Author: Santu Ghorai
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/PP/020300046
Abstract: Mughal India represents a remarkable confluence of political authority, artistic creativity, and architectural innovation. The Mughal emperors, spanning from Babur to Aurangzeb, employed art and architecture as strategic instruments to assert imperial legitimacy, convey political ideology, and articulate cultural identity. This research article explores the intricate relationship between Mughal artistic expression and political power, focusing on the symbolic dimensions of monumental architecture, miniature painting, and decorative arts. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates history, art history, and political theory, the study examines how Mughal rulers used visual culture to construct narratives of authority, religious tolerance, and dynastic prestige. Case studies of iconic monuments such as the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, and Red Fort, alongside miniature painting traditions, reveal the sophisticated interplay between aesthetics, symbolism, and governance in early modern India.
Keywords: Mughal Empire, Architecture, Art, Political Symbolism, Imperial Authority, Miniature Painting.
Page No: 359-364