The Two Minars : Connecting India and Afghanistan

In a picturesque valley surrounded by rugged hills?and a winding river in the Ghor province of Afghanistan stands a remarkable sight: the Minaret of Jam, a tall tower adorned with stucco and turquoise tiles, seemingly rising out of the earth in a remote location. Located nearly 1,500 kilometres southeast of Delhi, India, is the Qutb Minar, a significant monument that shares architectural similarities with the Jam Minaret.

Constructed by the Ghurid Dynasty, a pivotal force in the history of the Indian?subcontinent,?in the late 1190s CE, the Qutb Minar represents an early example of Persianate culture in the region. Both minarets were erected to commemorate the Ghurid Dynasty's triumph in the Indian plains, highlighting a historical connection between the two structures from when empires extended across the subcontinent with blurry borders.

The stark contrast in the settings of these minarets—oone in a bustling modern city and the other in a serene valley—underlines the enduring link between them across the passage of time.?

The final decades of the 12th century marked the?apex of the Ghurid Empire. Led by the skilled military prowess of Muhammad Ghori and his elder brother Ghiyas al-Din Muhammad, the Ghurids overtook the Ghaznavids in Afghanistan. Eventually, they seized Delhi after defeating Prithviraj Chauhan in the critical Second Battle of Tarin (1192 CE).

The Minaret of Jam and the Qutb Minar were built to commemorate this significant event. Victory towers had always been a tradition in the Ghaznavid Empire, which the Ghurids adopted. The construction of the Jam Minaret was finished in 1194 CE under the supervision of Ghiyas al-Din Muhammad. The inscription below the first balcony of the tower bears Ghiyas al-Din's name, proclaiming him as "Ghiyas al-Din Muhammad ibn Sam, Sultan Magnificent! August King of Kings!" against the backdrop of a 900-year-old turquoise glaze.

?The relationship between the two brothers was unique as they jointly ruled over the Ghurid Empire. Their influence extended beyond their rule, shaping the construction of historical monuments in Afghanistan and India. Ghiyas al-Din managed the Western frontiers from Firuzkoh, while Muhammad Ghori focused on the east, particularly in India. In contrast to later Persianate dynasties that often engaged in fratricidal struggles due to the absence of primogeniture, the two brothers opted for cooperation.

However, Ghiyas al-Din's authority was clearly acknowledged by his younger brother. Notably, his name is oddly absent in a tower commemorating a battle won by Ghori, a testament to their unique relationship. At the same time, the magnificent victory tower was under construction in Afghanistan, and the Qutb Minar building commenced in Delhi. Unlike the minaret in Jam, the construction of the Qutb Minar faced delays due to political challenges in the nascent Sultanate. Muhammad Ghori's General, Qutb al-Din Aibak, oversaw the building in the mid-1190s. The first level was completed during the Ghurid brothers' lifetime, with Persian inscriptions clarifying that this project was initiated under their patronage, despite it now being known as 'Qutb's Minar.'

Ghiyas al-Din's titles are engraved at the top of the first level, resembling those on the Jam Minaret. Muhammad Ghori's titles are displayed below these inscriptions and some Qur'anic verses. While Ghori's praises closely resemble his older brother's, he is not honored with the title 'Sultan al-Salatin.'?

Located hundreds of kilometers away from Ghiyas's direct control, Ghori made sure that his name was inscribed on one of the two victory towers, commemorating a battle he had won. At the bottom, both architecturally and hierarchically in symbolism, Qutb al-Din Aibak's name can be seen, positioned as the most accessible and most straightforward to read, and therefore furthest from the distant sovereign power among the trio. However, Aibak and his successor, Iltutmish, established the Delhi Sultanate after the demise of Muhammad Ghori in 1206 CE. Iltutmish completed the Qutb Minar by 1220 CE.

As a result, the monument is more commonly linked to the Mamluk Dynasty, overshadowing its Ghurid origins due to the transitional Persian rule in India. Beyond the political connections, the two minarets share similar architectural and artistic elements. They were intended to signify the dominant Ghurid power of the time, functioning as both religious structures for muezzin calls to prayer and symbols of kingship and sovereignty.

The intricate Kufic inscriptions around the minarets reflect the devotion of the Ghurid rulers and represent the divine approval of their conquests. The elaborate geometric patterns on the minarets emphasize the aesthetic aspect of Ghurid kingship and demonstrate a religious faith that favors subtle designs over pictorial representations. This?religious?and political significance of the Qutb Minar adds depth and complexity to its historical context, inviting the audience to delve deeper into its story.

If historical and architectural similarities initially created a strong connection between these two monuments, their vastly different trajectories over time made that linkage seem improbable.

The Qutb Minar evolved into a prominent landmark in a city that served as a significant political hub on the Indian subcontinent for centuries, a status it retains today. The preservation of the seminar was overseen by the evolving political administrations of Delhi throughout history, including the Tughlaqs in the 14th century, the Lodhis in the 15th century, and the British in the 19th century. These efforts ensured that the minar remained largely intact by India's Independence in 1947.

In contrast, the Minaret of Jam met a tragic fate. Located at the intersection of the Hari Rud and Jam Rud rivers, this victory tower stands as the sole reminder of Firuzkoh, the once splendid city known as the Turquoise Mountain and the famed summer capital of the Ghurid Empire. The swift rise of Mongol power in the early 13th century led to the devastation of Firuzkoh, as Genghis Khan's son Tolui Khan and his army sacked the prosperous city, leaving it in ruins.

The survival of the Jam Minaret was nothing short of miraculous, likely due to its function as a watchtower for the Mongol soldiers. Despite its former grandeur, the Jam Minaret endured a precarious and secluded existence at the confluence of the Hari Rud and Jam Rud for the ensuing nine centuries, gradually fading into obscurity. However, modern conflicts intruded upon its tranquil existence, with the wars following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 inflicting significant harm on the Jam Minaret and its environs.

Although recent efforts have been made to safeguard it, Afghanistan's current unstable political climate casts doubt on its future. It is intriguing to ponder alternate scenarios. As Tolui Khan's forces ravaged Firuzkoh, other Mongol armies marched towards India. Despite repeated sieges on Delhi in the ensuing decades, the successive Sultans managed to repel the attackers. Had they failed, one can speculate on what might have transpired if Delhi had suffered a fate akin to Firuzkoh and the Qutb Minar had met a fate similar to its Ghurid counterpart.?