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Islamic influences on the Indian dress

By Seven Oaks -
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Below is a evidence-backed inventory of major “Islamicate” (Persianate/Mughal/Nawabi court-culture) features that have become normal parts of Indian dressing today—across religions and regions. A key point up front: many of these elements entered Indian life through Muslim-ruled courts, urban markets, and craft guilds , then spread widely and became “Indian” in everyday use. ( Wikipedia ) Picture 1 (top-left in the carousel): Mughal-era “jama” silhouette—an early stitched, tailored court garment in North India that helped normalize Central Asian/Persianate cut-and-sew clothing forms (a major shift from unstitched drapes). ( Wikipedia ) 1) The biggest structural influence: stitched, tailored “courtwear” becomes normal One of the most consequential “Islamicate” influences on Indian clothing is not a single garment, but a whole tailoring logic : cut-and-sew, layered outfits (tunic + trousers + scarf/veil; coats with closures; fitted sleeves; collars; button fronts). Schola...
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Islamic architectural features incorporated in temple architecture post 1200 CE

By Seven Oaks -
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Below is an  evidence-based explanation  of how Hindu temples and royal palaces built after c.1200 CE incorporated Indo-Islamic architectural features , with examples of  specific monuments , and exact features that were was borrowed .  This post keeps theology separate from architecture and focuses strictly on form, technique, and aesthetics . 1. What “Indo-Islamic features” actually means (architecturally) Before examples, clarity matters. Indo-Islamic architectural elements are not religious symbols . They are engineering, aesthetic, and spatial techniques developed under Islamic patronage in India, drawing from: • Persian • Central Asian • Earlier Indian traditions Key features include: • True arches (voussoir arches) • Domes (double-shell, bulbous, ribbed) • Geometric & vegetal (arabesque) ornament • Symmetry and axial planning • Enclosed courtyards • Chhatris evolving into hybrid forms • Charbagh-style spatial layouts • Advanced water management (fountain...
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Kapra Lake - Shrinkage, Encroachment, Preservation Efforts

By Seven Oaks -
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Here’s what is actually known from published records about Kapra Lake (Kapra Cheruvu / Oora Cheruvu).  1. Basic identity and location Names: Kapra Lake, Kapra Cheruvu, Kapra Pedda Cheruvu, also called Oora Cheruvu in some sources. ( Wikipedia ) Location: Kapra village / Kapra mandal, near Sainikpuri in the north-eastern part of Greater Hyderabad (Secunderabad side), in Medchal–Malkajgiri district, Telangana. ( Wikipedia ) Type: Classified in official and encyclopedic sources as a restored tank / natural lake that is part of a chain of interconnected lakes (Ramakrishnapuram / Banda Cheruvu → Kapra → Annarayana Cheruvu → Yadi Bai Gunta, etc.). ( Wikipedia ) Who made it & when? Revenue and planning documents call it a “restored tank” but do not clearly record: the original builder , the exact period of construction. Given the age of surrounding irrigation tanks in the Deccan, it is likely pre-modern (mayeb from Nizam era, Quli Qutub Shah era,...
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Monsieur Raymond - The French General of Hyderabad

By Seven Oaks -
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Early Life and Arrival in India Michel Joachim Marie Raymond was born on 25 September 1755 in Sérignac, Gascony, France, to a merchant family. In 1775, at the age of 20, he and his younger brother, William Jean Raymond, set sail for Pondicherry, India, with aspirations of establishing a merchant enterprise. However, the allure of military service soon captivated him, leading to a distinguished career as a soldier. Monsieur Raymond's French Tomb at Malakpet Military Career in India Following the British capture of Pondicherry in 1778, Raymond joined the army of Hyder Ali in Mysore, enlisting in the Corps of Chevalier de Lasse as a sub-lieutenant. His tenure here provided him with invaluable military experience. After Hyder Ali's death, Raymond served under French General Bussy as his aide-de-camp, holding the rank of captain. This period further honed his military acumen and deepened his understanding of the complex political landscape of the Deccan. In 1786, Raymond...
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Ameenpur Lake - Qutub Shahi era Lake

By Seven Oaks -
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Ameenpur Lake is a man‑made water body located on the northwestern fringe of Hyderabad in the Sangareddy district of Telangana ( Wikipedia ). It was constructed over 300 years ago , during the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah (1550–1580 AD) of the Golconda Sultanate by his courtier  Abdul Qadir Amin Khan.  ( Wikipedia ). Its primary purpose was to irrigate his gardens , which no longer exist but the lake remains ( Wikipedia ). Ameenpur Lake originally spanned over 300 acres , though now it covers around 93 acres due to encroachment ( Wikipedia ). It is recognized today as the first Biodiversity Heritage Site in India , and uniquely the first in an urban area ( Wikipedia ). The lake supports a rich variety of wildlife, including 166 bird species and numerous reptiles, mammals, fish, and invertebrates documented by 2017 ( Wikipedia ). Its terrain includes undulating rocky outcrops , situated amidst urban sprawl, factories, and villages ( Wikipedia )....
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Ghulam Yazdani - the towering figure in the field of Archeological Research

By Seven Oaks -
1. Introduction The archaeological landscape of the Deccan region was indelibly marked by the contributions of Ghulam Yazdani, whose pioneering work in the early to mid-20th century remains a benchmark for heritage documentation and conservation. Serving as the first Director of Archaeology in the Hyderabad State under the Nizam’s dominion, Yazdani not only spearheaded detailed surveys and excavations but also established methodological standards that influenced generations of archaeologists. His investigative rigor and commitment to preserving historical monuments provided a comprehensive record of the ancient cultural and architectural practices prevalent in the region[^Y1]. In an era when systematic research in the Indian subcontinent was still in its formative stages, Yazdani played a pivotal role in integrating scientific methods with traditional conservation techniques. His work, ranging from the meticulous documentation of the Ajanta Caves to the evaluation of Qutb Shahi fortifi...
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The Salar Jung Collection - The World's Single Largest One Man Collection

By Seven Oaks -
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Life History of Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan (Salar Jung III) Early Life and Family Heritage Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, later renowned as  Salar Jung III , was born in June 1889 in Poona (modern Pune) into the illustrious Salar Jung family of Hyderabad.           The young Salar Jung III The Salar Jungs were among the Deccan’s great noble families, with five members serving as prime ministers to the Nizams of Hyderabad over generations. Yousuf Ali Khan’s father,  Nawab Mir Laiq Ali Khan (Salar Jung II) , tragically died when the infant was only a few weeks old.  Mir Laiq Ali Khan - Salar Jung II -Prime Minister of 6th Nizam Mahbub Ali Pasha and Father of Salar Jung III. His mother, Zainab Begum, brought the baby back to Hyderabad, where the young Nawab was raised under careful guardianship.  At the age of ten, the seventh Nizam formally bestowed upon Yousuf Ali Khan the  family title  of “Salar Jun...
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