Islamic Architecture in India

Contents: Preface to the second edition. Preface to the first edition. Introduction. 1. The Arabs, Afghans and Islamic India: AD 727–AD 1287. 2. The Khaljis and Tughlaqs of Delhi: AD 1290–AD 1413. 3. Feudalism in Central and East India: AD 1305–AD 1500. 4. Ahmed Shah and Beghara of Gujarat: AD 1299–AD 1550. 5. Bahmanis and Adil Shahis in the South: AD 1344–AD 1672. 6. The Lodis, Mughals and Sher Shah: AD 1414–AD 1560. 7. Akbar, the king of builders: AD 1561–AD 1605. 8. A century of the Mughals: AD 1605–AD 1707. Bibliography. Glossary. Index.

Preface to the first edition: "This volume covers the impact of resurgent Islamic thought, ideals, religion and philosophy on the ancient and established civilisation of the Hindus in India, a subject that has fascinated me for long. How powerful the force of Islam was and how effectively the Indian builder produced a viable style out of the two seemingly contradictory philosophies is only too apparent in the great and diverse masterpieces of Islamic architecture all over India. The Qutab Minar at Delhi, the Jami and Atala Masjids at Mandu and Jaunpur, the Teen Darwaza at Ahmedabad, the Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, the city of Fatehpur Sikri and the Taj at Agra are all undoubtedly and distinctly Islamic. This book, however, stresses on the indigenous quality of each of these monuments. In fact, they represent a mirrorlike architectural reflection of the synthesis of Hindu and Muslim cultures that reached its most creative period under the rule of Akbar. This process of assimilation is evident in varying degrees at Delhi, Jaunpur, Bengal, Mandu, Gujarat and the Deccan, in fact all over India that was under the Mughal rule. I trust this emphasis will be evident to the reader, though it may get blurred at times under the ritualistic but necessary descriptions of the innumerable specimens of Islamic architecture in India.

The format of the book is much the same as followed in its companion volume Buddhist and Hindu Architecture, which is to be published later. In the context of studying Islamic architecture in India, an overall chronological study of its earliest phase in Delhi is undoubtedly rewarding. Subsequently, in describing the parallel but architecturally distinct styles of the various provinces, it becomes necessary to study each in its own chronological order to understand the evolution of the style within its own geographic, social and artistic parameters. This process is applied to each of the distinct regional styles. When the whole of the subcontinent came under the sway of a single unified empire, it was the writ and personality of each Mughal ruler that strongly influenced the architecture of the times. As such in its final stages, the story is compartmentalised into a study of the achievements of the builders under the guidance of the individual ruling authority."