In Kalamkari Country
Art historian Rajarshi Sengupta takes us on a tour of south India’s celebrated Kalamkari textile tradition
Deccan
India’s African History – The Siddis of the Deccan
The Siddis are unique among the multicultural communities of the Deccan. Many arrived in India as East African slaves but their lives collided with the volatile politics of the region in ways that would birth new identities
‘The Deccan: Medieval India’s Forgotten Superpower’ by Anirudh Kanisetti
“From 600-1100 CE, the Deccan was arguably the Subcontinent’s cultural and economic centre of gravity and shaped its religious and artistic history. Its medieval contemporaries acknowledged its prominence, and understanding their world can teach us a lot about our own.” – Anirudh Kanisetti on his lecture for Sarmaya Talks. Anirudh’s talk took place on 17… Read more »
Life on the Deccan Plateau – From dinosaurs to diamonds
Like its culture, the geology of the Deccan too is incredibly diverse and supports a dazzling variety of life
Masters of the Universe – Medieval Deccan’s kings & queens
Meet some of the most influential kings and queens of the region and understand their contribution to the language, politics and art of south India
Southern feast
Whether we’re talking geology, politics or culture, the historical region of the Deccan offers a sumptuous and varied feast for thought
Singing pillars, living rocks & posh pineapples – Architecture of the Deccan
How medieval Deccani architecture evolved to encompass such a range of marvels, from monolithic cave monasteries to Dravidian temple art to Indo-Islamic minarets
Empires of the Deccan – 1,000 years of shifting sands
The Deccan’s diversity of art, culture and language is the result of centuries of shifting politics. Let’s get to know the prominent early and late-mediaeval kingdoms of this vast region through Sarmaya’s rare photographs, coins, books, engravings and maps
Golconda Fort (Inside view)
This is a photograph of the interiors of the Golconda Fort complex in Hyderabad by an unidentified photographer. During the Qutub Shahi Dynasty (16th-17th centuries), the Golconda Fort became a prominent power house. Ibrahim Qutub Shah (1518-1580) significantly strengthened the fort with stone and mortar during his reign, and it was subsequently fortified throughout succeeding… Read more »
Historical Fragments of the Mogul Empire
Historical Fragments of the Mogul Empire by Robert Orme (1728–1801) was Orme’s last publication. This edition of the book was published posthumously. In this, Orme describes the story of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1618–1707), and his efforts to conquer the Deccan. He focuses mainly on the expanding Maratha power under Chhatrapati Shivaji (1630-1680) and the onset of British… Read more »
Rock & Ruler: Golconda’s Trail of Diamonds
What the chain of diamonds trickling from the marketplaces of Golconda tells us about the dynasties that branded and traded, and won and lost them
Echoes of Golconda – Seeking the Quli Qutb Shahs in Modern Hyderabad
Journalist and Hyderabadi Yunus Lasania traces the indelible ink of the Qutb Shahi dynasty’s Persian influence on the city’s living, breathing culture
Deccan Chronicles: The Seven Nizams (and one Diwan) of Hyderabad
While the Nizams were alive, neither the Mughals, nor the French, nor the British, could wrest control of Hyderabad. On their watch, the city swayed to its own rhythm, breathing new life into Deccani art, music, dance and poetry
Finding Jesus: When Mughal Art Discovered the Land of the Bible
Starting in the 16th century, Christian themes went viral in traditional Indian art. Shubhasree Purkayastha explains how it all began
Vinayaditya, Gold Pagoda Coin of Hoysala Dynasty
The Hoysalas are perhaps best known for the beautiful works of architecture and sculpture they left behind. A Kannadiga empire that ruled areas of southern Deccan and the Cauvery valley between the 11th and 14th centuries CE, their origins have been traced to a group of hill-dwellers hailing from the region near present-day Halebid. Legend… Read more »
Map of the Mughal Empire
This map of Mughal India created by Matthew Seuter in 1745 is titled Imperii Magni Mogolis. The map charts out the extent of the Mughal Empire, extending to Persia and Kandahar (In the west) and Burma and Thailand (In the east). To the south it extends to the Malabar coasts and also points out the… Read more »
Kochiputra Sri Satakarni, Copper Coin
When the Mauryan empire fell, ancient India saw some new kingdoms take root, which then went on to become formidable dynasties of their own—the Satavahanas are a prime example. They emerged in southern India in the middle of the 1st Century BC and their reign lasted till the 3rd century CE, making them the longest… Read more »