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Red Fort: Remembering the Magnificent Mughals
Today, we associate the Red Fort with the view of the Prime Minister proudly unfurling the national flag every year on 15 August on the massive red wall curtain. To children and even most of us, the Red Fort is only this view that is broadcast on television. It is the ubiquitous image often used in marketing as well. Many of us haven’t even bothered to go inside the Fort, and many, including me, satisfied ourselves with our photos taken in front of this wall. This actually is a later addition erected by Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb. The Red Fort is much more than this red wall and the platform where the prime minister delivers his speech. In the book, the author attempts to swipe aside the wall and take a deep dive inside the Fort – not just the physical structures but how exactly the planning was done to create a truly complex and artistic palace fortress, to explore the Mughal way of life with their festivals, ceremonies, food and clothing amongst other themes. The beauty of the fort can only be understood and best appreciated from the string of apartments that once lined the river Yamuna on its opposite side. It must have been beautiful indeed to glide down the Yamuna on a boat and appreciate all the buildings that housed the emperor’s private quarters. Now the river has receded afar, but in olden times the various private apartments such as the Rang mahal, Khwabgah (‘abode of dreams’) or the emperor’s bed-chamber as well as the famous Diwan-e-Khas where the Mughal Emperor sat on the Peacock Throne were lined along the river front.There is a reason why the pioneering British historian-explorer James Fergusson termed the Red Fort ‘the most magnificent palace in the East.’ It was a creative venture well integrated to a new city and was truly unrivalled with respect to its design as well as functioning.The book also highlights that, though separated in time by more than three centuries from today, we can still visualize how the unsure footsteps which Babur took in Hindustan took shape in the reign of Shah Jahan, a connoisseur of art and culture. Descending on one side from Genghis Khan and the brutal Tamerlane on the other, Babur gained an irreversible entry to India in the plains of Panipat almost unexpectedly, by defeating a mammoth army of Ibrahim Lodi in 1526. The Mughals, which was the Persian word for ‘Mongols’, set up an incredible empire in Agra and Delhi, to which were born great emperors like Akbar and Shah Jahan. Apart from magnificent monuments they also built a truly syncretic culture of shared values, encouraged free exchange of knowledge and established rituals, customs and festivals that assimilated age-old traditions from east and west. Even the Taj Mahal, described by Rabindranath Tagore as a ‘teardrop on the face of Time’, was built as a symbol of love of a king to his departed queen, like an re-incarnation of Majnun for his Laila, so different from the obvious imagery that a barbaric king may evoke in one’s mind. Similarly, the Red Fort of Delhi was the culmination of Mughal soft power. With profusely laid flower and fruit-bearing char-bagh gardens criss-crossed with streams of water canals, it was layered in symbolism that art historians find interesting even after many centuries to discuss elements that give it a sense of freshness even with the mere empty shell of buildings left behind after 1857. As the author says, “Delhi however lived up to its reputation of slipping through the very fingers of those who attempted to raise a new city starting with Prithvi Raj Chauhan’s Lal Kot; Allauddin Khilji’s Siri; the Tughluq trio’s troika of Tughluqabad, Jahanpanah & Kotla Firuz Shah; Humayun’s Dinpanah and later Lutyen’s Delhi of the British; Shah Jahan’s majestic offering to the city of his choice was soon to be destroyed by fate.”
421 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 28, 2020
Indian history as taught to us in text books is often a dry account of names, incidents and dates. Information provided at historical sites or monuments rarely offer insights into the era when they were built and the people who left their legacy behind. Even the history buff would find it difficult to make the connections between the glorious past that the placards talk about and the stark, near ruinous conditions of the monuments. While Western museums often have well-researched audio visual presentations for the lay visitor to be able to make this connect, unfortunately this facility is not available at Indian monuments.
This gap in presenting history in an interesting and imaginative way is sought to be bridged by Debasish Das in his book Red Fort: Remembering the Magnificent Mughals.
The author takes you on a guided tour of the Red Fort and the era in which it was built. The book is extensively researched and the facts presented in a structured format. The little stories and vivid descriptions add colour and bring alive an era that has passed. The reader is virtually taken on a drive through the alleys and streets of Shahajahanabad, its bazaars and mandis, the ramparts of the fort, the magnificent hallways and the customs of Mughal noblemen. Take for example this description of the Chandni Chauk where the reader gets a glimpse of the pomp and splendour of the amirs: "In the evenings, it transformed into a place for splenderous, ostentatious displays by the amirs and their families. Ceremonial marriage processions were led through it and turned the streets into a glittering exhibition...Trains of camels and elephants were accompanied by mace bearers carrying gold or silver sticks and men waving huge fans of peacock feathers. Servants ran ahead of them, shouting and announcing their revered titles. It was a place of great show."
It also provides insights into the lives of ordinary people. "Only those artisans who were associated with the Palace or with wealthy amirs could flourish and prosper. Others -- however admirable their work -- were subjected to harsh treatment and were poorly paid...the artists had good reason to congratulate themselves if the amir's whip (korrah) was not employed on them as part payment for their superlative work."
Studded with little anecdotes and details, the book explores the various aspects of Mughal life, within and beyond the Red Fort, creating a complete picture of life in Shahajanabad (which is now a part of modern Delhi). It also helps the reader understand what went into the making of the "magnificent Mughals" and also get insights into the reasons for their downfall.
For anyone who has visited the Red Fort and for every citizen of Delhi, this book is a must-read. It provides insightful glimpses into the past and the legacy that continues to echo in the present.
This gap in presenting history in an interesting and imaginative way is sought to be bridged by Debasish Das in his book Red Fort: Remembering the Magnificent Mughals.
The author takes you on a guided tour of the Red Fort and the era in which it was built. The book is extensively researched and the facts presented in a structured format. The little stories and vivid descriptions add colour and bring alive an era that has passed. The reader is virtually taken on a drive through the alleys and streets of Shahajahanabad, its bazaars and mandis, the ramparts of the fort, the magnificent hallways and the customs of Mughal noblemen. Take for example this description of the Chandni Chauk where the reader gets a glimpse of the pomp and splendour of the amirs: "In the evenings, it transformed into a place for splenderous, ostentatious displays by the amirs and their families. Ceremonial marriage processions were led through it and turned the streets into a glittering exhibition...Trains of camels and elephants were accompanied by mace bearers carrying gold or silver sticks and men waving huge fans of peacock feathers. Servants ran ahead of them, shouting and announcing their revered titles. It was a place of great show."
It also provides insights into the lives of ordinary people. "Only those artisans who were associated with the Palace or with wealthy amirs could flourish and prosper. Others -- however admirable their work -- were subjected to harsh treatment and were poorly paid...the artists had good reason to congratulate themselves if the amir's whip (korrah) was not employed on them as part payment for their superlative work."
Studded with little anecdotes and details, the book explores the various aspects of Mughal life, within and beyond the Red Fort, creating a complete picture of life in Shahajanabad (which is now a part of modern Delhi). It also helps the reader understand what went into the making of the "magnificent Mughals" and also get insights into the reasons for their downfall.
For anyone who has visited the Red Fort and for every citizen of Delhi, this book is a must-read. It provides insightful glimpses into the past and the legacy that continues to echo in the present.
February 14, 2020
(The three stars because I, personally, am very critical of poorly edited books. Consider this four stars if you don’t mind typos and slapdash editing. Read till the end of the review for details).
In the 1640s, the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, having constructed his magnum opus—the Taj Mahal in Agra—decided to shift the imperial capital to Delhi. Of course, as befitted his stature, his wealth, and his reputation as an aesthete, this meant creating a new city, not merely occupying the old one. Shahjahanabad was the outcome of Shahjahan’s decision to make Delhi his capital, and the focal point of Shahjahanabad was the Red Fort.
Debasish Das’s Red Fort is about the Red Fort, but it is about a lot else too, all in some way or the other connected to the iconic fortress. The book, in fact, is perhaps more adequately described by its subtitle: Remembering the Magnificent Mughals. Because while the main focus of the book is the Fort, Das also covers much else that is somewhat tangential. He begins with a very brief history of the Mughals, followed by an introduction to the conceptualization and construction of the Fort, then goes on to describe each element of the Fort. And, in conjunction with that, the aesthetics, the functions, the stories and myths and history attached to each of those elements.
So, for instance, when he describes the Diwan-e-Aam, Das also discusses the various protocols that were observed here: how court was held, how it proceeded, how Mughal emperors before Shahjahan (and after) conducted court, and so on. When he discusses the zenana, he talks not only of the royal harem and how they spent their time, but also of the noteworthy courtesans of Shahjahanabad, women like Qudsia Begum and Farzana (aka Begum Samru), among others. Life in Chandni Chowk, the etiquette attached to being a mirza (a ‘gentleman’), the ups and downs in the history of the Mughals after the 1650s—especially the uprising of 1857 and its aftermath—are among the many sections covered.
This is an extremely entertaining and informative book about the life of the Mughals, in particular Shahjahan and those who followed. It’s full of detailed and rich descriptions, and it’s obvious that Das has done a lot of research. It’s also an easy read, because instead of getting bogged down with dates and dry facts, Das finds interesting tidbits that bring to life the Mughals and their heyday—as well as the tragedy of their decline.
The sad part is, this book hasn’t been given the post-writing attention it deserved. The fact that the photos are poorly reproduced and printed is a small matter; the shoddy editing is what really irked me. There are typos, there are repetitions (several facts and incidents are repeated in numerous places, for example), and there is the very occasional tendency to wax eloquent and imagine what a particular scene must have been—which is something I personally do not like when reading non-fiction.
In the 1640s, the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, having constructed his magnum opus—the Taj Mahal in Agra—decided to shift the imperial capital to Delhi. Of course, as befitted his stature, his wealth, and his reputation as an aesthete, this meant creating a new city, not merely occupying the old one. Shahjahanabad was the outcome of Shahjahan’s decision to make Delhi his capital, and the focal point of Shahjahanabad was the Red Fort.
Debasish Das’s Red Fort is about the Red Fort, but it is about a lot else too, all in some way or the other connected to the iconic fortress. The book, in fact, is perhaps more adequately described by its subtitle: Remembering the Magnificent Mughals. Because while the main focus of the book is the Fort, Das also covers much else that is somewhat tangential. He begins with a very brief history of the Mughals, followed by an introduction to the conceptualization and construction of the Fort, then goes on to describe each element of the Fort. And, in conjunction with that, the aesthetics, the functions, the stories and myths and history attached to each of those elements.
So, for instance, when he describes the Diwan-e-Aam, Das also discusses the various protocols that were observed here: how court was held, how it proceeded, how Mughal emperors before Shahjahan (and after) conducted court, and so on. When he discusses the zenana, he talks not only of the royal harem and how they spent their time, but also of the noteworthy courtesans of Shahjahanabad, women like Qudsia Begum and Farzana (aka Begum Samru), among others. Life in Chandni Chowk, the etiquette attached to being a mirza (a ‘gentleman’), the ups and downs in the history of the Mughals after the 1650s—especially the uprising of 1857 and its aftermath—are among the many sections covered.
This is an extremely entertaining and informative book about the life of the Mughals, in particular Shahjahan and those who followed. It’s full of detailed and rich descriptions, and it’s obvious that Das has done a lot of research. It’s also an easy read, because instead of getting bogged down with dates and dry facts, Das finds interesting tidbits that bring to life the Mughals and their heyday—as well as the tragedy of their decline.
The sad part is, this book hasn’t been given the post-writing attention it deserved. The fact that the photos are poorly reproduced and printed is a small matter; the shoddy editing is what really irked me. There are typos, there are repetitions (several facts and incidents are repeated in numerous places, for example), and there is the very occasional tendency to wax eloquent and imagine what a particular scene must have been—which is something I personally do not like when reading non-fiction.
February 16, 2020
I will give it around 7.5 to 8 stars out of 10.
[Detailed #BookReview is available at: https://thinkerviews.com/books/englis... ]
Recently I got a chance to read "Red Fort: Remembering the Magnificent Mughals" by author Debasish Das. Here is what I think of it. The book is provided by the author. The review is unbiased and uninfluenced by all means.
We are considering ourselves fortunate to get introduced to fantastic new authors. We will put Mr. Das in the same category. What I like the most in this book is the detailed research work done by the author. And, it is not reflected just in the bibliography section of the book. But with almost all major points you will find references of some historians and their works backing the detail mentioned. Writing a book by doing so much extensive research itself is an admirable task.
The book is segmented into 4 sections.
1. The Cityscape
2. Monuments and Moments of Red Fortunately
3. 1857 Uprising: Fall of the Red Fort
4. Conclusion
There is a total of 23 chapters in the book. The last segment contains a very detailed bibliography followed by an index.
I am avoiding as many spoilers as possible. The book starts from talking about the lineage of the first Mughal emperor (in India) Babur. Then the things move ahead and it covers the family lineage till the sepoy mutiny (the freedom struggle) of 1857 when Bahadur Shah Zafar was the Emperor (if we can call him so).
As the book is primarily focused on the "Red Fort" and other monuments, we come to witness the comparatively unknown side of the political incidents. For example, we didn't know that Aurangzeb's daughter was a good player of Chaupar, or some games of Chaupar run continuously for 3 months; before reading this book.
The way the architecture of Shahjahanabad (well, the roots of the city are in ancient times and it was known through different names including but not limited to Hastinapur, Dhilika, Delhi, Dilli, ...) is explored is something amazing. The author compares it with a bow. References to various Hindu traditions, monuments, Vastu and Shilpa Shastra and other stuff, along with the Persian way of living,... are evident that the author has tried remaining as objective as possible during his extensive research work.
The Red Fort is a very important monument for India (that is Bharat). Remember that, the prime minister of India hoists the national flag on National festivals from this iconic monument. So, regardless of who built it, one must remember that it is built from the money and hard work of Indian citizens, workers, and artists. It is a matter of pride for the nation, regardless of the political inclination you are attracted too.
Knowing history not only tells us how we are evolved but it also reminds us of the mistakes we made, so we can learn and decide our future course of action.
The book talks about Mughals' initial views about India (as it is a totally new land for them), how they compared it with their homeland, and how gradually the things are evolved. The book touches the literature segment also. You will find it interesting to know about what various "places of power" like Amir, Mansabdar,... meant.
The author had also documented the wrong practices during the Mughal era.
I feel that this book is not for everyone. If you are a history enthusiast who can explore the history with an open mind and are curious to do so, it is definitely a book to go for.
I found that the chronology of some events should have been maintained better. Some phrases are words must have been uniform throughout the book. Better proofreading could have taken care of such shortcomings.
Overall, a pricey book that will interest open-minded history enthusiasts.
[Detailed #BookReview is available at: https://thinkerviews.com/books/englis... ]
Recently I got a chance to read "Red Fort: Remembering the Magnificent Mughals" by author Debasish Das. Here is what I think of it. The book is provided by the author. The review is unbiased and uninfluenced by all means.
We are considering ourselves fortunate to get introduced to fantastic new authors. We will put Mr. Das in the same category. What I like the most in this book is the detailed research work done by the author. And, it is not reflected just in the bibliography section of the book. But with almost all major points you will find references of some historians and their works backing the detail mentioned. Writing a book by doing so much extensive research itself is an admirable task.
The book is segmented into 4 sections.
1. The Cityscape
2. Monuments and Moments of Red Fortunately
3. 1857 Uprising: Fall of the Red Fort
4. Conclusion
There is a total of 23 chapters in the book. The last segment contains a very detailed bibliography followed by an index.
I am avoiding as many spoilers as possible. The book starts from talking about the lineage of the first Mughal emperor (in India) Babur. Then the things move ahead and it covers the family lineage till the sepoy mutiny (the freedom struggle) of 1857 when Bahadur Shah Zafar was the Emperor (if we can call him so).
As the book is primarily focused on the "Red Fort" and other monuments, we come to witness the comparatively unknown side of the political incidents. For example, we didn't know that Aurangzeb's daughter was a good player of Chaupar, or some games of Chaupar run continuously for 3 months; before reading this book.
The way the architecture of Shahjahanabad (well, the roots of the city are in ancient times and it was known through different names including but not limited to Hastinapur, Dhilika, Delhi, Dilli, ...) is explored is something amazing. The author compares it with a bow. References to various Hindu traditions, monuments, Vastu and Shilpa Shastra and other stuff, along with the Persian way of living,... are evident that the author has tried remaining as objective as possible during his extensive research work.
The Red Fort is a very important monument for India (that is Bharat). Remember that, the prime minister of India hoists the national flag on National festivals from this iconic monument. So, regardless of who built it, one must remember that it is built from the money and hard work of Indian citizens, workers, and artists. It is a matter of pride for the nation, regardless of the political inclination you are attracted too.
Knowing history not only tells us how we are evolved but it also reminds us of the mistakes we made, so we can learn and decide our future course of action.
The book talks about Mughals' initial views about India (as it is a totally new land for them), how they compared it with their homeland, and how gradually the things are evolved. The book touches the literature segment also. You will find it interesting to know about what various "places of power" like Amir, Mansabdar,... meant.
The author had also documented the wrong practices during the Mughal era.
I feel that this book is not for everyone. If you are a history enthusiast who can explore the history with an open mind and are curious to do so, it is definitely a book to go for.
I found that the chronology of some events should have been maintained better. Some phrases are words must have been uniform throughout the book. Better proofreading could have taken care of such shortcomings.
Overall, a pricey book that will interest open-minded history enthusiasts.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews