UKPHA VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB

The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh

The Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1799-1839) died ten years before the British annexation of the Punjab in 1849. his funerary monument or samadhi is located next to the Lahore fort, where the Maharaja lived. The structure is the last state funded project of the Lahore Darbar and represents a high point of nineteenth-century Sikh architecture, second only to the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Dr Nadhra Kahn

Professor Kim Wagner, an historian of Global and Imperial History from Queen Mary's University of London, speaks about his book ‘Amritsar 1919: An Empire of Fear & the Making of a Massacre’ This talk was given at the first UKPHA Virtual Bookclub meeting on 20 April 2020
Nadhra Khan's primary area of research and interest is 19th Century Sikh Art and Architectural Ornament in the Punjab, but she also focuses on Mughal Art and Architecture (16th to 18th century). Her work emphasizes the significance of the Sikh period as the last episode of centuries old indigenous art and architectural tradition before annexation of the Punjab by the British in 1849 that changed, among other things, the visual culture of the Punjab forever. A research project that started with one Sikh funerary monument or samadhi built to honor Maharaja Ranjit Singh has led her to study almost all major monuments dateable to this period, including the Golden Temple Amritsar, Sikh period havelis and various other samadhis.
Buy The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh here >>
You May also be interested in:

Davinder Toor

Davinder Toor, a leading figure among a new generation of Sikh, Indian, and Islamic art collectors and the guest curator of The Wallace Collection, joined Amandeep Madra in our 2024 series of talks. They explored the life of the great Sikh leader Ranjit Singh through historical objects from his court, courtiers, and family, including items owned by the Maharaja and the most famous of his 30 wives, Maharani Jind Kaur.

William Dalrymple

The Anarchy:the Relentless Rise of the East India Company' William Dalrymple in conversation with actor and filmmaker, Jassa Ahluwalia

Susan Stronge

Susan Stronge takes us on a fascinating journey in which she highlights the exquisite objects which mark the artistry and creativity in the history of Lahore.

Haroon Khalid

Haroon Khalid joined the UKPHA Bookclub to talk about his book ‘In Search of Shiva: A Study of Folk Religious Practices in Pakistan.’

See All Events
HomeBookclubAbout UsPrivacy