STAGES IN THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN CULTURE (THE INDO – ISLAMIC CULTURE)

THE INDO – ISLAMIC CULTURE

The sultanate and Mughal periods witnessed the closed contact of two different and distinct cultures – the Hindu and the Muslim or Islamic. Hence the Hindu and the Muslim cultural ingredients coalesced to form a new cultural life.

During the three hundred years of the rule of the sultans of Delhi, the interaction between the Hindu and Islamic cultures was mostly confined to the prosperous cities and well – to – do upper classes but the Mughal period witnessed a remarkable Hindu – Muslim synthesis. The mutual intercourse between the two communities influenced the culture of both.

Inspite of the fundamental differences between Hindus and Muslimism there began to flow a congenial current of mutual harmony, cooperation and toleration in different spheres of life in course of time. They willingly offered themselves for mutual exchange of ideas. If the Hindu religious leaders and saints endeavored to synthesize Hindu – Muslim thoughts, the Sufi sect of the Muslims, their writers and poets adopted Hindu doctrines and followed many of their traditions, Famous Muslim Scholars and saints began to lab our for the dissemination of the ideas of Islamic philosophy and mysticism in India, and it has been proved that one of the sources of Muslim Mysticism was Indian. The healthy spirit of Mutual toleration found expression in the growing veneration of the Hindus for the Muslim saints, particularly of the mystic school, and a corresponding Muslim practiced of venerating Hindu saints which ultimately led to the common worship of Satrapy (the true saint). The Hindus offered sweets with great pleasure on the tombs of Muslim pars and saints and listened with reverence to the recitations of the Quaran.

In response to the Hindu sentiments, the Muslims were also favorably inclined towards Hinduism. Muslim kings in the provinces liberally granted endowments to Hindu temples and their shrines. The spirit of harmony, toleration and cooperation also found expression in the growing attempts of some Muslim aristocrats to assimilate Hindu customs, religious beliefs and observances while living in Hindu environment. As a result of the Hindu – Muslim contact there gradually emerged a linguistic synthesis and Urdu in the outcome of the mingling of Persian, Arabic and Turkish words and ideas with languages and concepts of Sanskritic origin. The advent of the Muslims and the spirit of harmony and toleration also had profound effect on the growth of Indian vernacular literature.

The spirit of assimilation and synthesis between the Hindu and Islamic cultures led to the evolution of new styles on architecture and music “in which the basic elements remained the old Hindu but the finish and outward form became Persian and the purpose served was that of Muslim court”, New arts and crafts were introduced in the country; for example, paper making, enameling, inlay work of stones, metals, jewels, etc.