Spring 2019

Mehrauli Archeological Park

Conducted by: Dr Archana Ojha, Kamala Nehru College

On the 2^nd of February, young history enthusiasts embarked on a journey to the site of Mehrauli, a rich archaeological site riddled with several monuments in the western part of Delhi. They were accompanied by Professor Archana Ojha, a specialist in Medieval History and professor in Kamala Nehru College. Students were informed of the complex history of the site. A monument that was first created by Babur to be a mosque was occupied by various settlers and conquerors, First Jhats, then Buddhists and finally, Muslims once again, as they use the space as a Madrasa for their Islamic education.

The students used this time to reflect on the ever-shifting capital of Delhi especially between the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries. It was interesting to see how rulers of the past used this movement- often made for economic and logistical reasons- to nullify the authority of rulers that came before them. Further, the monuments themselves have a complex history. Many were created from broken down structures before them, and one can still see an isolated stone from a Hindu temple make its way into a Babur-era tomb.

One is also conscious of the medium of the Stone. The expensive and elaborate process involving its use in the construction of monuments ensured its role as a show of power and authority. While the common people of the past lived in huts and wooden houses, that are no longer accessible to us, the magnificent stone structures- from sculptures to stupas- endure.

The monuments are currently being restored and preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India and are in a much better shape than what they were even five years ago. Still, it is a source of amazement, to imagine what the ruins must look like when they were at their finest. The now bare tomb domes were once laced with intricate designs in stunning shades of blue and detailed calligraphy. Their edifices must seamlessly blend with lavish, well-maintained gardens that the Mughals are so well known for. We cannot help but be aware of the constantly shifting landscapes surrounding us. Perhaps in a few hundred years, the walls of our own university might serve an entirely different purpose, and that our lives are their own histories in the making.

By Khushaali Shukla, Undergraduate Class of 2020

Kiran Nadar Museum of Art

Conducted by Professor Janice Pariat, Professor of Creative Writing and History of Art

In Collaboration with History Society, Jindal Global University

The History Society of Ashoka University collaborated with the History Society of O.P. Jindal Global University and organized a visit to the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in Saket on 20th April 2019. The tour was led by Professor Janice Pariat, Professor of Creative Writing and Art History at Ashoka University. The collaboration was aimed at filling the void created by living in isolation and having a shared space for communication and engagement between two vastly different yet similar educational institutes.

Originally published in The Edict on 25 April 2019

By Surabhi Sanghi, Undergraduate Class of 2020