Education

Research Interests / Specialization

 Indo-Islamic and Sikh art and architecture of North-Western India, Photography

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

Books:

2009. Architectural Heritage of a Sikh State: Faridkot. Delhi: Aryan Books International.

2008. Land Transport in Mughal India: Agra-Lahore Mughal Highway and its Architectural Remains. Delhi: Aryan Books International.

2006. History and Architectural Remains of Sirhind: The Greatest Mughal City on Agra-Lahore Highway. Delhi: Aryan Books International.

1999. Some Aspects of Indo-Islamic Architecture. Delhi: Abhinav Publications.

1985. Mughal Monuments in the Punjab and Haryana. Delhi: Inter-India Publications. (Honoured with Dr. W. G. Archer Award by the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi).

1985. Muslim Inscriptions in the Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Delhi: Inter-India Publications.

Books in Print:

Annotated edition of C.M. Villiers-Stuart’s Gardens of the Great Mughals with a new introduction, bibliography and additional plates by me.

Books in Preparation:

Architecture of Punjab 1206-1707.

Architectural Heritage of Haryana (under Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, 2001-03).

Monuments of West Punjab: A Bibliographic Survey.

Articles in Journals:

2011. “Gothic Revival at Faridkot”. Marg (Mumbai), 62(3): 12-27.
2009. “Early Sufi Tombs in South-Western Punjab: Understanding the Architectural Features”. In Surinder Singh & Ishwar Dayal Gaur, eds. Sufism in Punjab: Mystics, Literature and Shrines (Delhi: Aakar Books), 303-35.
2009. “Travelling with the Mughals: A Survey of the Agra-Lahore Highway”. Marg, 60(4): 30-45.
2007. “Muslim Monuments in a Sikh State”. Islamic Studies (Islamabad), 45(2), 269-94.
2006. “Arab Sarai at Nizamuddin, Delhi”. Marg, 58(1): 48-55.
2004. “Historic Mosques of Sirhind”. Islamic Studies, 43(3): 481-510.
2004. “Saif Khan-A Versatile Mughal Noble”. Journal of Pakistan Historical Society (Karachi), 52(3): 3-19.
2004. “Medieval Sirhind and its Monuments”. Marg, 55(4): 42-57.
2001. "The Dargah of Baba Haji Ratan at Bhatinda". Islamic Studies, 40(1):105-132.
2001. "Tomb of Subhan: A Little-Known Monument of the Lodi Period". Marg, 52(3): 69-75.
1999. "Baolis of Punjab and Haryana". Marg, 51(1): 59-74.
1999. "Arabic and Persian Inscriptions from Sirhind". Islamic Studies, 38(2): 255-74.
1998. “The Afsarwali Masjid and Afsarwala Gumbad at Nizamuddin, Delhi”. Marg, 49(4):78-83.
1998. “Mughal Tombs at Bahlolpur”. Islamic Studies, 37(2): 249-60.
1998. “The Mughal Caravansarai at Taraori”. Journal of Pakistan Historical Society(Karachi), 46 (1): 19-27.
1997. “Some Interesting Visitors’ Records: Five Examples of Graffiti found in a Tomb at Nurdi (Amritsar District, East Punjab)”. Journal of Royal Asiatic Society (London), 7(3): 399-409.
1997. “A Lodi Inscription from Eastern Punjab”. Iran (London), 35: 79-81 & Pls. 17a-b.
1997. “Architectural Remains at Bahadurgarh”. Lalit Kala (Ancient) (Delhi), 28: 50-55.
1996. “Mughal Monuments of Nurdi”. Journal of Research Society of Pakistan(Lahore), 33(4): 55-61.
1996. “Wall-Paintings in the Sethani-ki-Chhatri at Farrukhnagar”. Marg, 48(1): 94-96.
1996. “Medieval Mansion”. Marg, 47(3): 58-59.
1995. “Relics of Agra-Lahore Road at Sultanpur Lodhi”. Indologica-Jaipurensia (Jaipur), 2:80-89.
1995. “Mughal Monuments of Batala”. Journal of Pakistan Historical Society, 43(1): 19-37.
1994. “Monuments of Kalanaur”. Marg, 45(4): 67-71.
1994. “Monuments of Raja Taal”. Marg, 45(2): 68-70.
1993. "Sultanate Monuments of the East Punjab". [Proceedings of the International Symposium on ] Islamic Architectural Heritage of Pakistan, South Asia and Central Asia (Conservation and Revitalization) (organised in Lahore from 23-26 February 1993), ed. Ahmad Nabi Khan (Karachi: Department of Archaeology & Museums), 143-55
1993. “Mughal Sarai at Shambhu”. Islamic Studies, 32(4): 433-46.
1993. “Identifying Tihara”. Journal of Research Society of Pakistan, 30:41-43.
1993. “Hadironwala Bagh, Nakodar: An Extinct Mughal Garden”. Oriental Ar(London), 39: 39-46.
1993. “Mughal Tomb at Rupar”. Journal of Pakistan Historical Society, 41: 255-59.
1992. “Architectural Design of Golden Temple - Fact & Fiction”. Punjab University Research Bulletin (Arts) (Chandigarh), 23: 89-92.
1992. “A Little-known Mughal College in India:The Madrasa of Sheikh Chillie at Thanesar”. Muqarnas (Leiden), 9:175-85.
1992. “Depiction of Animate Motifs on the Muslim Monuments of the (East) Punjab and Haryana”. Journal of Pakistan Historical Society, 40: 185-93.
1992. ”The Mughal Mosque at Bahrampur”. Journal of Research Society of Pakistan, 29: 55-58.
1992. “Tomb of Rai Firuz at Hatur”. Journal of Pakistan Historical Society, 40: 143-50.
1991. “Heritage of Haryana”. The Punjab Past & Present(Patiala), 25: 96-102.
1991. “Sarai Nurmahal”. Oriental Art, 37: 81-93.
1991. “Two Little-known Mughal Monuments at Fatehabad in East Punjab”. Journal of Research Society of Pakistan, 28: 57-62.
1991. “A Little-known Mughal Sarai in India: Sarai Lashkar Khan”. Journal of Pakistan Historical Society, 39: 173-87.
1991. “Dakhini Sarai: An Architectural Study”. Indica (Bombay), 28: 27-35.
1987. “The Mughal Sarai at Doraha: An Architectural Study”. East & West (Rome), 37: 309-25.
1986. “Tomb of Ustad and Shagird at Sirhind”.Indo-Iranica (Calcutta), 39: 52-58.
1985/86. “A Little Known Mughal Garden in India - Aam Khas Bagh at Sirhind”. Oriental Art (London), 31: 421-32.
1985. “A Group of Mughal Tombs at Hisar”. Roopa-Lekha (Delhi), 57: 83-85.
1984. “Some Extinct Mughal Gardens in the Punjab and Haryana”. Islamic Culture (Hyderabad), 58:251-54.
1984. “Historical Notes on the Palace of Asaf Khan at Lahore” Journal of Pakistan Historical Society (Karachi), 32: 71-75.
1982. “Mughal Sarais in the Punjab and Haryana”. The Punjab Past & Present (Patiala), 16: 108-25.

Articles in Print

“Mughal Wall-Paintings with special reference to the Wall-Paintings at Doraha”. Marg.

Encyclopaedic Entries

“Architecture of Punjab 16th-18th century” and
“Sikh Religious Architecture upto c. 1849”. In The Dictionary of Art, 34 vols., London: Macmillan, 1996.
“Taj Mahal” and “Delhi” in Vishav-Kosh (Punjabi) Several entries (already written 25 entries beginning with the first four letters of the Persian alphabet) in Encyclopaedia of Persian Language,Literature and Culture in the Sub-continent (to be published in Iran)

General Articles

A) 62 in English (In The India Magazine, Inside Outside, Soma, Carvan, Alive,The Statesman, The Tribune, Indian Express, Sunday Mail, etc.)
B) 164 in Punjabi (In Preet Lari, Lo, Punjabi Tribune, Ajit etc.
C) 49 in Hindi (In Dharamyug, Saptahik Hindustan, Sunday Mail, Navbharat Times, Jansatta, Dainik Tribune etc.)

Translation

Akshar Akshar (Hindi translation of complete works of Paash), Sirhind: Lokgeet Parkashan, 1992; reprinted under the title Pash-Sampurn Kavya Yatra, Chandigarh: Abhishek, 2003.
Hum Larenge Saathi (Hindi translation of selected poems of the Punjabi poet Avtar Paash. Amritsar, 1988.
Pash ki Kavitaen (Hindi translation of 43 selected poems of Pash) Bareli: Jansulabh Paperbacks, 2005.
Poems, short-stories and essays of various Punjabi writers like Prem Prakash, Amarjit Chandan, Navtej Bharti, Iqbal Ramuwalia, Raman, Sarod Sudeep, Lal Singh Dil etc.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Participation in Exhibitions:

1997. 3rd Annual Exhibition of Photography, Chandigarh.
1991-92. Annual Regional Art Exhibition. Chd. Travelling Exhibition (3 October 1991- 9 February
1992) at Chandigarh and 12 districts of Punjab. 1989-90. North Zone Cultural Centre Exhibition of Photography.
1989. All India Exhibition of Photography, Chd. CONCEPT.
1986. 12th Salon of Photography, Hoshiarpur. All India Exhibition of Photography, Ludhiana.
1985. Annual Exhibition of Tenali Camera Club, Tenali. 11th Salon of Photography, Hoshiarpur. All India Exhibition of Photography, Ludhiana.
1982. 8th Salon of Photography, Hoshiarpur.
1981. 9th PSMP All India Salon of Photography, Bhopal. Annual Exhibition of Tenali Camera Club, Tenali.
1980. Annual Exhibition of Photography, Chd. PLKA.

Published Photographs:

Hundreds of colour transparencies and b/w photographs published in leading magazines and newspapers like Asian Photography, Zoom, Statesman, Dharamyug, Saptahik Hindustan, Sarika, Sarita, Kadambini, Mirror, Namste, Preet Lari, Ajit, Punjabi Tribune, Jansatta etc.

One of the twenty-four “Contemporary Image Makers” selected by The India Magazine on the occasion of completing 150 years of Photography in India in 1989.

Books in Preparation:

Architecture of Punjab 1206-1707.

Architectural Heritage of Haryana (under Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, 2001-03).

Monuments of West Punjab: A Bibliographic Survey.

DRAWING/PAINTING/SCULPTURE/COLLAGE/PHOTOMONTAGE

One-Man Shows:

1982. One Man Show of Photomontages at Triveni Gallery, New Delhi.
1979. One-Man Show of Paintings and Collages at Govt. Museum & Art Gallery, Chandigarh.

Participation in Artists’Camps:

1997. Organised by Punjab Art Heritage, Jalandhar
1980. Organised by PLKA, Chd.
1979. Organised by PLKA, Chd.

Participation in Exhibitions:

1997. Exhibition by Solids Group, Chandigarh to celebrate 50th year of India’s Independence.
1997. Art Festival, Jalandhar.
1993. Second Indian Drawing Biennale, Chd.
1991. Exhibition of Works of State & Akademy Award Winners of the Punjab at Lalit Kala Gallery, New Delhi.
1990. Annual Art Exhibition, Chd. (SOLIDS)
1988. Annual Exhibition of Art, Chd. (SOLIDS).
1985. Annual Art Mela, Chd.
1983. Art Today, Chd. (SOLIDS)
1982. Annual Art Mela, Chd.
1981. Annual Art Mela, Chd.
1980. Annual Art Mela, Chd.
1979. Annual Art Mela, Chd.
1977. Young Artists’ Exhibition, Chd. (PLKA).

AWARDS

3rd Annual Exhibition of Photography (PLKA, Chd.) 1997 First Prize.

Photography Today January-March 1988 First Prize
Photography Today October-December 1987 Merit Award FIP (Bangalore) Colour Slide Contest Sept.
1986 (First) -do-
1986 (Third) All India Exhibition of Photography, Ludhiana 1985 (Third) FIP (Bangalore) Colour Slide Contest, Aug.
1986 (Second)
-do- April 1986 (Third) -do- March 1986 (Third) Photographer of the Month MIRROR March 1986

Dr. W. G. Archer Award 1985 for the book Mughal Monuments in the Punjab and Haryana

FIP (Bangalore) Colour Slide Contest Feb. 1986 (First)
-do- Jan. 1986 (Third)

Grand Prize FIP Colour Slide Contest 1985

FIP (Bangalore) Colour Slide Contest July 1985 (First)
Karuna Goswami Plaque 1984-85
FIP (Bangalore) Colour Slide Contest June 1985 (Third)
-do- May 1985 (First)
-do- Feb. 1985 (First)
-do- Dec. 1984 (Third)
-do- Nov. 1984 (First)
-do- Sept. 1984 (First)

Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi Award for Best Collage, 1979.