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Sangrāhikā Archaeological Survey of India SANGRĀHIKĀ Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 e-newsletter on the museums of ASI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA Contents From the Director’s Desk 3 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India 4 - 14 Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort (Mumtaz Mahal) Education and Awareness 15 - 18 Activities and Special Events Exhibitions Prized Antiquity 19 Editorial Team Dr Urmila Sant, Joint Director-General (Museums), Archaeological Survey of India Dr K. Lourdusamy, Director (Museums), Archaeological Survey of India Sh. Indu Prakash, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India Dr Aprajita Sharma, Assistant Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India Data Supplied by Archaeological Site Museums, Archaeological Survey of India Hindi Translation Hindi Section, Archaeological Survey of India Mail us at [email protected] Mail us at [email protected] image on cover: Lithograph, Zeenat Mahal (source: Photo Section, ASI) image on back cover: Amphorae, Chinese Celadon, 18th century CE (source: Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort) All contents in the publication are for information only. Feel free to refer and distribute this work with due acknowledgement but no part of this publication can be reproduced for any purpose in any form. 2 Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 from the Director’s desk… Dear friends, I am happy to present the second issue of year two of Sangrāhikā which is dedicated to the Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort (Mumtaz Mahal). The museum is housed inside the historic Red Fort of Shahjahanabad built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-58 CE). Though the Red Fort, also popularly known as Lal Qila, have several ancient buildings but the Mumtaz Mahal is one of the most attractive royal edifice built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his most beloved queen Mumtaz Begam. During 1911, this particular building was converted into an Archaeological Site Museum wherein objects displayed are of Mughal period. The collection includes some famous and exclusive objects such as paintings of Sultan Sahib; arms; manuscripts of Quran; Chinese porcelain; textiles; lithograph of Zeenat Mahal along with her clothes and; coat of the emperor Bahadur Shah II. The up-keepment and several new proposals will be taken up soon for the overall development of this museum so as to make it more imperative and informative for the researchers. I am indeed happy to inform all the readers that I have taken the charge as the Director (Museums) and any suggestions from all are welcome. Dr K. Lourdusamy Director (Museums) Archaeological Survey of India Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 3 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort, Delhi he historic Red Fort of Shahjahanabad (the seventh city of Delhi) was T built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-58 CE) as his citadel. After a reign of 11 years at Agra, Shah Jahan decided to shift his capital to Delhi. In 1638 CE, the construction of Shahjahanabad was started and a little later on 12th May, 1639 he laid the foundation of this fort which was completed after nine years on 8th April, 1648. Its master builders were Ustad Hamid and Ahmad and it was completed under the supervision of Izzat Khan, Alivardi Khan and Makarmat Khan. In its earlier days, the fort was known as Qila-e-Mubarak (the fortunate city), but now it is popularly known as Red Fort or Lal Qila because of the red sand stone largely used in it. It is one of the building complexes of India which encapsulates a long period of Indian history. It was the home of the Mughal emperor from the reign of Shah Jahan to Bahadur Shah Zafar II and played a very important role, not only in the history of medieval India but also in the history of modern India. fig. 1 ~ Red Fort, Delhi: Front view 4 Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Located on the west bank of River Yamuna, the fort is roughly octagonal on plan with two longer sides on the east and west and six smaller ones on the north and south. It occupies an area of about 124 acres (50.10 hectares). The rampart wall measures about 900 by 550 m with a perimeter of 2.41 km and rising to a height of 22.50 m on the town side and 18 m along the river. The width of the rampart is 13.71 m at base and 9 m at the top. The walls are built of red sandstone and are covered with a succession of turrets, kiosks, balconies and perforated screens. Outside the rampart runs a moat (18 m wide and 9 m deep) except on the river side and was originally connected with the river. The fort is provided with four gates - Lahori Gate (west), Yamuna Gate or Khizr Gate (east), Delhi Gate or Akbarabadi Gate (south) and Jahangiri Gate (north) which connects the Salimgarh Fort. The general entrance to the fort lies through Lahori Gate where on 15th August, 1947, for the first time the National Flag was unfurled by the first Prime Minister of Independent India and every year the Independence Day is celebrated here. After the First War of Independence in 1857, the British army captured the fort. They demolished most of the buildings and gardens, especially of western part and constructed several barracks and other buildings to accommodate their army. fig. 2 ~ Red Fort, Delhi: Barracks built by the British Army Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 5 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Despite heavy demolition, the fort still has a variety of structures like palaces, pavilions, halls, hammam and garden of Shah Jahan’s period. The significant buildings inside the fort are Chhatta Bazar or Meena Bazar, Naubat or Naqqar Khana, Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), Mumtaz Mahal, Rang Mahal (Palace of Colour), Khas Mahal (Private Palace), Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), Hammam (Royal Bath), Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque, Hayat Baksh Bagh (Life Bestowing Garden), Sawan and Bhadon pavilions, Zafar Mahal, etc. fig. 3-4~ Red Fort, Delhi: Naubat or Naqqar Khana fig. 5-6 ~ Red Fort, Delhi: Rang Mahal (Palace of Colour), Khas Mahal (Private Palace), Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) 6 Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Mumtaz Mahal is one of the most magnificent royal edifices in Red Fort complex. It was built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Begum. The building measures 26.8 m long from north to south and 24.6 m from east to west and was formerly an important apartment of the seraglio. After the mutiny of 1857, it was converted into military prison and after that as sergeant’s mess. Therefore, its original appearance has been completely changed. The building had gilded chhatris on the corners of its roof which are now missing. The lower portion of the wall and piers are of marble and traces of some of the old paintings and glass decoration can still be seen. In 1911, this building was converted into an Archaeological Museum by the Archaeological Survey of India. The antiquities are displayed in chronological sequence in five galleries and are basically related to Mughal period. fig. 7 ~ Red Fort, Delhi: Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort (Mumtaz Mahal) Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 7 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India First Gallery (Entrance Gallery) In this gallery, art objects belonging to emperor Shah Jahan and his predecessors have been displayed. These include paintings of Sultan Sahib Qiran Amir Taimur Gurgan (1336-1405 CE), manuscript of Taimurnama of Maulana Abdullah Hatifi (1488-89 CE), manuscript of Diwan-i-Hafiz, specimens of calligraphy in Nastaliq characters by Mohammad Hussain of Kashmir, dagger of Sultan Tahmasp Safavi of Iran who gave shelter to Humayun, painting of Sultan Abu Sa’id (1463 CE) the grandfather of Babur, Arabic and Persian inscriptions, Farman and sketch, painting of Sheikh Salim Chishti, Farman of Jahangir (1622 CE), brass astrolabes which were used for measuring the distance between heavenly bodies and manuscript of the Quran in Naskh characters by Muhammad Arif. fig. 8 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort: First gallery 8 Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Second Gallery (Central Gallery) In this gallery, there are various types of stone, jade and ivory objects which includes dagger handle (sheath made of silver), lid made of chalcedony, betel dish, marble bowl with lid, Persian vase, jar with lid of 18th century, Chinese plate of 18th century, bowl with decorative Persian inscription, perfume box, thumb guard, velvet textile, silver clock and Persian pen box, etc. have been displayed. fig. 9-10 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort: Display of Chinese porcelain in the second gallery Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016 9 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Third Gallery (Painting Gallery) Paintings belonging to the Persian and Mughal painters are exhibited here. The important exhibits are opium-eaters, a battle scene from Shah Nama, Mirza Farrukh Fal (son of Humayun), Baz Bahadur of Malwa, Khwaja Hasan Basari, Jodhabai and Nadir Shah, Rajasthani and later paintings are of Kunwar Shri Balwant Singh, Rajadhiraja Bakht Singh, Rao Ummed Singh of Bundi, Nawab Mansur Ali Khan ‘Safdarjung’, Bahadur Shah and painting of Raushan-Ud-Daula (water colour painting) with other manuscripts of holy Quran, etc. fig. 11 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort: Display of the third gallery Fourth Gallery (Bahadur Shah Zafar Gallery) Here, the arms used in the war of 1857 by the Nawab of Pataudi and Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II and field-glass used by General J.
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