|
Maharaja Ranjit Singh with courtiers in his mature years. Miniature painting from the IQBALNAMA in imitation of the Pahari-Mughal Kalam. |
|
IQBAL NAMAH SARKAR (Persian) A unique and monumental manuscript on the life and times of Gurus, Sikh Misaldars and consolidation of Lahore Durbar by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Raja Ram Tota, the chief scribe of Royal Lahore Durbar, writes it. His father was the master designer of Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh’s marriage celebrations and also responsible to look after VIP’s and guest English Generals. This manuscript runs into large size thousands of pages sprinkled with gold throughout. Horoscopes and Bansavli Namahs are in Sanskrit and Persian – all profusely illuminated. There are 21 chapters. Description of Forts and Gardens, capture of Kashmir and many secret reports are composed in Masnavi style poetry. Details of top Officers, Ministers, Rulers, Generals (foreigners as well), Artillery-accord, Jamburkhana, Feelkhana, Stables and their officers, details of state expenditure, civil administration and land revenue and judiciary system including eye-witness reports on treaties, Anglo-Sikh wars, Maharani Jindan and exile of Maharaja Duleep Singh and day to day life of common people – all superbly explained. It is an encyclopaedia of Punjab.
|
|
A very rare painting of Guru Nanak with Mardana and an ascetic.
|
|
Inside the HariMandir. An exceptional scene captured by the artist during 19th century.
|
|
Granths written by Bhai Hardas Singh who was a great scribe in service of Guru Gobind Singh. He was the famed grand father of Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. His masterpiece (Adi Granth) was enshrined in the Sikh Reference Library. The World Sikh Heritage Museum has now collected three granths by this great manuscript writer. Here are two pages of a Gutka written and illuminated by him. |
