Daily Answer Writing Challenge-4th October

Q1. How did Indo-Islamic architecture evolve in India? Explain the various features of Indo-Islamic  architecture. (250 words, 15 Marks) 

Approach: 

• Introduction: Introduce the establishment of Indo-Islamic architecture.
• Body:  

• • Explain how Indo-Islamic architecture evolved in India. 
  • Highlight the features of Indo-Islamic architecture. 
• Conclusion: Conclude by stating that Indo-Islamic architecture has left a large impact on  modern Indians. 

Answer: 

After the Turkish conquest of Northern India in the 13th century, Islamic kings began to establish  themselves there. They introduced novel elements into architecture and the arts, such as decoration  and calligraphy. Because new architectural styles and regional traditions were combined, Indian  architecture underwent a significant transformation. It is referred to be Indo-Islamic Architecture  for this reason.  

Evolution of Indo-Islamic Architecture: 

• Islam grew in popularity in India and Spain during the seventh and eighth centuries CE. 
• Over a period of 600 years, Islam specifically travelled to India with traders, sages, and  conquerors. 
• Muslims had started constructing in Sindh, Gujarat, and other places by the eighth century,  but the Turkish state, which had been founded after the Turkish conquest of North India, didn’t  start a large-scale building programme until the thirteenth century. 
• The fact that Muslims assimilated many aspects of local culture and customs and merged them  with their own architectural elements is an important part of these migrations and conquests. 
• Thus, via repeated acceptance, rejection, or modification of architectural features, a variety  of structural approaches, stylized shapes, and surface ornamentation emerged in the field of  architecture. 
• The terms “Indo-Saracenic” or “Indo-Islamic Architecture” refer to these architectural units or  categories that display a variety of styles. 
• India was already accustomed to enormous architecture in opulent settings by the 12th century. 
• The use of trabeation (the use of beams rather than arches or vaulting), brackets, and several  pillars to support a flat roof or a small shallow dome were among the common and well-liked  embellishments. 
• Early structures had arches made of wood and stone, which could not support the weight of  the domes or other top structures. 
• Such arches required the use of keystones and voussoirs, a system of interlocking blocks.

Features of Indo-Islamic Architecture: 

• Use of arcs and domes in architecture added to support the top structure’s weight.
• Mosques and mausoleums were surrounded by minarets. 
• They consisted of calligraphy and arabesque geometric designs instead of replicating living  things like humans or animals on any surface. 
• Arabesque patterns are a type of geometric vegetable ornamentation that is characterised by  a continuous stem that splits into a number of counterpoised, leafy, and secondary stems on  a regular basis. 
• The structure included elaborate jaali works. Jaipur Ajmera Fort features Jaali artwork.
• The property’s fountains, ponds, and minor drains were regularly used. 
• This square block was divided into four identical, adjacent gardens in the Charbagh style of  gardening. 
• The stone walls were inlaid with precious stones and diamonds. Walls with lapis lazuli. 

Indo-Islamic architecture has left a large impact on modern Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi  architecture, as in the case of its influence on the Indo-Saracenic Revivalism of the late British  Raj. Both secular and religious buildings are influenced by Indo-Islamic architecture.