Page 37 - Bulletin, Vol.78 No.2, June 2019

The Sarnath pillars are well known all over India, but unlike others of their fellowship,
they are pointed towards peaceful ends. The dharma is to the forefront. After the
Ashokan Empire had reigned for a number of years, lesser kingdoms had their fling.
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There was the Gupta Hindu Empire, which had lasted from the 4 to the 6 century, the
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Pallavas and the Chalukya Kingdoms which carried them from the 7 to the 12 . And
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the Chola Kingdom reigned from the 10 to the 12 , in the South. The Southern
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Kingdoms were largely responsible for the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora. These
were built between the 5 and the 8 centuries. They were Hindu and Buddhist, unlike
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buildings of the Muslims.
The Delhi Sultans, like their Mughal successors, built lavish victory towers, palaces and
mausoleums. Most of these are concentrated in the Qutb Complex in New Delhi. The
Qutb tower was meant to be built in five storeys; only the first was built by Iltutmish. The
others were built by his successors. The top two storeys were built of white marble.
Iltutmish decided to enlarge the Great Mosque, by adding six more arches, three on
each side.

Different dynasties of the Sultanates demonstrated firstly showmanship, and secondly,
lavish spending on coronations. The Lodis, who came from different tribes, were
generally the most egalitarian of the sultanates; but they could have their go when they
wanted. For instance, the Delhi Sultans held that their first concern was to build
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palaces. On the eve of the battle with Babur, a 17 century writer, Ahmad Yadgar,
wrote, “…. The tents embroidered with gold and adorned with jewels….they placed the
throne …. covered with costly gems and jewels of great value, on a colourful carpet”.
Just before the battle with Babur, Ibrahim Lodi “gave a feast for the nobles at which
gold, pearls and ashrafies were presented as gifts”.

Babur ruled for only five years and did not build much. This was made up by his
successors: Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan who built most of the forts and palaces of
the Mughals. Even Aurangzeb, who was known for his lack of ostentation, when he was
receiving Shivaji and his son, dressed in robes of “gold-embroidered cream brocade,
with ropes of pearls…..”.

Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in honour of his favourite Queen Mumtaz: as also the
new city of Shahjahanabad and the Jama Masjid in Delhi. The Taj, of course, is known
all over the world. Agra and its fort was the seat of several Mughal emperors. Shah
Jahan was imprisoned by his Aurangzeb in the fort and left to die while looking at the
Taj. Akbar built a brand new city, Fatehpur Sikri; but after only a few years, he moved
his court to Lahore. It is now a dead city. Why remains a mystery.

There were about 600 semi-independent States in India. Many of them flaunted great
riches in money and jewels, robes and gifts. States that were mismanaged were taken
over by the Raj, and thus the territory of the British grew and that of the Indians
diminished. Some of the palaces and monuments rivalled others. Patiala is often cited
for lavish spending by the maharajas: private cricket club and orchestra and a fleet of 72
cars.

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