The foundation of the Mughal Empire by the Timurid Prince of Central Asia, Babur, in 1526 after defeating Ibrahim Lodi, the then Sultan of Delhi, in the First Battle of Panipat was a turning point in the history of India. This remarkable feat by a young prince had a far-reaching impact on the politics, culture, society, and economy of the country and even continues to inspire certain social and cultural norms to this day. One of the greatest contributions of the Mughal Empire is in the field of art and culture, which have left a lasting impression to date.
The Mughal Empire, through strength of arms, established the largest pre-modern Empire in Indian history.
The Mughal military machine was disproportionately powered by a tribe of Punjabi Muslims, who after assuming the trappings of nobility, became known as the Barha Syeds. pic.twitter.com/WEIcDVfUsl
— ArainGang (@ArainGang) November 12, 2023Painting
Under the greater Mughals like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan painting received a significant patronage. Akbar, who himself was a learned scholar, commissioned several illustrated manuscripts, including the “Hamzanama” and “Tutinama”, which show cased the development of a distinctive Mughal style. Mughal paintings, which borrowed several elements from the Persian arts, were also inspired by the Rajput style of painting. Mughal miniature paintings, as evident from the name originated during this era and are known for their small size, intricate detail and vibrant colour that adds uniqueness to the painting.
Portraiture flourished under the patronage of Jahangir, who commissioned famous painters to paint his portraits. One famous portrait is the one that features Emperor Jahangir holding a globe in his right palm. Shah Jahan continued the tradition of patronizing paintings, and during his time, the paintings assumed a less naturalistic style compared to earlier reigns. Like Akbar, he too commissioned the “Padshahnama,” which is an intricately illustrated chronicle of his reign.
Music
It is also noted that the Indian classical music received a significant boost during the Mughal Empire. Akbar’s era witnessed a vibrant and lively musical environment where a wide pool of talented musicians from across the country gathered. It is here that a fusion of age-old Indian and Persian musical traditions took place under the active encouragement of Akbar. Consequently, this has contributed to the development of a unique and diverse musical style and this unique blend evidences itself even in today’s classical composition.
Here again, the remarkable feat of Tansen deserved special credit. He is one of the Navaratnas or the Nine Jewels in Akbar’s court and has significantly contributed to the Dhrupada style of music. He is also credited with the invention of a number of ragas during the Mughal Empire.
Architecture
Out of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal in India, built by Shah Jahan, finds a place. This one instance serves as a testament to the architectural marvel that the Mughal Empire has contributed to. Despite Babur’s reign being relatively short and his time mostly taken by the consolidation of the empire, he is known to have laid the foundation for the Mughal architectural style.
Being influenced by the Timurid Architecture in Central Asia, he brought architectural elements and techniques characterized by grand domes, tile work, jail work, and symmetrical layouts to India. Art historians and researchers pointed out that the integration of pietra dura and the introduction of jali work for elaborative ornamentation marks Shah Jahan’s era and is evidenced from the spectacular Taj Mahal.
A significant architectural contribution is the Shalimar Gardens which is located in Lahore and Srinagar. They are known to have terraced gardens, water channels, and exquisite floral arrangements built on the line of the Persian Charbagh structure. India’s national capital, Delhi is home to Jama Masjid. One of the most famous mosque in India is characterised by majestic courtyard, lofty minarets, and intricate red sandstone and white marble adornment.
It remains another architectural marvel of the Mughals that finds use till date as it holds traditional Friday’s prayer for the city’s Muslim populace. It has been observed by art connoisseurs that the Humayun’s Tomb is a milestone in Indian architecture as it is characterized by a blend of Persian and Indian architectural elements and is one of the pioneers to use a double dome structure.
Not just Jama Masjid, there is another such architectural marvel that holds significance even in contemporary India. It is the Red Fort on the ramparts of which the Prime Minister delivers a speech every Independence Day marking the legacy which was originally built as a tribute to the grandeur and power of the Mughal Empire. Art historians and researchers have demonstrated that the splendid city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Akbar, is a perfect fusion of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles and is characterised by grand gateways including Buland Darwaza, elaborate mosques, palaces, and gardens.
Literature
Similarly, connoisseur of literature notes the Mughal Empire for its invaluable contribution to the field of literature as well. Babur composed his memoir titled “Tuzuk-i-Baburi” in the Chagatai Turkic language. This memoir is a perfect blend of personal and political history and provides valuable insights into his life, military campaigns, and observations about Indian culture and society. It has been observed that this era marks growth of both secular as well as religious literature. Abu Fazl, who was also one of the Navaratnas in Akbar’s court remains one of the notable court historians of the Mughal Era. His unforgettable contribution includes his composition of the monumental “Akbarnama” and the “Ain-i-Akbari”.
These two texts are notable for providing a detailed chronicle of the reigns of Akbar and a comprehensive administrative and social survey of his empire respectively. Again, Jahangir’s memoir “Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri” and Shah Jahan’s reign court chronicler Abdul Hamid Lahori’s “Padshahnama” serve a similar function of outlining the details of their respective reign and are considered invaluable source of information for contemporary researchers.
Religious literature received patronage from most emperors and religious literature received a significant boost particularly during the reign of Akbar and under the influence and encouragement of Prince Dara Shikoh. Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan, translated the Upanishads and also the Bhagavad Gita into Persian for the first time. This translation has led to an initiation of a dialogue between Hindu and Islamic spiritual thought. Previously, Akbar was known for his revolutionary conceptualisation of religion and has been a great patron of learning. Under his encouragement, the Sanskrit epic like Mahabharata was translated into Persian and came to be known as the Razmnama.
From the phenomenal contribution in the field of literature, architecture, painting and music it is evident that the mighty Mughal Emperors have left a lasting impact on India’s cultural history. They are known to have ushered in an era where cultural syncretism was assigned the highest priority. The cultural syncretism has resulted in a significant positive impact on India’s cultural ethos. Therefore, we see various strands of culture intertwining and enriching India by adding diversity of thought and innovation in every field of artistic creation.
FAQ
1. What was the significance of the Mughal Empire’s impact on Indian art and culture?
The Mughal Empire’s patronage of art and culture led to a significant flourishing of these fields. They introduced a unique blend of Persian and Indian styles, resulting in innovative and exquisite works in painting, architecture, music, and literature.
2. How did the Mughals influence Indian painting?
The Mughals introduced a distinctive style of painting that combined Persian and Indian Rajput elements. They commissioned numerous illustrated manuscripts and portraits, with a focus on intricate details, vibrant colors, and realistic depictions.
3. What are some of the most iconic architectural marvels of the Mughal era?
The Mughal era produced some of the world’s most stunning architectural masterpieces, including the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Fatehpur Sikri, the Jama Masjid among others.
4. How did the Mughals contribute to Indian music?
The Mughals fostered a vibrant musical environment, encouraging the fusion of Indian and Persian musical traditions. They patronized talented musicians and contributed to the development of the Dhrupad style. Tansen is known for his invaluable contribution in the field of music.
5. What was the impact of the Mughals on Indian literature?
The Mughals were great patrons of literature, commissioning the creation of historical chronicles, poetry, and translations of religious texts. Darah Shikoh has translated translated the Upanishads and also the Bhagavad Gita into Persian for the first time.
6. What is the lasting legacy of the Mughal Empire in India?
The Mughal Empire left an enduring legacy in India, shaping its art, architecture, music, and literature. Their emphasis on cultural exchange and their patronage of the arts continue to inspire and influence Indian culture to this day.
