Taj Mahal Summary

Introduction

“The Taj Mahal rises above the banks of the river like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time.”

These were the very words used by Rabindranath Tagore to capture the immense beauty and majesty of one of the creations of the Mughal Empire- the Taj Mahal. The Mughals played an extensive role in influencing the culture and architecture of the Indian subcontinent. Structures such as forts, tombs and palaces have shown the architectural prowess of the Mughal Empire. Such adroitness was however not only displayed in the areas of design and construction but also in battle strategy and artillery development. A proof for the same was that they had initially entered India from Afghanistan with a small army and had managed to conquer

This documentary exhibits how the craving for power that was present within the Mughal rulers leads to the development of shrewd battle tactics and innovative methods of weaponry craftsmanship. It also shows how the Empire eventually influences a large part of the Indian Subcontinent in terms of art, culture and language; especially those parts which it had conquered. The documentary however only displays only a fragment of the genius of the Mughal dynasty. Throughout the duration of the documentary, a deluge of exquisite locations are shown along with a very enthralling narrative that tells the tales of the Mughal

He was a veteran warrior and had conquered a kingdom at the tender age of fourteen. In 1525, he decided to conquer Delhi which at that time was considered to be India’s centre of power and wealth. Babur did so by encountering Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Panipat in 1526. According to the documentary, Babur entered into Indian soil with an army that was 12,000 strong to face Lodi’s army which was 100,000 strong. However, many historians have stated that Babur had exaggerated the figures in regards to Ibrahim Lodi’s army, and also many historians say that there were many Indians who had joined Babur’s army in the Battle of Panipat. This is shows how history is molded and manipulated by the victors of war just as Michel Foucault had stated that history is seen from the viewpoint of those in power and is not necessarily always true. Keeping these aspects aside, one cannot deny that Babur was a genius when it came to strategizing combat and warfare. He was aware of the fact that Ibrahim Lodi would confront his foes when he went into battle. Knowing this, he prepared a week ahead of the battle by going to Panipat and keeping the town to his right, he dug a trench system as to create a funnel-like entrapment. He then divided the army into the left and right flanks which would surround the enemy and he also placed cannons in the centre. On the 20th of April 1526, Lodi