LCC Visits SOAS: Mughal Banaras: Forgotten Histories in a Troubled Present

We will be visiting the SOAS gallery (University of London) to check out their exhibition on its last day.

Event Plan:
We will meet at the front of the gallery by 3pm. We will post an update in the comments on exact whereabouts if people have trouble finding us.

We will aim to finish going through the exhibition before 5pm. We’ll stay together as a group while visiting the exhibition, but if you’d like to check anything out individually, feel free to do so and rejoin us later: we’ll be sharing our location throughout the event.

After finishing a tour of the exhibition, we’ll gather for a relaxed debrief and social at either Russel Square or pub nearby (we will keep you posted on the location in person and in the event page). This will be a chance to hang out, connect, and share experiences together.

Please note the exhibition itself is free and no tickets are required to be purchased to view the same.

The Exhibition: Mughal Banaras: Forgotten Histories in a Troubled Present

"Banaras, or Varanasi, in north India, is widely known as a Hindu pilgrimage city where devout pilgrims aspire to visit its temples or be cremated on the famous stepped terraces, or ghats, beside the river Ganges.

This photography exhibition looks beyond this dominant perception, drawing attention to the city’s diverse communities and their profound role in shaping its rich history and urban heritage over the centuries, which are often overlooked in more familiar representations of the city.

This exhibition throws light on Banaras’s rich Mughal past and present by going beyond the riverfront into the hidden lanes, neighbourhoods and sites associated with the ‘later’ Mughals, in particular Crown Prince Jahandar Shah, son of Emperor Shah Alam II. Jahandar Shah (1749–1788) was granted refuge in Banaras by the British, after fleeing courtly intrigues in Delhi. In 1788, he suddenly died and was buried in a place called Badshah Bagh.

Without the protected status of early Mughal monuments, these sites remain marginalized and invisible in the public eye. Drawing on the collaboration between historian Malavika Kasturi and architect and photographer Jateen Lad, these photographs present everyday moments at these sites. Extensive archival research intertwined with religion, politics, architecture, urbanism and conservation highlight their enduring value and multiple fragilities.

In today’s charged political environment, the Mughals are misrepresented in the public domain. Troubling arguments over contested claims and ever-present threats of demolition take aim at their built heritage. These photographs were taken in July 2023 and August 2024 during periods of heightened tensions in Banaras. Captured on mobile phones and compact cameras, they evoke a lingering atmosphere of unease and delicate uncertainty. In bringing together these sites of forgotten histories, this exhibition aims to further enrich understanding of the past and present of one of India’s most significant cities."

More details can be found in the exhibition webpage here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/mughal-banaras-forgotten-histories-troubled-present

Accessibility:
Details on the gallery's accessibility is given here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/accessibility-statement

Please note, we are committed to making every one of our events welcoming and safe for everybody. Our spaces are non-partisan, but not apolitical. Racism, sexism, antisemitism, classism, forms of discrimination based on sexual preference or gender identity are not tolerated. If you are a victim of bigotry or harassment at any of our events, please raise this with an organiser, who will act appropriately. We broadly follow this code of conduct https://wiki.dbzer0.com/the-anarchist-code-of-conduct