Q. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:
- White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
- Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2018)
Answer:
Neither 1 nor 2
Notes: The correct answer is
[D] Neither 1 nor 2. This question requires a specific understanding of the architectural materials used during the Mughal and Awadh periods.
- Buland Darwaza and Fatehpur Sikri (Statement 1 – Incorrect): Built by Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat, the Buland Darwaza is primarily constructed of red and buff sandstone, ornamented with carving and inlaying of white and black marble. It is not "made of white marble" in the same sense as the Taj Mahal. The Khankah (Sufi monastery) and other structures at Fatehpur Sikri are almost entirely built of local red sandstone. The only notable exception in the complex is the Tomb of Salim Chishti, which was originally red sandstone but later encased in white marble.
- Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza (Statement 2 – Incorrect): These structures in Lucknow represent the Asaf-ud-Daula phase of Awadhi architecture (18th century). Unlike the Mughal buildings that used stone and marble, the Lucknow monuments were built using bricks and lime plaster (chunam). Stucco ornamentation was used instead of stone carving because high-quality sandstone and marble were not easily available in the plains of Awadh.
Historically, the shift from stone to brick and stucco in Lucknow allowed architects to create more delicate and elaborate designs, such as the famous "vaulted" ceilings of the Bara Imambara, which is one of the largest arched constructions in the world without any external support beams.