Page 1 of 5
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Issue 11
October 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 340
Islamic Art and Architecture in Hyderabad
Remidala Srihari
MFA AT Telugu University,Osmania University
Focus of the Seminar will be on the
following areas:
Islamic culture offers a unique cultural
heterogeneity for the reasons that it came to
encompass diverse geographical regions
ranging from Spain to Indonesia and ancient
cultural spaces like Iraq, Persia and India.
The successful assimilation of supra -
Islamic identity of Muslim rulers, Sufis,
traders, etc. to these new lands was possible
because Islam, both in theory and practice,
accommodated native sensibilities in terms
of literature, art forms, architecture,
concepts of politics, economy, etc. as long
as they did not out rightly violate the
Shariah.
Islamic Arts reflect the spirit and world
view of Islam
As we seek to explore the overall evolution
of Islamic cultural forms, starting from the
inception of Islam itself, we would joyfully
expect the participants to present their
research focusing on the cultural inter- connectedness of Islamic civilization in the
context of Arabia, Persia, Central Asia,
South-east Asia and India. With regard to
architecture, the contribution of Romans,
Byzantians, Umayyads, Muslim Spain,
Abbasid, Timurids, etc. can be taken up as
the focii of research to trace the major
components of evolution of Islamic
civilization and its final manifestation in the
Indian subcontinent. Likewise, the role of
Persian and Central Asian agency to provide
new ideas, intellectual input and various
practices to Sufism could be another focal
point to show an inter-connectedness
between cultural progress that took place
before Islam’s advent and after its
proliferation into the Indian subcontinent.
I. Medieval Way of Life: stability, peace
and harmony:
Muslim encouragement to the element
conducive, to the creation of a pluralistic
society is significant. The first task,
therefore, will be to explain the social
environment created by Muslims in India
which embraced composite culture, leading
to the practice of living together despite
racial, linguistic and religious differences.
We invite scholars to present their
researches in the section on Islamic culture
on this ‘great role of Islam’. This theme
takes within its ambit all political norms,
development of urban centres,
horticulture, new industries, increase in
the volume of trade (both domestic and
foreign), social organization, flourishing
of literature, growth of regional
languages, spiritual life (bhakti cult and
sufis), lifestyle, etc.
It will be appreciated if the scholars
emphasize continuity and change in Islamic
culture in a historical perspective, pointing
to various influences impacting on the
character of Islamic culture.
Page 2 of 5
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Issue 11
October 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 341
Sub-themes
1. Muslim contribution in creating a
pluralistic society.
2. Islamic determinants of social behavior.
3. Islamic concepts of an ideal life as
reflected in the social life.
4. Patronage extended to the regional
languages by the rulers and the sufis.
Religion brought closer to people
through the vehicle of regional language.
5. Assimilation of ideas and concepts and
their role in the formation of a composite
culture.
6. The viability of the Islamic art forms in
the wake of the colonial onslaught.
II. Islamic Art:
Islamic art encompasses the visual arts as
varied as architecture, calligraphy, painting,
and ceramics, among others.
Islamic art is not an art pertaining to religion
only. The term "Islamic" refers not only to
the religion, but to the rich and varied
Islamic culture as well.
Architecture
The most important expression of Islamic art
is architecture, particularly that of the
mosque, tomb, palaces and forts.
Architecture was accorded a place of honor
within Mughal art, with the development of
a distinctive plan and style in Islamic
Architecture, which were used in the
creation of various monuments at Delhi,
Agra, Fathepur Sikri, Lahore and
Aurangabad.
One important feature of the Islamic
architecture in India is arch. From the 13th
-
century Alai Darwaza in Delhi to the 16th
century arches of Humayun’s tomb and
Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri and those
of the Taj Mahal are outstanding examples
of true arch developed by the Indian
Muslims over a period of 500 years. The
role of domes in Islamic architecture has
been considerable. One of the prominent
domes is that of the 17th century Taj Mahal.
And as late as the 19th century, Islamic
domes were incorporated into Western
architecture.
Forts, palaces, bridges, dams, palace gardens
etc., with several prominent features are a
living testimony of the Muslim contribution
to architecture.
Two styles developed under the Muslim rule
in India, one is called Imperial Style while
the other is known as Provincial or regional
style. In the seminar papers will be invited
on both styles.
Sub-themes
1. Development of Islamic architecture and
fine arts in the Arab world: Early Islamic
period, Umayyad period, Abbasid
period: heritage, continuity and change.
2. Main characteristics of the pre-Islamic
native architecture and fine arts and the
extent to which they were assimilated
into Islamic architecture and arts across
the world.
3. Development of Islamic architecture and
fine arts in Medieval India: Imperial and
provincial or regional styles of
architecture; the Mughal school of
painting: subjects, technique, influence.
4. Dissemination of hegemonic Islamic
cultural values among the regional elites.
Page 3 of 5
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Issue 11
October 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 342
Calligraphy
Calligraphic design is omnipresent in
Islamic art, and is usually expressed in a mix
of Qur'anic verses and historical
proclamations. Kufic and naskh scripts are
found adorning and enhancing the visual
appeal of the walls and domes of buildings,
the sides of minbars, and so on. Illuminated
scripts, coinage, and other "minor art" pieces
such as ewers and incense holders are also
often decorated with calligraphy.
Manuscript Illustration and Miniatures
The Mughals also gave rise to a magnificent
art of manuscript illumination, in which a
strong European influence may be
perceived, both through the utilization of
perspective and during the late period the
use of European engravings as models.
Nevertheless a strong Persian influence
remains.
Mughals were great patrons of miniatures.
Many of these are preserved in different
museums spread all over the world. The
imperial style, like in architecture, also
inspired various regional schools of
painting. Besides the art techniques, the
medieval paintings provide visual evidence
with regard to the lifestyle of various
categories of people. Social and cultural life
is also depicted in the medieval paintings,
giving insights into ceremonies, customs,
beliefs and many other practices. That the
medieval society in India developed a liberal
attitude towards life is well illustrated by the
examples of Mughal paintings and this
aspect has to be focused in the seminar.
Dresses and jewelry
It would be legitimate to trace the origins of
contemporary fashion industry to the
medieval dresses. Design, embroidery of
various types of dresses and jewelry are
being directly taken from the medieval
Indian culture. This aspect deserves
scholars’ attention. Deccan has made rich
contribution in this area. Deccani clothes,
dresses and jewelry continue to attract the
eyes of fashion loving people across the
country.
Music
It has been asserted that what passes for
classical "Indian" music today is, in fact, a
re- creation of the ancient Hindu system
under the influence of dynamic Islamic
culture. During the five and a half centuries
from Amir Khusru to Sadārang, the latter
was a court musician at the court of the last
Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, the
Muslims changed the very character of the
Indian music. With their rich heritage and
vital ideas they gave to the Indian culture
much that is true, good, and beautiful in its
music. This rich heritage needs to be
emphasized to convey to the entire world as
to how music brought people from various
cultural stocks together to strengthen the
concept of unity of all human beings.
Muslim contribution to music was immense.
It also included the invention of several
musical instruments.
Pile carpet
