This Study day replaces the cancelled one on 15th October.
DAY OF SPECIAL INTEREST
‘MUGHALS AND RAJPUTS, COURTS AND PALACES OF INDIA’
SUE ROLLIN
Thursday 22ND October 2026
(Please note change of Date, Lecturer and Title from the 2026 Programme)
at The Westwoods Centre, Bassett Road, Northleach GL54 3JQ
We are delighted to welcome Sue Rollin to our Day of Special Interest.
(You may recall Sue from her visit to our Society in October last year when she lectured on ‘Petra and the Nabateans – the Arabs before Islam’
Sue works as a tour guide and lecturer on India, Central Asia, the Mediterranean and Middle East. She also works as a freelance interpreter for international organisations including the European Union and United Nations. She was formerly staff interpreter at the European Commission in Brussels and tutor and lecturer in Assyriology and Ancient History at the Universities of London and Cambridge. She has worked as an archaeologist.
Publications: Blue Guide: Jordan and Istanbul: A Traveller's Guide.
TIMETABLE FOR THE DAY
This Day of Special Interest comprises 2 morning lectures and one afternoon lecture (see below for lecture details).
DOORS OPEN AT 10.00 a.m. WHEN COFFEE AND FLAPJACKS ARE SERVED
10.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. FIRST LECTURE
11.30 a.m. – 11.55 a.m. BREAK FOR COFFEE/TEA AND BISCUITS
11.55 a.m. – 12.55 a.m. SECOND LECTURE
12.55 a.m. – 2.00 p.m. CATERED HOT LUNCH (NO COFFEE SERVED)
2.00 p.m – 3.00 p.m. THIRD LECTURE
Lectures 1 & 2 – The Mughal Empire and its predecessors: Islam in India
From the end of the 12C Northern India was governed by a succession of Islamic dynasties whose rulers had invaded the subcontinent over the Hindu Kush. The last and most successful of these invaders were the Mughals, who arrived in the 16C and controlled most of northern and central India until the advent of the British Raj. In these two lectures we look briefly at the legacy of India’s first Islamic rulers and then take a tour of the splendid art and architecture of the four capital cities of the Mughal empire, Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Lahore. We will focus on the magnificent royal courts of the first six emperors of the Mughal dynasty, often known as ‘the Great Mughals’, whose creative building culminated in that most ethereal of monuments, the Taj Mahal, created by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved queen.
Lecture 3 – Palaces and Princes of Rajasthan
We look at the art and architecture of the Rajputs, Hindu rulers of north-western India who belonged to the warrior caste. From the 16C the powerful Rajput princes were subject to the Mughals and for their services to the Empire they were well rewarded with titles, privileges and land. With their ample wealth the Rajput Maharajas built majestic fort-palaces in their state capitals and sponsored artists and craftsmen who created distinctive styles of art. In this lecture we visit some of the finest royal residences and glimpse life and ceremony at the glittering Rajput courts.
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The cost of the day remains at £48 to include 2 x morning coffee/tea and a hot lunch all provided by our wonderful caterer, Mary Rose Weston. You may bring your own alcohol but there will be a corkage charge of £3.00 payable to the Westwoods Centre.
For the booking form please click here. Please pay £48 per person online by bank transfer:
Barclays Bank : The Arts Society Gloucestershire
Sort Code: 20-68-15
Account No. 33308758
Please complete the reference box with DSI together with your surname. If you do not have access to online banking or are a ‘paper only’ member, please complete the booking form and forward a cheque for £48 per person made payable to ‘The Arts Society Gloucestershire’ to Georgie Hayward (DSI), Gastons Barn, Siddington, Cirencester, GL7 6HL.
Your place will be confirmed on confirmation of your payment. (please note the Organiser does not have instant access to the bank account).
No refunds will be issued, but in the event of a member being unable to attend and if there is no waiting list, he/she may find a replacement who does not need to be a member of the Society. Please inform the Organiser if you are transferring your place to someone else, so a new booking form can be completed.
THERE ARE LIMITED PLACES FOR THIS DAY OF SPECIAL INTEREST, SO PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT! PLACES WILL BE ALLOCATED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.
BOOKING FOR OUR SOCIETY MEMBERS WILL BE RESTRICTED UNTIL
SUNDAY 3rd OCTOBER - AFTER THAT IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS OF OTHER LOCAL SOCIETIES TO BOOK.
In the event of circumstances beyond our control, the Arts Society Gloucestershire reserves the right to cancel or re-arrange this event.
Organiser: Georgie Hayward
Tel: 07722 652886 / 01285 658235 (do not leave a message on the answerphone)
Email: georgie@uppersidd.co.uk