The Funerary Memorials constitute the most important buildings in the domain of Islamic architecture. One can find in them almost all the ingredients forming part of Islamic edifices. The Funerary Memorials thus provide a sound base for understanding and appreciating the various components of Islamic buildings. It was primarily for this reason that the author was prompted to compile the present book on the ‘Funerary Memorial Architecture in Pakistan’, relating to the Muslim Period. The book contains 21 Chapters, with a Glossary, Bibliography and Index at the end. The Funerary Memorials described in the book have been illustrated with the aid of 136 black and white photographs and 23colour plates. ‘Foreword’ to the book has been written by Dr. A.H. Dani.; an Archaeologist of international repute. His impressions about the book are: ‘This is the first time that a complete collection of funerary monuments of the Muslim period in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab and some in North-West Frontier Province has been made. The Frontier Province has been far long neglected. The most interesting and informative are the discussion in the first three parts of the book that straightens the views presented by the European writers. On the whole, the present book is of great importance as it provides material so far un-recorded. I hope the book will be read profitably by those, who are interested in architecture’.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shaikh Khurshid Hasan
Shaikh Khurshid Hasan is a well known Archaeologist and Scholar. With more than 35 years service in the Federal Department of Archeology and Museums holding various senior positions, his contribution has been varied and multifacet from archaeological research, conservation and preservation of Cultural Heritage to the development of museums, organization of special exhibitions and serving many a Commissions and Committees, set-up by the Govt. of Pakistan and Specialised Organizations. He has participated in a number of International and National Conferences, Seminars Symposia. He also chaired some of their academic sessions. Mr. Hasan served in 1985 as Unesco Consultant in Bangala Desh and Sri Lanka providing excellent ‘Plants of Action’ for the preservation of their Cultural Heritage. Islamic art and architecture is, how3ever, Mr. Hasan’s field of specialization. With this in view, he has not only studied the Islamic monuments of Pakistan, but also of several muslim countries like Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Bangala Desh. He has contributed a number of research articles, which were published in Journals of repute both at home and abroad. He is author of several books. His book on ‘Chaukhandi Tombs in Pakistan’ Has been rated as a scholarly work of considerable merit. The book was adjudged by the National Book Foundation of Pakistan’ as second best book published in 1996.Amongst the books co-authored by him is Mohenjodaro; a 5000 year Old Legacy’. It was published by Unesco in 1980, as a Part of its International Campaign to save Mohenjodaro. Mr. Hasan is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, London and member of such literary societies like Pakistan Historical Society, Karachi, Institute of Central and West Asian Studies, University of Karachi, Society of Asian Civilizations, Islamabad etc. In recognition of his contribution in the field of ‘Archaeology’, the Govt. of Italy had conferred upon him the ‘Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic’ in 1993. He is associated with the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Management Board, Karachi as Honorary Archaeological Advisor, Aiwan-e-Nawadarat. He is a member of the Board of Governors, National Fund for Mohenjodaro, set-up by the Govt. of Pakistan.
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