1. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was a skilled player of the Veena (or Vina), a classical Indian string instrument. This fact stands in sharp contrast to his public policy: Aurangzeb, adhering to orthodox Islamic views, abolished singing and instrumental music at the imperial court. He even ordered the buriRead more

    Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was a skilled player of the Veena (or Vina), a classical Indian string instrument. This fact stands in sharp contrast to his public policy: Aurangzeb, adhering to orthodox Islamic views, abolished singing and instrumental music at the imperial court. He even ordered the burial of the musical instruments, stating that music should be buried deep. His personal proficiency with the Veena, however, demonstrates the persistence of cultural interests within the royal family.

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  2. The Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah is the first Mughal building entirely constructed from white marble and the earliest to feature the intricate Pietra Dura inlay on a significant scale. Built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father (Mirza Ghiyas Beg) during the reign of Jahangir, it is sometimes referred to aRead more

    The Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah is the first Mughal building entirely constructed from white marble and the earliest to feature the intricate Pietra Dura inlay on a significant scale. Built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father (Mirza Ghiyas Beg) during the reign of Jahangir, it is sometimes referred to as the “Jewel Box” or “Baby Taj.” Its construction and style foreshadowed the grand marble structures and sophisticated decorative techniques that would define Shah Jahan’s architecture.

     

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  3. The reign of Emperor Shah Jahan is universally known as the 'Age of Marble' or the golden age of Mughal architecture. This era saw the large-scale shift from the red sandstone construction favored by Akbar and Jahangir to the more refined white marble, often exquisitely decorated with Pietra Dura inRead more

    The reign of Emperor Shah Jahan is universally known as the ‘Age of Marble’ or the golden age of Mughal architecture. This era saw the large-scale shift from the red sandstone construction favored by Akbar and Jahangir to the more refined white marble, often exquisitely decorated with Pietra Dura inlay. His commitment to symmetrical design and expensive materials, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal, defined a period of unparalleled architectural elegance and sophistication.

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  4. Emperor Jahangir dispatched the acclaimed portraitist Bishan Das to the Safavid court of Shah Abbas I in Persia. Jahangir sent him on this unique diplomatic and artistic mission to capture accurate likenesses of the Shah and his leading courtiers. Bishan Das was highly successful, bringing back portRead more

    Emperor Jahangir dispatched the acclaimed portraitist Bishan Das to the Safavid court of Shah Abbas I in Persia. Jahangir sent him on this unique diplomatic and artistic mission to capture accurate likenesses of the Shah and his leading courtiers. Bishan Das was highly successful, bringing back portraits that Jahangir praised for their realism and fidelity. This reflects Jahangir’s personal passion for portrait painting and the high status of artists in his imperial court.

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  5. The historical chronicle 'Nuskhah-i-Dilkusha' was authored by Bhimsen Saxena Kayastha. Bhimsen was a Kayastha official who spent much of his career in the Deccan region, serving under the Mughal general Dalpat Rao. His work is invaluable as it provides a detailed eye-witness account of Aurangzeb's lRead more

    The historical chronicle ‘Nuskhah-i-Dilkusha’ was authored by Bhimsen Saxena Kayastha. Bhimsen was a Kayastha official who spent much of his career in the Deccan region, serving under the Mughal general Dalpat Rao. His work is invaluable as it provides a detailed eye-witness account of Aurangzeb’s lengthy and ruinous Deccan campaigns and the deteriorating administrative and economic conditions in the region during the later half of the 17th century.

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