Shekhawati: Havelis of the Merchant Princes

Among the most vibrant clusters of architectural neighbourhoods in India, the towns of Shekhawati have a distinct architectural vocabulary blending Rajput and Islamic forms. But perhaps what characterizes this region as no other is its abundance of exuberantly painted havelis. Part of the erstwhile Jaipur state, Shekhawati today comprises the three districts of Jhunjhunu, Churu and Sikar in Rajasthan. This volume focuses on the regions heritage, left vulnerable by the waves of out-migration of the original community, with a view to examine the issues and challenges that face its survival. The book traces the history of the region, the emergence of the Marwaris as a formidable financial power on the regional and national map and their diaspora throughout the world while still maintaining strong familial and community ties with the Shekhawati homelands. The contributors explore the urban patterns of towns such as Ramgarh, Lachhmangarh, Fatehpur, Mandawa, Dhundlod and Churu, studying the palatial homes of rich merchant families, sumptuously decorated with paintings on an eclectic range of subjects, and the architectural typologies of havelis, joharas, mandirs, chhatris, caravansarais, dharamshalas, wells forts and palaces. Also included are chapters on the unique phenomenon of Shekhawati collages the urban fabric of Shekhawati towns vis-a-vis colonial cities, the architectural styles adopted by Marwaris who settled in Shahjahanabad and Hyderabad, and the pressing need for a conservation policy to preserve this unique legacy for future generations.

Contents: 1. A multiplicity of rulers: the political history of Shekhawati/Rima Hooja. 2. Shekhawatis architecture and the building boom/Ilay Cooper. 3. Painting the towns: Shekhawati’s murals/Ilay Cooper. 4. Shekhawati collages: reconfiguring the divine and the political/Jyotindra Jain. 5. Picture urbanity: towns in Shekhawati and empire cities/Kaiwan Mehta. 6. Shekhawati and beyond: Marwaris at home and in the Diaspora/Alka Patel. 7. Past perfect future imperfect: conservation issues and challenges/Abha Narain Lambah. Glossary. Index.