Persian Inscriptions in the Gwalior State

Summary

This paper catalogues Persian inscriptions found in the Gwalior State and situates them in historical context. It begins by explaining that Persian replaced Arabic as the dominant epigraphic language in northern India by the late thirteenth century and became ubiquitous under the Mughals. The inscriptions are grouped by type—mosque inscriptions, commemorative tablets on forts and palaces and administrative decrees. For each inscription the author provides the original Persian text, an English translation and notes on orthography and calligraphy. The article identifies the patrons who commissioned the works and the political circumstances surrounding them. It shows how epigraphs recorded constructions of mosques, grants of land, tax remissions and royal proclamations. The author analyses stylistic features to infer the development of Persian epigraphy in India and discusses how these inscriptions reflect cultural interactions between Persian and Indian elites. The study highlights the value of epigraphy for reconstructing regional history and Islamic architecture.