In 1489 CE, an Afghan prince born of a Hindu woman had contested his right to sit on the throne of Delhi. Chosen by his father but opposed by nobles in favour of an elder brother, he had but only two options before him. Fade into obscurity or make history.
Afghan honour dictated that he choose the latter.
Even before he was crowned king of the warlike Afghan tribesmen who held sway over much of the Indian Subcontinent at that time, Nizam Khan, later known as Sikandar Lodi, proved he had the mettle to be a great one.
Shrewd and determined, he crushed his adversaries with the might of an Afghan army, then marched out and robbed his elder brother of his birthright to rule. Yet in victory, he displayed not the customary ruthlessness expected of a medieval prince but clemency.
Considered the greatest of the three Lodi sultans, Sikandar’s 28-year reign resurrected the prestige of the Delhi Sultanate and won the Pashtun Afghans a place in history.
His conquest of Bihar and Jaunpur solidified the supremacy of the Delhi Sultanate once more, while his military campaigns against the powerful states of Dholpur, Narwar, Chanderi and Gwalior made him a feared opponent.
Devoted to his people and his religion, he not only expanded the boundaries of his kingdom from Punjab to Bihar but also enriched it by encouraging trade and commerce, agriculture and literature, art and architecture.
He introduced reforms, improved administration, and promoted justice. Yet at the same time, he championed Islam with such force and intent that it earned him the ire of the indigenous Hindu populace, and for whom, and unperturbed, he remained a scourge till the very end with his maniacal bigotry.
A rigid and orthodox Shia regent, he forbade women from attending the graves of their loved ones, made persecution and forced conversions the norm of the day, and even had a Hindu priest burnt alive for suggesting Hinduism and Islam were on the same level.
Inspite, these cons of his rule, however, and which overshadowed his qualities and virtues for posterity, he was a gifted and energetic regent, and due to whose efforts the dying Sutanate had once more flickered back to life.
Worthy of this mausoleum that was as unique as he was at the time – and which was gifted to him by those who loved him and thought well of him.
Commissioned by his son, the exquisite work of Indo-Islamic architecture of its time was the first of the garden mausoleums – and an inspiration for the much grander Humayun’s mausoleum complex built by the Gurkani in later years.
The Mausoleum.
The mausoleum of Sikandar Lodi is taken to be the first of the garden mausoleums to be built. Inspired in parts by Muhammad Shah’s Mausoleum, situated a little distance away, its most visibly distinguishing feature is its fortified octagonal plan with a garden inside.
Out of the two types of mausoleums constructed during the period, the octagonal-shaped mausoleums were reserved for royalty, while the more numerous square-shaped mausoleums were for nobles and others of lesser standing.
The mausoleum is located inside an elevated and fortified complex. There are two dome-shaped Chattris (umbrella-shaped domes) at the main entrance. The octagonal mausoleum sits in the middle of a large garden. The structure is ringed by a wide veranda with lightly carved pillars placed at measured intervals.
Crowning the head of the mausoleum is a single dome with a lotus finial at the top. The interior is ornamented with tiles. The cenotaph of Sikander Lodi is in the centre of the spacious room.
The compound outside has an open-air mosque built into the western wall with a paved platform for holy men to offer prayers for the soul of the sultan.
Indo-Islamic architecture.
Indo-Islamic architecture is the use of Hindu and Islamic elements in combination. The trend began with the construction of the Quwaat-ul-Islam mosque, sponsored by the Turkish slave general, Qutub-ud-din-Aibak.
Under later Sultans, the trend gathered momentum. Immigrants trickling in from the Middle East (and in greater numbers during the Mongol invasions) further added to the talent pool, invigorating it with newer ideas and authentic Middle Eastern styles. The mix of styles and use of elements gradually evolved, reaching its pinnacle under the Gurkani.
The Period.
The Delhi Sultanate was a series of five short-lived Islamic dynasties that ruled large parts of the Indian Subcontinent from 1206 to 1526 CE. They ruled from their capital cities, now located within the 1,448 kms that make up the expansive megacity of New Delhi.
These dynasties were largely of Turkic or Afghan stock. The sultans are credited for spreading Islam in the subcontinent and sowing the seeds of Indo-Islamic art, music and architecture.
Internal feuds, rebellions and military invasions by foreign powers largely contributed to their individual short tenures.
The Lodi Dynasty.
The Lodis were the last rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. They were members of an ethic Afghan tribe, better known as the Pathans. They had migrated into the sultanate as traders and later enlisted as soldiers in the armies of the Delhi Sultanate. They had risen in power and status, and finally taken over the throne of Delhi in 1451 CE.
The dynasty was established by Bahlul Khan Lodi, the Governor of Sirhind in present-day Punjab, India. Their rule had come to an end with the defeat and death of Ibrahim Lodi, the son of Sikandar Lodi, in 1526 CE. The dynasty may have possibly ended with the death of Mahmud Lodi, a relative of Ibrahim Lodi.
