CALLIGRAPHIC ART IN MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
PROF. R. NATH

Pp.14+68, Halftone plates 8, figures 7, and 8 plans denoting locus of Epigraphs in Mughal monuments, 13 original Persian texts

It is study of the Persian Inscriptions of Mughal monuments of Fatehpur Sikri, Agra and Delhi (1526 to 1658) and their Calligraphic Art. It is one of the most distinctive characteristics of Mughal Architecture and constitutes the most authentic record of Mughal history from Akbar to Shah Jehan which neither man nor Time can forge, pollute or alter.

The ornamental curves of these beautiful inscriptions in carved, painted and mosaic schemes, may open up vistas of meaningful data which would be of immense value for writing cultural history of the period to which they belong and its predominant trends and currents. Primarily, it is the evaluation of the raison d’etre of the Calligraphic Art in Mughal Architecture, if it was merely or mostly ornamental like its Iranian counterpart, or a historical document too. A thorough historical background of the art of writing (khattati) as it grew and developed in such prominent styles as Kufic, Naskhi and Nastaliq in Iran and India has been given.

Chapters :

1. Origin of the Art of Writing in Islam, Arabic Script, The Kufic, Artistic
    Compositions of the Script, The Naskhi, The Nastaliq and Shikasta
2. Inscriptional Art in Iran
3. Inscriptional Art in Pre-Mughal India
4. Art of Writing in Mughal Court, Inscriptional Art in Monuments of
    Fatehpur Sikri, Inscriptions of Tomb of Akbar Sikandara, Inscriptions
    of Itimad-ud-Daulah, Inscriptions of Shah Jehan’s Palatial Mansions
    and Mosques, Inscriptions of Taj Mahal, Mughal Inscriptional Art in
    Retrospect

18 appendices giving English translations of Mughal Inscriptions
13 original Persian texts of Mughal Inscriptions