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Preface
The Present work aims at giving a concise survey of the whole subject of Indian architecture, free from dry technicalities, as will interest both the student and general readers. At the same time it attempts a solution of several interesting problems which have exercised the minds of archaeologists for many years, and gives the results of researches in a field which still offers unlimited scope for the students.
The explanation given will enable the reader to perceive the intention of the builder, and correlate stupa, Temple, Monastery, Palace, Mosque and Tomb with the thought and life of the period to which they belong, rather than to classify in a dry academic manner which makes a builder's intention as unintelligible as the historian's explanation. Only when the craftsman's idea is realised will Indian Architecture become a subject of living interest, an open book in which the thought and life of India are written from Vedic time down to the present day. The Architecture of India will not then appear as a bewildering museum of marvels belonging to a bygone age, but as a still living tradition of practical craftsmanship constantly readapting itself to the spiritual and material needs of the age, and bearing witness to the wonderful constructive work of our Aryan predecessors, who 3000 years ago, laid whole foundation of Indian civilisation upon which we are attempting to build. The spirit of ancient Aryan Empire builders will be our best guide in this great task.
E.B.H. |
