Art and Architectural Traditions of India and Iran : Commonality and Diversity

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the historical and cultural linkages between India and Iran in terms of art and architectural traditions and their commonality and diversity. It addresses themes such as early connections between Iran, India and Central Asia; study of the Qutub Complex in Delhi; the great immigration of Turks from Asia to Anatolia; the collaboration of Indian and Persian painters; design, ornamentation techniques and regional dynamics; women and public spaces in Shahjahanabad and Isfahan; the noble-architects of emperor Shah Jahan's reign; development of Kashmir’s Islamic religious architecture in the medieval period; role of Nur Jahan and her Persian roots in the evolution of the Mughal Garden; synthesis of Indo-Iranian architecture; and confluence of Indo-Persian food culture; to showcase the richness of art, architecture, and socio-cultural and political exchanges between the two countries. Bringing together a wide array of perspectives, it delves into the roots of connection between India and Iran over centuries to understand its influence and impact on the artistic and cultural genealogy and the shared past of two of the oldest civilizations and regional powers of the world. With its archival sources, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers of medieval history, Indian history, international relations, Central Asian history, Islamic studies, Iranian history, art and architecture, heritage studies, cultural studies, regional studies, and South Asian studies as well as those interested in the study of socio-cultural and religious exchanges. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the historical and cultural linkages between India and Iran in terms of art and architectural traditions and their commonality and diversity. It addresses themes such as early connections between Iran, India, and Central Asia; study of the Qutb Complex in Delhi; the great immigration of Turks from Asia to Anatolia; the collaboration of Indian and Persian painters; design, ornamentation techniques, and regional dynamics; women and public spaces in Shahjahanabad and Isfahan; the noble-architects of emperor Shah Jahan’s reign; development of Kashmir’s Islamic religious architecture in the medieval period; role of Nur Jahan and her Persian roots in the evolution of the Mughal Garden; synthesis of Indo-Iranian architecture; and confluence of Indo-Persian food culture to showcase the richness of art, architecture, and sociocultural and political exchanges between the two countries. Bringing together a wide array of perspectives, it delves into the roots of connection between India and Iran over centuries to understand its influence and impact on the artistic and cultural genealogy and the shared past of two of the oldest civilizations and regional powers of the world. With its archival sources, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers of medieval history, Indian history, international relations, Central Asian history, Islamic studies, Iranian history, art and architecture, heritage studies, cultural studies, regional studies, and South Asian studies as well as those interested in the study of sociocultural and religious exchanges. Cover Page 1 Half Title Page 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication Page 6 Contents Page 8 List of illustrations Page 11 List of contributors Page 13 Acknowledgements Page 16 Introduction 18 Part I A confluence of traditions 32 1 The Qutb Complex: Iran and India 34 2 Mapping the overlap between the culture of Iranian “Turquoise and Emerald” with Indian “Saffron and Vermillion” 49 3 The transition of the Khāksār to the Nāth Yogi via Gor Khatri 64 4 Caravanserais: a synthesis of Indo-Iranian architecture 82 5 Nuskha-i-Shah Jahani: a confluence of Indo-Persian food culture 92 6 Myth and mythology related to water in Indian and Iranian culture: connections and continuity 102 Part II Regional dynamics 118 7 The Mughal gardens of Kashmir: a cultural perspective 120 8 Transformation of a “Hindu” city into a “Muslim” capital? Factual and fabled Mohammadabad Champaner under the sultans of Gujarat 137 9 The major Mughal buildings of Thatta in the seventeenth century: a synthesis of Central Asian, classical Mughal, and local architecture 149 10 Development of Kashmir’s Islamic religious architecture in the medieval period: synthesis and continuity 162 Part III India and Iran: historical perspectives 180 11 Imperative role of Nur Jahan and her Persian roots in the evolution of Mughal garden tombs 182 12 Impact of Persian ghazals on Mughal monuments 193 13 Shaikh Abdul Haq: a traditionalist of Bokhara in Delhi 202 14 Following the traces of the great migration of Turks from Asia to Anatolia 209 15 Cultural and architectural engagements between India and Iran: a study of Indian literature through the ages 222 Index 238 India-Iran;,Indo-Persian;,architectural,traditions;,art;,music;,food;,culture;,Sufism;,cultural,interactions;,ethno-religious,exchange;,myths;,mythology;,knowledge,transfer;,Iranian,and,Indian,architecture,synthesis;,Turks;,architecture;,Asia;,Anatolia;,Mughal;,Sind;,Buildings;,Shah,Jahan;,Nur,Jahan;,Persia;,Caravanserais,Architecture;,“Public”,Women;,Public,Spaces;,India,and,Iran;,Mughal,Garden,Tombs India-Iran,Indo-Persian,architectural traditions,art,music,food,culture,Sufism,cultural interactions,ethno-religious exchange,myths,mythology,knowledge transfer,Iranian and Indian architecture synthesis,Turks,architecture,Asia,Anatolia,Mughal,Sind,Buildings,Shah Jahan,Nur Jahan,Persia,Caravanserais Architecture,Public,Women,Public Spaces,India and Iran,Mughal Garden Tombs This book presents a comprehensive overview of the historical and cultural linkages between India and Iran in terms of art and architectural traditions and their commonality and diversity. It addresses themes such as early connections between Iran, India and Central Asia; study of the Qutb Complex in Delhi; the great immigration of Turks from Asia to Anatolia; the collaboration of Indian and Persian painters; design, ornamentation techniques and regional dynamics; women and public spaces in Shahjahanabad and Isfahan; the noble-architects of emperor Shah Jahan's reign; development of Kashmir's Islamic religious architecture in the medieval period; role of Nur Jahan and her Persian roots in the evolution of the Mughal Garden; synthesis of Indo-Iranian architecture; and confluence of Indo-Persian food culture to showcase the richness of art, architecture, and sociocultural and political exchanges between the two countries. Bringing together a wide array of perspectives, it delves into the roots of connection between India and Iran over centuries to understand its influence and impact on the artistic and cultural genealogy and the shared past of two of the oldest civilizations and regional powers of the world.0With its archival sources, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers of medieval history, Indian history, international relations, Central Asian history, Islamic studies, Iranian history, art and architecture, heritage studies, cultural studies, regional studies, and South Asian studies as well as those interested in the study of sociocultural and religious exchanges