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SANGRĀHIKĀ
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
e-newsletter on the museums of ASI
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)
Contents
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
3
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort (Mumtaz Mahal)
4 - 14
Education and Awareness Activities and Special Events Exhibitions
15 - 18
Prized Antiquity
19
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
3 Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
T he historic Red Fort of Shahjahanabad (the seventh city of Delhi) was
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.
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
4
Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort, Delhi
fig. 1 ~ Red Fort, Delhi: Front view
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
fig. 2 ~ Red Fort, Delhi: Barracks built by the British Army
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
5
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.
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
fig. 3-4~ Red Fort, Delhi: Naubat or Naqqar Khana
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
6
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. 5-6 ~ Red Fort, Delhi: Rang Mahal (Palace of Colour), Khas Mahal
(Private Palace), Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience)
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
fig. 7 ~ Red Fort, Delhi:
Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort (Mumtaz Mahal)
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
7
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.
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
fig. 8 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort: First gallery
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
8
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.
First Gallery (Entrance Gallery)
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
fig. 9-10 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort:
Display of Chinese porcelain in the second gallery
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
9
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.
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
Second Gallery (Central Gallery)
fig. 11 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort:
Display of the third gallery
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
10
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.
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.
Nicholson during the siege of Delhi are displayed. Bahadur Shah’s letter to
Queen Victoria with the thumb impression of his son, Jawan Bakht has also
been displayed along with other interesting contemporary letters and
portraits of late Mughal and contemporary personalities.
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
Third Gallery (Painting Gallery)
Fourth Gallery (Bahadur Shah Zafar Gallery)
fig. 12-13 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort: Forth gallery with a
lithograph of Zeenat Mahal (far above); other significant display (above)
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
11
The attraction of this fourth gallery is the lithograph of Zeenat Mahal, the
wife of Bahadur Shah Zafar II.
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
fig. 14-17 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort:
Cloths of the royals along with armory displayed in the fifth gallery
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
12
In this gallery, the clothes (angia and ghaghara) of Zeenat Mahal, coat
of Emperor Bahadur Shah II, arms (swords, daggers, scimitar, stick sword,
English pistol, brass cannon, round shots, battle axe, etc.) used by the
warriors during the Mughal period, have been displayed.
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
Fifth Gallery (Exit Gallery)
Collection
13
Total number of antiquities : 13,003
Displayed objects : 284
Reserve collection : 12,719
Antiquities are broadly categorised as
Miniature paintings
Lithographs
Sketches
Chinese porcelain
Furniture
Coins
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
fig. 18-19 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort: Jar, Chinese blue and white
porcelain (left); Letter written by Bahadur Shah II to Queen Victoria (right)
Textile
Arms
Farmans
Utensils
Silver objects
Visitor Amenities
14
Basic facilities like R.O. drinking water, toilets
Visitor benches are provided near the museum
Publications
Braille text panels in Hindi and English
Museum Publications
Information
Visiting hours: 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM
(Museum remains closed on Monday)
Entry Fee: `5 per head
Entry ticket for museum are available
at Red Fort ticket booking counters
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
Education and Awareness
I nternational Museum Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm on
18th May, 2016, at different museums of the Archaeological Survey of
India. A number of awareness programmes along with competitions for
young children were arranged on the eve of museum day.
Activities and Special Events
16
fig. 20-21 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Hampi:
Photo-exhibition and quiz competition on International Museum Day
fig. 22-23 ~ Hazarduari Palace Museum, Murshidabad:
Photo-exhibition titled ‘Glimpses of Indian Heritage’
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
Activities and Special Events
17
fig. 24-25 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Konark:
Special workshop on ‘Creative Art from Waste’ for the school children
fig. 26-27 ~ 1857 Residency Museum, Lucknow:
Drawing and quiz competition for the school children
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
Activities and Special Events
18
fig. 28 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Sri Suryapahar:
Photo-exhibition titled ‘Sivsagar - Past and Present’
fig. 29-31 ~ Archaeological Site
Museum, Sri Suryapahar:
Prize distribution to the school
children for different competitions
(left); sketch of a double-storied
structure - Baraduari, Khaspur,
Cachar prepared by a school children
(above)
Year 2, Issue 2, April-June 2016
Prized Antiquity
Akitoosha-i-Ukba
Object: Akitoosha-i-Ukba (Provision for the next world)
Accession number: 56
Period: 16th century CE
Location: Gallery no. 1, Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort
Description: A book made of copper pages, inscribed with silver
calligraphy. It has 99 names of Allah in Naskh style.
© Archaeological Survey of India, 2016