Architecture under the Mughal Nobility in the Eighteenth-Century Delhi: Tombs, Mosques and Madrasas

During the Later Mughal period, the buildings associated with powerful Mughal nobles and officials often overshadowed the architectural patronage of the rulers, both in scale and number. When the building activities of the Mughal rulers declined, Mughal wazirs and officials emerged as prolific builders. They became extremely powerful, contributed to the Mughal Empire’s disintegration, and formed independent regional kingdoms. What is intriguing to notice is that despite having tremendous interest in their regional kingdom, the imperial capital remained significant for these nobles, and the nobility always looked for opportunities to patronise architecture in the imperial capital. Through the case study of the tombs, madrasas and mosques patronised by the Mughal nobility who held important offices in the court, the paper aims to highlight the patterns of patronage in eighteenth century Delhi by these influential noblemen who shaped the politics of the time. The architectonics of the buildings will be discussed in detail to understand the stylistic features of the time. The paper also considers the social, political, and religious background of these nobles, as these had a bearing on the architecture of the time. An attempt has also been made to compare the present state of buildings with the company paintings to notice the changes in buildings over time.