Volume III (Special Issue on Defense), Summer 2007

from the editorS

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Asian Indian history has been largely written from textual and literary sources that have marginalized many structures like temples, forts, tanks and other great archaeological monuments that are an integral part of the physical and cultural landscape of the India. Noteworthy among these are the forts that always seem to have some surprise in store for both the scholar and the layperson, surfacing occasionally in the newspapers and new media where we find gold coins artifacts or even some ritual killings today as people believe that this may yield them wealth. Though many kingdoms came and went past in history, the one constant was the fort, as the forts only changed masters and life went about in the same way. Most of the forts in India date back from a very early period (c. 7-9^th AD) and were constantly occupied by new dynasties who changed the symbolic and technical aspects in addition to adding some more features.

Obviously the first changes were symbolic, i.e., the new symbols, of the rulers in the form of inscriptions etched on granite or copper plates, proclaiming the arrival of a new dynasty. In many instances like the occupation of strategic forts by the Delhi Sultans, new coins were issued to mark the conquest of a territory. Secondly, the patron deity’s temple was set up and thus we see many forts in the Deccan having a small shrine to Tulaja Bhavani indicating the Maratha presence. These minor changes overshadowed by something that created a revolution in the world-gunpowder, the impacts completely changed the layout calling for many more barbicans, ramparts and bastions.  Along with this the elephants, once the symbol of might were reduced to ceremonial purposes and dispatched to stables.

Wars are not only fought by military means, but other aspects like espionage, trickery, assassinations and escapes. All these are revealed in the plans of the forts. In Golconda, in Hyderabad, we have a deliberate asymmetry in architecture to protect the ruler from the attack of the skilled knife wielder and a difficult angle is provided. But these features are overshadowed by the superb acoustic system in the same fort where a clap can be heard from as far away as a mile, warning of danger. Even more surprising is a set of pillars located at corners where one can hear whispers from one to the other corner.

The secret chambers and escape routes in the forts of Bidar and Daulatabad are worth a tour and one realizes that without a proper knowledge it takes at least two hours to negotiate this small tract. Advanced water supply systems that are in evidence at Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and the Rajput forts like Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, where seepage natural aquifers and clay pipes are used reveals a remarkable technological continuity.

There was always change, but not wholesale, as there was also continuity as seen in the large number of mud forts built of simple earth after careful selection. Firstly, a foot of earth was taken from the ground and after three days was filled up again. If it sank too much or filled only half, it was discarded and a new stretch of soil was chosen. After preparing the batter painstakingly by hand and foot to eliminate air bubbles, a thick consistency was achieved. Wooden tools and plants helped in slowly casting the walls that were given shade by a canopy of plaited bamboo mats or palm or coconut leaves to soften the sun. Periodic maintenance has seen them endure the elements of nature for almost a thousand years and many still stand strong today.

Please peruse the articles of this Special Issue on Defense.  Like the forts they describe, the articles may contain surprises, too.

Rekha Pande is director of the Centre for Women's Studies at Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad, India, and associate professor of History at the University of Hyderabad, where she has taught and written articles on the history of medieval India.  M. N. Rajesh is lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Hyderabad.  A specialist in the history of medieval India, Dr. Rajesh has published widely in the field.  Both Dr. Pande and Dr. Rajesh are members of the Project South Asia board of editors.  They, along with Dr. Karl J. Schmidt, are also members of the Indian Defense Architecture Project.

Copyright ©2007 Teaching South Asia (ISSN 1529-8558) and Rekha Pande and M. N. Rajesh.  All rights reserved.  No part of this article may be reprinted in any form without written permission from Teaching South Asia or Rekha Pande and M. N. Rajesh.