Discover the fascinating layers of meaning associated with Ranjit Singh’s funerary monument. Beginning with a brief introduction to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the city of Lahore, Dr Khan - specialist in the history of art and architecture of the Punjab – will reveal the significance of the samādhī (funerary monument). Looking at its location, plan, and different phases of construction, Dr Khan will reveal and discuss ornamental features characteristic of 19th-century Sikh architecture in Punjab.

About the speaker: Dr Nadhra Shahbaz Khan is Associate Professor of art and architectural history at LUMS, Lahore, Pakistan. A specialist in the history of art and architecture of Punjab from the 16th to the early 20th century, her research covers the visual and material culture of this region during the Mughal, Sikh, and colonial periods. Her publications in international peer reviewed journals, conference papers and other research activities, especially her book titled Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Samādhi in Lahore: A Summation of Sikh Architectural and Decorative Practices and a website featuring Sikh artefacts in the Lahore Fort’s Sikh Gallery, have successfully brought Sikh art and architecture to the forefront of Pakistan’s heritage discussions and conservation activities. This website has received the Times Higher Education Award Asia 2022 for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts. Her association with the Aga Khan Cultural Service–Pakistan for their Lahore Fort project as Consultant Historian has continued since 2016, and as Curator of the Lahore Fort’s Shah Burj Museum since 2023.

Watch Online: This talk will be broadcast live on Zoom. Book a free ticket online to receive a Zoom link. Ticketholders will also receive a link to view a recording of the talk, which will be available for two weeks only.