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The Great
Mughals:
Myth, Reality
and Legacy
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Introduction
The British Library holds a unique and extensive collection of heritage material from India and South Asia.
In the Autumn of 2012 a new and visually sumptuous exhibition at the British Library will challenge existing
perceptions of great Indian Mughals as imperial eastern autocrats, exploring how these men managed to
impose a long and successful rule on central and southern Asia.
The Great Mughals will tell the stories of the individuals themselves: from their Afghan/central Asian origins,
political acumen and military achievements, to their love and patronage of literature, the arts and music.
Spanning the length of their rule, the exhibition will shed light on the later period of their tenure, when their
empire was disintegrating around them. Interestingly despite the changing political landscape, the later
emperors were also considerable patrons of art, music and literature.
It has been nearly 30 years since the great Mughal manuscripts were all exhibited
together (in 1982) and this, combined with the fact that there has never been
an exhibition that attempts to interpret the emperors’ stories through paintings,
manuscripts and other exhibits, promises to make the exhibition an outstanding
‘must-see’ event in 2012/13.
The exhibition will attract a large and diverse audience upwards of 1,000
per day, lifelong learners and schools, inspiration and knowledge-seekers,
British Asians exploring their own culture as much as British and
international visitors expanding their cultural horizons.
A fully illustrated book will accompany the exhibition, together with
extensive online resources, learning workshops, talks, musical
performances and study days.
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The exhibition – an outline
For 350 years, the Mughal dynasty produced an astonishing number of rulers of outstanding ability operating in a hugely diverse and
complex religious, linguistic and social environment across a very wide geographical area. Their legacy in statecraft and the promotion
of culture reveals their profound desire for knowledge across all fields and their far-ranging artistic and literary patronage, a legacy
which the British Library is in a unique position to reveal through its extensive collections of art, literature and language material.
In the autumn of 2012, a selection of 200 Mughal miniature paintings, manuscripts, and imperial documents will be on display at
the British Library. The miniature paintings as well as the illuminations and illustrations found in manuscripts were produced by the
pre-eminent artists of the Mughal atelier.
The Great Mughal Emperor Akbar who reigned from 1556 – 1605, acclaimed for his passion for the fine
arts and promotion of knowledge, established royal ateliers where artists, translators, and historians
would collaborate to produce exquisite illustrated biographical accounts on the Mughal emperors,
translations of Hindu epics from Sanskrit to Persian, as well as skilfully rendered portrait studies of the
prominent figures at the Mughal court. The successive Mughal emperors would
continue with Akbar’s tradition throughout the seventeenth century and on
a much smaller scale in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The manuscripts and historical documentation of the Mughal
period on display provides the most vivid surviving source
for understanding the historical reality behind the almost
mythical modern idea of the bejewelled Mughal emperor
traditionally pictured on his glittering golden throne.
Interpreting the visualisations of Mughal India through
the British Library’s unparalleled collection, the
exhibition will give the visitor a new dimension into
the Mughal persona, life at the imperial court, their
passion for knowledge and patronage of the arts, and
the legacy that remains in the subcontinent today.
A European scene with Portuguese figures Mughal school, c.1595 (detail) (BL J.16,6)
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The exhibition
A selection from many star objects
■ Vaki’at-i Baburi, the illustrated memoirs of Babur, commissioned by Akbar
(r.1556 –1605), c.1590
■
Aval-i Humayun Padshah, account on the life of Humayun and Babur, written
by Babur’s sister Gulbadan Begum, commissioned by Akbar, 17th century
■
Akbarnama, an imperial copy of the official chronicle of Akbar’s reign with
40 miniatures, circa 1603 –1604
■
Qur’an, copied by Hibat Allah al-Husayni for the use of Akbar, 1573
■
The ‘Dara Shikoh Album’ of miniature paintings and Persian calligraphy,
commissioned by prince Dara Shikoh as a wedding present to his wife Nadira
Banu Begum, 1633 –1634
■
Genealogical portrait of Babur and his descendants Humayun, Akbar, Shah Jahan
painted by the royal artist Hashim, c.1650
■
Portrait of Muhammad Shah (r.1719 –1748) by Chitarman, c. 1720 –1730
■
A panoramic scroll of the riverside garden houses and tombs of Agra by an
Agra draughtsman, c.1825 –30
■
The marriage contract of Bahadur Shah II (r. 1837 –57) to Zinat Mahal Begum
■
Photograph of Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal Emperor, held in Delhi awaiting
his trial by the British for his part in the rebellion, May 1858.
A Mughal nobleman out hawking. The nobleman, wearing a floral brown jama and carrying a hawk on his right wrist, rides a
striding grey horse. Tinted drawing. Originally published/produced in c.1660. J.67,2
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The learning and digital programme
The exhibition The Great Mughals: Myth, Reality and Legacy will provide a unique
opportunity for visiting groups to discover at first hand new perspectives on the
legends of this important period of the history of India.
Our learning programme for Key Stage 3 will be designed not only to meet the
history curriculum (British History and European and World History) but also to
develop skills in interpretation and communication. It will focus on the key concept
of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. We will run a series of workshops for
students supporting historical enquiry, using evidence (including textual, visual,
oral ) and the evaluation of primary sources and communicating about the past.
Our learning programme for Key Stage 4 (GCSE) and A-Level will emphasize the
development of research skills. We will develop workshops which would look at
interrogating historical sources and developing enquiry skills (visual and verbal
literacy), forming and testing a thesis and exploring issues of bias – the myth of
the Mughals, what we can learn from the evidence on display in the exhibition.
We will create an attractive and innovative web interactive and apps to accompany
the exhibition. Funding-dependent, this will include digitising further objects from
the British Library’s Indian and South Asian collection and making them
internationally available to both students and lifelong learners.
The mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra, shown both in plan and in elevation by a Rajasthani artist, possibly from Jaipur,
1780–1800 (BL Add.Or.4202)
Previous page: An opening from the Qur’an, copied by Hibat Allah al-Husayni for the use of Akbar, 1573 (BL Add.18497)
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The marketing and outreach campaign
The British Library is planning a comprehensive multi-channel marketing campaign
that is strategically constructed to make sure public awareness is continually refreshed
throughout the exhibition.
■
A high profile communications programme, targeting national press, arts broadcasts,
print and digital media in a wide range of consumer and specialist magazines, including
London-based correspondents of foreign media
■
Multi-channel direct marketing through e-newsletters, event booklets and direct
mail. We have approximately 200,000 subscribers to our e-newsletters, and send
approximately 2.5 million e-communications per year
■
Press advertising in national and local newspapers
■
Advertising on the Underground across the London network
■
Online advertising with external sites such as Times Online along with extensive
coverage on www.bl.uk which has over 9 million unique users per year
■
Direct marketing to schools, HE and FE institutions across UK.
Celebrations in honour of the birth of Humayun in the Chahar Bagh of Kabul in the year 1508 by Sur Gujarati from the Vaki’at-i Baburi,
c.1590 (BL Or.3714 fol.295a). Also on cover.
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The partnership opportunity
A number of sponsorship options are available for discussion
ranging from sponsorship of the exhibition design and build to
the online resources or the on-site learning programme.
■
Onsite branding at the entrance to the Gallery, on banners
visible to Eurostar travellers leaving St Pancras International
station, on Euston Road, on big screens
Dependent upon level of partnership interest, benefits
to include:
■
Sponsor’s message in the exhibition book
■
200 complimentary tickets to the British Library exhibition
and its accompanying events programme
■
Employee benefits to include staff development workshops
related to exhibition themes, involvement in informal
learning sessions tailored to suit the staff training and
development objectives of your company.
■
Full naming rights
■
Co-developed PR push at key points during 2012 –2013,
highlighting your company’s corporate social responsibility
■
Inclusion of corporate details and key messages in press
release and media activity
■
Branding on all printed and electronic printed materials
Entrance gatehouse to Akbar’s mausoleum at Sikandra by Latif, c.1820 (BL Add.Or.1803)
Buland Darwaza or ‘Gate of Magnificence’ at Fatehpur Sikri by Latif, c.1820 (BL Add.Or.1801)
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Partnership options for discussion
Option 1: Learning programme – Workshops
Cost: £40,000 + VAT
Option 3: Exhibition Design and Build
Cost: £100,000 + VAT
Benefits
■ Accreditation in marketing materials to schools/teachers
print and online
■ Accreditation in all learning programme materials
■ Invitation to Exhibition launch event for
your staff and guests
■ Concessionary rates for all talks, readings, music events
and film screenings which accompany the Exhibition
Benefits:
■ Co-developed PR push at key points
■ Corporate message in all press/media releases
■ Accreditation and message in Exhibition Book
■ Accreditation on donor board and marketing materials,
print and online
■ 100 complimentary tickets for your company’s own use
■ Inclusion of your staff in tailored learning workshops
■ 1 x private reception in Front Hall for up to 300 guests*
■ 1 x Show and Tell for 30 stakeholders in the British Library
Boardroom with expert curators*
■ 2 days’ complimentary use of the British Library
Conference Centre*.
Option 2: Loans to exhibition
(jewellery, hardstone carvings, metalwork, textiles)
Cost: max. £50,000 + VAT (exact costing to follow)
Benefits
■ Accreditation in Exhibition Book
■ Accreditation in marketing materials, print and online
■ 1 x Show and Tell for 30 stakeholders in the British Library
Boardroom with expert curators.*
* excluding catering to be negotiated according to your requirements
Option 4: Exhibition Design and Build plus interactives
and apps (incl audioguide, in-gallery interactives)
Cost: £200,000 + VAT
Benefits
■ Full naming rights
■ Co-developed PR push at key points
■ Corporate message in all press/media releases
■ Accreditation and message in Exhibition Book
■ Accreditation on exhibition donor board and
marketing materials, print and online
■ 200 complimentary tickets for your company’s own use
■ Inclusion of your staff in tailored learning workshops
■ 1 x private reception in Front Hall for up to 300 guests*
■ 1 x Show and Tell for 30 stakeholders in the British Library
Boardroom with expert curators*
■ 2 days’ complimentary use of the British Library
Conference Centre*.
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The partnership opportunity
Last year the British Library signed a MoU with the Indian Ministry of Culture,
both sides pledging to develop a programme of interactive engagement designed
to contribute to education, digital literacy, cultural enrichment and greater
understanding between our two countries.
The Great Mughals: Myth, Reality and Legacy has potential to tour to cities in
India if you and your business partners in India would wish to discuss such a
development opportunity in terms of benefits to to your company’s wider
public and community relationships in India.
For conservation reasons not all objects in the London exhibition would be
available within a loan context. For the same reason we would need to rest
British Library collection objects at the close of the London show in April 2013.
A potential tour could take place the following year however, from April 2014.
The exhibition and its digital programme could be accompanied by workshops
adapted for a learning programme for schools in India.
All costs subject to feasibility study and further discussion.
Caption: ‘Akbar ordering the slaughter to cease’ Mughal c.1590 (BL J.8,4)
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Our audience
The British Library attracts a total of 1.6 million visitors per year, 600,000 of which visit
the public exhibition galleries.
Exhibition visitors are primarily over 35 years of age (72%), UK-based (77% with 30%
of those coming from London), ABC1.
Through extensive market research, the British Library has categorised its public audience
into a number of different pen-portraits. Notable among them are ‘knowledge-seekers’
and ‘inspiration-seekers’. Knowledge-seekers look for intellectual stimulation and
development for personal reasons more than academic pursuits. Inspiration seekers are
creative, culturally active and highly engaged in the arts; they’re willing to try new things
and look for inspiration wherever they go. The Great Mughals will be designed to appeal
primarily to these two categories of visitor alongside attracting those who want not only
knowledge from their visit but an emotional experience – a chance to see fascinating,
awe-inspiring things.
Over 20,000 young people participate in free learning workshops each year at the
Library. At least 2,500 are expected to participate in Great Mughals-related workshops
during the period that the exhibition programme runs. [For comparison, our recent
exhibition Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices welcomed 9,750 students
to associated workshops and 250 teachers took part in CPD events.]
The British Library’s website at www.bl.uk attracts nine million unique visitors annually.
For further discussion, please contact
Sarah Frankland
British Library
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
T +44 (0)20 7412 7023
[email protected]
A Mughal lady from the Dara Shikoh album,
Mughal, c. 1630–1640 (detail) (BL Add.Or.3129)