P-283

8. Haigh, Wolsely. 1971, Cambridge History oflndia, OUP, Vol. IV, Indian reprint by S. CHAND, P-523

9. Srivastava, A.L. Medieval India Culture, P-170

10. Mishra, A.K. 2011, Chanakya Civil Service Today, Vol. II, Issue. ~I, P-24 11. Ibid P-24

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Author : Gauhati University, Assam, Pin-781014