Ram Nath

R. Nath was born on 9 March 1933, grew up in a syncretic environment of Agra. He later recalled that, in his childhood period, Hindus and Muslims lived together in the same neighbourhoods, went to the same schools and participated in each other's festivals.{{cite book |first=R. |last=Nath |title=Architecture & Site of the Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya |location=Jaipur |publisher=The Historical Research Documentation Programme |year=1991 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZBNAAAAYAAJ |ref={{sfnref|Nath, The Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya|1991}} |page=54|isbn=9788185105147 }}

Nath studied in the St. John's College in Agra and obtained PhD and DLitt from the Agra University. His research covered the Mughal-era monuments such as the Agra Fort, the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri, and the Jama Masjid of Delhi.{{cite book |first=R. |last=Nath |title=Architecture & Site of the Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya |location=Jaipur |publisher=The Historical Research Documentation Programme |year=1991 |isbn=9788185105147 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZBNAAAAYAAJ |ref={{sfnref|Nath, The Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya|1991}} |at=back cover}}

Nath taught at the Agra College and later at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur where he was a Reader and associate professor in the Department of History and Indian Culture. He also delivered lectures at other institutions including the Heras Institute (St. Xavier's College, Mumbai) and the Harvard University. Specializing in medieval Indian architecture, Nath came to be regarded one of India's leading art historians and an authority on the Mughal architecture.{{cite web |url=https://content.lib.washington.edu/icweb/nath.html |title=R. Nath Mughal Architecture Image Collection |publisher=University of Washington Libraries |access-date=2019-02-07 }}

In 1990, in the context of the Ayodhya dispute, the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) cited Nath's History of Mughal Architecture to argue that the Islamic Mughal rulers did not destroy a Hindu temple to build the Babri mosque in Ayodhya. When Nath learned about this from an Indian Express newspaper report, he clarified that he actually believed that the mosque had been built over a temple.{{cite news |author=Arvind Lavakare |title=Ayodhya's Original Sinners: Their cowardly retreat from truth |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2000/dec/26arvind.htm |work=rediff.com |date=2000-12-26 }} He explained his position in a booklet titled Architecture & Site of the Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya, stating that a Jami Masjid is always sited in the main bazar of a city where the faithful can congregate conveniently and make purchases in the market afterwards. The Babri Masjid is on the other hand sited on a high mound in the midst of a series of Hindu temples in an exclusively Hindu locality. There would have been no reason to site a mosque at that location unless it was built on top of a demolished temple.{{cite book |first=R. |last=Nath |title=Architecture & Site of the Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya |location=Jaipur |publisher=The Historical Research Documentation Programme |year=1991 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZBNAAAAYAAJ |ref={{sfnref|Nath, The Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya|1991}} |pages=67–68|isbn=9788185105147 }}

In 2015, when a group of 53 academics criticised the BJP-led Narendra Modi government for fostering an environment of intolerance in the country on behalf of Hindu nationalists, Nath was among the 46 academics who disagreed with them. Nath and his colleagues branded the first group of academics as "leftist", and stated that their letter was politico-ideological rather than intellectual in nature. They asserted that they rejected the nationalist attempts to portray India's past as glorious golden age, but also condemned the "leftist" historians for promoting contempt of Indian civilisation.{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/historians-archaeologists-scholars-call-for-unbiased-and-rigorous-new-historiography-of-india/article7888794.ece |title=Full text of statement issued by 46 academics against "leftist" historians |date=2015-11-17 |newspaper=The Hindu }}

In 2017, when the Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath reportedly stated that the Mughal-built Taj Mahal was not a part of Indian culture, Nath denounced him for "ignoring the contribution of [the] Mughal rulers to Indian arts, culture and literature".{{cite news |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/historian-r-nath-challenges-uttar-pradesh-cm-yogi-adityanath-over-taj-mahal/836772/ |title=Historian R Nath challenges Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath over Taj Mahal |date=2017-09-01 |newspaper=Financial Express }} Nath also criticised the BJP leader Sangeet Som's claim that Taj Mahal was built by "traitors": he asserted that the monument's builder Shah Jahan was an Indian emperor, who defended India against foreign invasions, promoted the Indian languages Sanskrit and Hindavi over Arabic, and who liberally patronised Indian poets, musicians, and painters. He further pointed out that the monument was built by Indian artisans, using Indian material and Indian techniques. Nath rejected the claims that Shah Jahan had forcibly acquired the land from Hindu king Jai Singh to build the monument, and that hands of 20,000 artisans involved in its construction were amputated. He also criticised the Hindu chauvinist theory that Taj Mahal was originally a Shiva temple, calling it "absolutely wrong and absurd".{{cite news |author=Mahmood Hasan |title=Will the Taj Mahal face the same fate as Babri Mosque? The Daily Star columnist |date=2017-11-17 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/will-the-taj-mahal-face-the-same-fate-as-babri-mosque-the-daily-star-columnist |publisher=The Straits Times }} He stated that the Hindu nationalist characterisation of the Mughal era as "exploitative, barbaric and a period of incomparable intolerance" was completely wrong.{{cite news |author=R. V. Smith |title=No one's mistress... |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/no-ones-mistress/article22397546.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2018-01-08 }}

According to the University of Washington Libraries, R. Nath has authored "65 books, 13 monographs, 190 research-papers and 300 popular articles." The books written by him include the following:

• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Islam in India: Predicaments of the Indian Musalman |year=2018 |publisher=The Heritage |location=Ajmer }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Mughal Inlay Art |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-NQVAQAAIAAJ |year=2004 |publisher=Indian History and Culture Society |isbn=978-81-246-0261-4}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title = काल-दर्पण (Kala-Darpana) |url=http://www.parimalpublication.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=175 |year=2004 |publisher=Parimal |location=Delhi |language=Hindi }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Indigenous Characteristics of Mughal Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O1x7AAAACAAJ |year=2004 |publisher=Indian History and Culture Society |isbn=978-81-246-0256-0}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Fatehpur Sikri and Its Monuments |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wAXqAAAAMAAJ |year=2000 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-28-4}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Chittorgadh Kīrtti-stambha of Maharana Kumbha: The Idea & the Form, 1440-60 A.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jIZ8p1VFxY4C |year=1999 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-81-7017-358-8}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Mughal Sculpture: Study of Stone Sculptures of Birds, Beasts, Mythical Animals, Human Beings, and Deities in Mughal Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOrSwAEACAAJ |year=1997 |publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-81-7024-870-5}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=India as Seen by Babur, AD 1504-1530 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj8WL5rgkf0C |year=1996 |publisher=M.D. |isbn=978-81-7533-000-9}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Art & Architecture of the Taj Mahal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygHjPQAACAAJ |year=1996 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-25-3}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Studies in Medieval Indian Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KSiNuxJ3JeYC |year=1995 |publisher=M.D. |isbn=978-81-85880-56-3}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Medieval Indian History and Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aFRuAAAAMAAJ |year=1995 |publisher=APH Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-81-7024-697-8}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Jaina kirtti-stambha of Chittorgadh, c. 1300 A.D.: the form & the idea |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApJNAAAAYAAJ |year=1994 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme|isbn=9788185105222 }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Private life of the Mughals of India, 1526–1803 A.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gRpuAAAAMAAJ |year=1994 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-20-8}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Mosque Architecture: From Medina to Hindustan, 622-1654 A.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uE95QgAACAAJ |year=1994 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-23-9}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Architecture & Site of the Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya: (a Historical Critique) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZBNAAAAYAAJ |year=1991 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-14-7}}
• {{cite book |editor=R. Nath |title=India as Seen by William Finch (1608-11) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WFM5PQAACAAJ |year=1990 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-12-3}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Historiographical Study of Indo-Muslim Architecture: Medieval Architecture of India and Pakistan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LeHVAAAAMAAJ |year=1989 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-10-9}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Jharokha: An Illustrated Glossary of Indo-Muslim Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jF0wJmzHHEIC |year=1986 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Elements of Indian Art and Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vw3qAAAAMAAJ |year=1986 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=978-81-85105-07-9}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=The Taj Mahal & Its Incarnation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HurVAAAAMAAJ |year=1985 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme |isbn=9780318369754 }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Antiquities of Chittorgadh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lE7QAAAAMAAJ |year=1984 |publisher=Historical Research Documentation Programme}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=History of Mughal Architecture (5 volumes) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ah9yDUfWvBcC |year=1982 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-81-7017-414-1}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Islamic architecture and culture in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0u0AAAAIAAJ |year=1982 |publisher=B.R. |isbn=9780865901353 }}
• {{cite book |author=R Nath |title=India As Seen by Amir Khusrau (1318 A.D). |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xtGRAQAACAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=The Heritage |isbn=978-81-85105-00-0}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Art of Khajuraho |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FbmaF2puAzEC |year=1980 |publisher=South Asia Books |isbn=978-0-8364-0608-5}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Calligraphic Art in Mughal Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rODVAAAAMAAJ |year=1979 |publisher=Iran Society}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=The Art of Chanderi: A Study of the 15th Century Monuments of Chanderi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YllXAAAAMAAJ |year=1979 |publisher=Ambika }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=History of Sultanate architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRPUvAEACAAJ |year=1978 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=9788170170730 }}
• {{cite book |translator=R. Nath |author=Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan |trans-title=Monuments of Delhi: A historical study |title=Athar'al-Sanadid |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBZuAAAAMAAJ |year=1978 |publisher=Ambika|isbn=9780836405835 }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Agra and Its Monumental Glory |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wYKAQAAIAAJ |year=1977 |publisher=Taraporevala}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=History of Decorative Art in Mughal Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BvfVAAAAMAAJ |year=1976 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=9780836404135 }}. To be reprinted under the title Motifs and Designs of Mughal Architecture.
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Some Aspects of Mughal Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GOHVAAAAMAAJ |year=1976 |publisher=Abhinav|isbn=9788170170365 }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=मध्यकालीन भारतीय कलाएँ एवं उनका विकास (Madhyakālīna Bhāratīya kalāe evaṃ unakā vikāsa) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3qUStAEACAAJ |year=1973 |publisher=Rajasthan Hindi Granth Akadmi |language=Hindi }}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=The Immortal Taj Mahal: The Evolution of the Tomb in Mughal Architecture |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.53270 |year=1972 |publisher=D. B. Taraporevala Sons}}
• {{cite book |author=R. Nath |title=Colour Decoration in Mughal Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GEbqAAAAMAAJ |year=1970 |publisher=D. B. Taraporevala Sons}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://rnath.in/about-us/ Biography on official website]
• [https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/ic/search/searchterm/R%20Nath/field/creato/mode/all/conn/and/order/title!datea/ad/asc/cosuppress/1 R. Nath Mughal Architecture Image Collection]

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Category:20th-century Indian historians

Category:21st-century Indian historians

Category:Indian art historians

Category:1933 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Agra

Category:Academic staff of the University of Rajasthan

Category:Historians of India

Category:Historians of Indian art