(IGP) IAS Pre: GS - Indian History - Modern Indian History: Facts Related to Modern India

Historical works

1. Tabaquat-I Nasiri by Milhaj-i-Siraj, a detailed account of early history the Turks in India down to the reign of Iltumish’s successors completed, in 1259.

2. Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi by Zia uddin Barni, most valuable source for Sultanate’s history, covers the period from the accession of Balban to the six years of Firuz’s reign during whose period the work was written ‘1357’.

3.  Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi by Shams –I Siraj Afif, a detailed account of the reign of Firoz Shah, particularly important for his public welfare measures co 1480.
4. Futuhat-I Firoz Shahi an autobiographical work by Sultan Firoz Shah, the only royal autobiography of sultanate period. Originally inscribed on the walls of the Jama Masjid built by Firoz at Delhi.
5. Tuzuk-i-Babari,written in Turkish (translated later into Persian at Akbar’s court by Abdur Rahim Khan- I Khanan and given the little Babarnama) offers an autobiographical account of Babar’s reign.
6. Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, written in Persian, an autobiographical account of Jahangir’s reign particularly useful for understanding his personality.

7. Akbarnama by Abul Fazal first in the category of Mughal court chronicles offers a detailed account of Indian history from earliest times down to Akbar. A part of it is known as Ain-i- Akbari which is the most authentic treaties on the organization nature and functioning of Mughal administration.

8. Pad Shahnama by Abdul Hami Lahori is the official history of Shahjahan.

9. Humayunnama by Gulbadan Begumis the only historical work written by a lady of the Mughal family. It was written at Akbar’s court by his aunt and describes the events of the reign of   Humayun. Narates that Babur sacrificed his life for the life of Humayun.

10. Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh by Abdul Qadir Badayuni is an important work of Akbar’s time which is particularly critical of the Emperor’s religious policy offers a general account of Indian history. He was highly critical of Akbar.

11. Tabaqat-I Akbari is a typical example of a man writing history as a particular observer, written by Nizamuddin, Bakshi of Akbar, it is very valuable for Deccan and Sind campaigns in which the author participated.

12. Muntakhab-ul-Lubab by Khafi Khan is a detailed work on Mughal history written in Aurangzeb’s reign and is particularly important for studying the events of that reign with reference to the Deccan. It also provides earliest information on Maratha activities under Shivaji.

Travel Accounts

1. Tehquiqat-e-Hind also called Kitab-ul-Hind by Alberuni in Arabic covers the early 11th century, a detailed, authentic and extremely informative work on contemporary Indian society and culture.

2. Rehla of Ibn Battuta the Moroccan traveler who visited the Empire of Mohammad bin tughlaq and wrote extensively about the period. The work in Arabi sheds particular light on the Devagiri episode better known as the transfer of capital.

Literary And Mystic Works

1. Miraj-ul-Sshiqin by Gesuderaz, an early sufi treatise written in the Deccan.

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Translations

1. Man Kautuhal, a commentary on Persian music written at the court of Raja Man Singh of Gwalior.
2. Ramayana translated into Persian by Badayuni at Akbar’s Court.
3. Razm Namah, Persian translation of Mahabharat by Faizi at Akbar’s Court.
4. Bhagvad Gita Translated into Persian by Faizi.

Delhi Sultanate

Kitab-e-Rehla of Ibn Battuta (The Travels of Ibn Battuta tr. H.A.R. Gibb) useful account of Tughlaq empire particularly the reign and personality of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq on Ibn Batuta’s travels in India during 1332-1342.

Vijaynagar Empire-Bahmani Kingdom

1. Book of Ser Marco Polo the Venetian, Concernikgn he kingdoms and Marvels of the East: the account of Marco Polo’s travels in 1288 and 1293.
2. Travels of Nicolo Conti in the early part of the 15th century: account of the Italian (Venetian) traveler who wrote about the reigns of Devaraya I and II, the glory of the capital of the capital and luxury of the court besides the large here in maintained by the kings.

3. Matlas-us-Sadain of Abdur Razzaq (India in the 15th century tr. R.H. Major) Account of the Persian envoy to the court of Devaraya II (arrival 1442) useful for information on diplomatic an economic life.

4. Voyage to India (eng. tr. of Russian original) account of Athanasius Nikitin, Russian traveler who visited the Bahmani Kingdom around 1468-70 and also wrote about the Vijaynagar Kingdom.
5. The Book of Duarte Barbossa (eng. tr. Dames) Account of the Portuguese traveler Barbossa who visited South India during 1500-1516. Provides useful information on Krishnadeva Raya.
6. Account of Domingo Paes (tr. and rep. by Sewell in Forgotton Empire) who visited Vijaynagar around 1522 and has written about Krishnadev Raya.
7. The Travels of Pietro deila vella in India: Della Velle’s account of South India (1623-24).

Mughal Empire (European Accounts)

1. Travels in Asia (The Travels of Peter Mundy); an account of the Mughul Empire under Sahajahan (1628-334) the English factor useful for aspects of social and economic life.
2. Travels in the Mughal Empire: Francois Bernier (1656-68).
3. Traveller’s Travels in India: Jean Baptiste Tavenier (1646-67).
4. Storia da Mogor of Nicolai Manucci (1699- 1709).

Main Battles

Other Facts Related To Medieval India

Saints & Philosophy

Royal Women-Sultanate & Mughal Period

Gulbadan Begum

Babar’s daughter knew Turkish & Persian and wrote Humayunnamah.

Nur-Jahan

• Nurjehan did social work.
• She gave grants to poor muslim to enable them to marry their daughters.
• She invented new design of clothes and fashions and perfumes.
• She was versed in Persian and Arabic.
• She wrote poems.
• She showed interest in paintings.
• She was versed in art of decoration.
• She had many ships.
• She built Itmad-ud-Daula’s tomb and Jehangir’s tomb.

3. Jahanara

• Sahjehan’s daughter Jehanara served her father when he was imprisoned by Aurangzeb.
• She did her own trade and she had many ships.
• She wrote Risala on philosophy.
• She wrote poems in Persians.
• She wrote biography of Muinuddin Chisti and other saints.
• She opened a Madarsa in the Jama Masjid of Agra.
• She put a petition against imposition of Jaziya by Aurangzeb.

4. Roshanara

• Shahjehan’s another daughter Roshanara stood by Aurangzeb during war of succession.
• Aurangzeb’s gave her the title Shah Begumand Rs.5 Lakh.
• She tried to hide the illness of Aurangzeb and kept control over royal seal.

5. Zebunnisa

• Aurangzeb’s daughter Zebunnisa saved Shahnabaz Khan.
• She supported her brother Akbar.
• She menmrised Quran by heart, for which she got 30000 gold muhar from Aurangzeb.
• She studied mathematics and astronomy.
• She was well-versed in calligraphy. She knew Shikast, Nastaliq and Naskh styles of Calligraphy.
• She opened a Translation Department.

Architecture – Delhi Sultanate & Mughal Period

1. Muslim architecture is based on arch, dome and minarets.
2. First real arch built in white marble is Balban’s tomb.
3. First real dome built in Alai Darwaja – This is also known as Saljuki dome.

Muslim Ornamentation

• Muslim ornamentation (Arabic)-flower, leaves, geometrical designs, verses of Qura.
• Muslim ornamentation (Persian) –coloured tiles, pietra dura, use of marble.
• Islam forade use of figures of living beings particularly human figures in ornamentation.
• Calligraphy based on verses of Quran was known as Kufi.

5. Gandhak ki Bawali is a step well built by Iltutmish in Delhi.

6. Tughlaqs

• Tughlaqs introduced sloping walls known as salami.
• They used grey sand stone.
• Their buildings were massive and without much ornamentation.

7. Mughals introduced new elements in architecture.

• Double dome in developed from(Humayun’s Tomb, Tajmahal)
• Charbagh style by Babur (Humayun’s Tomb)
• Artificial canals & gardens.
• Pietra dura (First use in the Tomb of Itimadud-Daula) Buildings put up entirely in marbles and the walls decorated with floral designs made up of semi precious stones.
• Use of marble.

8. Akbar’s Monuments

1. Agra Fort
2. Lahore Fort
3. Ajmer Fort
4. Allahabad Fort
5. Fatehpur Sikri

• Akbar lived here for 12 years.
• He left because of scarcity of water.
• Jama Masjid-inside it lies Tomb of Salim Chisti this is made in Gujarati style.
• Buland Darwaja-Built in commemoration of victory over Gujarat.
• Panch Mahal shows Buddhist influence.
• Birbal’s Palace – Double dome, Hindu influence.
• Jodhabai Palace – Jaina Influence
• Mariam’s Palace – Paintings on walls, Painting of Hanuman worshipping Ram.
• Sultana Palace – Carvings on wood,  Kashmiri style.

1. Jahangir’s Mousoleum was built by Nurjahan at Sahadara near Lahore-no dome-eight-angle minerals – inside it Tomb of Nurjahan.

2. Shahjahan’s Monuments

a. Agra Fort – Inside it Moti Masjid & Musamman Burj (from here he looked at Tajmahal), Nagina Masjid.
b. Jama Masjid at Agra built by Jahanara.
c. Tajmahal

• Land taken from Raja Jai Singh
• Chief architect – Ustad Isa, citizen of Agra.
• Construction under Karim Khan nad Mukarramat Khan.
• Amnat Khan Shjiraj of Kandhar wrote inscription.
• Ismail Khan Rumi of Constantinople constructed dome.
• Marble from Makrana (Jodhpur).
• Double dome.
• Inscriptions taken from the Tombs of Humayun and Abdur Rahim Khan-i- Khana.
• According to English sources Chief architect was Garomino Beronio.

d. Red Fort, Delhi

• Known as Qila-e-Muella.
• Main gates-Lahori Gate (West) and Delhi Gate (South).
• Rang Mahal-Emperor’s Palace and the most beautiful.
• Nahar-i-Bahist (Cabal of the heaven).
• Later Aurangzeb constructed Moti Masjid.
• Diwan-i-Am, where Mayur-Sihasan was placed.

5. Jama Masjid, Delhi

• Chief Characteristic – a series of three domb. 

Mughal Paintings

Akbar

1. Main Theme – Personalities, court scenes, war scenes, scenes of hunting, Real events.
2. He established a Deptt. of Painting – Abdus Samad was made its head – He was given the title Shirin Kalmi.
3. Abul Fazi mentions name of 17 painters out of which 13 were Hindus.
4. Famous Hindu Painters – Daswant, Basawan, Kesu, Lal, Mukund, Madhu, Jagan, Mahesh, Tarakhem Karan, harivansh, Ram, Sanwaldas.
5. Basawan was expert in painting body organs, background and portrait.
6. Daswant became insane and committed suicide.
7. Chronology of famous painting Hamznamah-> Anwar-i-Suhali (Punchtantra)0> Tutinamah- > Tarikh-i-Khandanir Timuria-> Badarnamah- > Akbarnamah-> Tarikh-i-Alifi-> Ramznamah (Mahabharat).
8. Walls of Fatehpur Sikri were adorned with paintings.

Jehangir

1. He himself was a great painter. In his autobiography Tujuk-i-Jehangiri he claims that he can recognize paintings of various artists.
2. Famous Hindu painters were – Bisandas, Manohar, Govardhan, Madhav.
3. Jehangir was lover of nature – He took painters to Kashmir to paint natural beauty.
4. Miniature painting got encouragement during his period .
5. Bisandas was expert in painting portraits and in presenting real reflections .
6. Mansur was expert in painting birds, flowers and trees.

After shahjehan

• Aurangzeb destroyed paintings of Bijapur & Golkanda. He white washed paintings of Akbar’s tomb.

Religional Architecture

Jaunpur

• Tughlaq influence on the Sharqi architecture is seen in the use of arch and beam, and battering walls.
• Propylons (huge recessed arch framed by tapering square minars divided into registers) have been used in Atala Masjid (Ibrahim Shah) and Jami Masjid (Hussain Shah).

Malwa

• It is notable for the excellent combination of arch and lintel, construction of stairs of flight, the use of coloured titles and lofty plinth for the buildings.
• Malwa boasts of Hussain Shah’s tomb, Jami Masjid, Jahaz Mandal, Hindola Mahal and the palaces of Baaz Bahadur and Rupmati.
• In Chanderi, Shahzadi Ka Rauza, Kushak Mahal and the Badal Mahal are located.

Bengal

• Drop-arch method has been used.
• Roof is raised by a system of arched bays.
• Adina Masjid built by Sikandar Shah and the Eklakhi tomb of Mahmud Shah were constructed . Some other monuments are Dakhil Darwaza, Tantipura Masjid, the Bara Sona Masjid etc.

Kashmir

• Wood was the principle building material and the roofs are pyramidal.
• Kashmir has two buildings of prominence: Mir Sajjid Ali HJamadani’s Mosque and Jami Masjid of Sikandar Shah.

Gujarat

• Notable monuments are Jami Masjid of Ahmedabad, Nagina Masjid of Champaner and the cities of Mahmudabad and Mastafabad founded by Mohammed Beghara.

Sur Architecture

• Surs built tombs at Sasaram which were octagonal but most outstanding was Sher Shah’s Mausoleum build on a huge plinth, amidst a lake and is multi storeyed .
• He also build the Purana Qila whose surviving monuments are Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid and the Sher Mandal library.

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