>Tarjun 7 at 04:08, 18 April 2020

2020-04-18T04:08:41Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Coord|28.655713|77.242283|display=title}}
[[File:Diwan-i-Am - Western Facade - Red Fort - Delhi 2014-05-13 3194.JPG|thumb|]]
[[File:RedFort DiwanIAm Inside.JPG|thumb|Interior view facing the ''jharokha'']]
The '''''Diwan-i-Am''''', or '''Hall of Audience''', is a room in the [[Red Fort]] of Delhi where the [[Mughal emperor]] [[Shah Jahan]] (1628-1656) and his successors received members of the general public and heard their grievances.<ref name="ASI">{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_delhi_redfort_diwaniam.asp |title=Diwan-i-'Am of Red Fort |year=2011 |website= |publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] |accessdate=2013-12-09}}</ref>

The inner main court to which the ''Nakkarkhana'' led was 540 feet broad, 420 feet deep, and surrounded by arcade galleries, where chieftains (''umaras'') on duty were posted.<ref name="Murray">{{cite book |last=Murray |first=John |year=1911 |title=A handbook for travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon |url=https://archive.org/stream/handbooktravelle00john#page/197 |edition=8th |location=Calcutta |publisher=Thacker, Spink, & Co. |page=197 |isbn=978-1175486417 |accessdate=2014-01-25}}</ref> On the further side of it is the ''Diwan-i-Am''.

The ''Diwan-i-Am'' consists of a front hall, open on three sides and backed by a set of rooms faced in red sandstone.<ref name="Murray"/> The hall is 100 ft x 60 ft and divided into 27 square bays on a system of columns which support the arches. The roof is spanned by sandstone beams.<ref name="ASI"/>

The proportions of this hall, of its columns, and of the engraved arches show high aesthetics and fine craftsmanship. With an impressive façade of nine engraved arch openings, the hall was ornamented with gilded and white shell lime ''[[chunam]]'' plaster work.<ref name="Murray"/> Its ceiling and columns were painted with gold.<ref name="ASI"/>

In the centre of the eastern wall stands a marble canopy (''[[jharokha]]'') covered by a "Bengal" roof. A marble dais below the throne, inlaid with semi-precious stones, was used by the prime minister (''wazir'') to receive petitions. The emperor was separated from the courtiers by a gold-plated railing, while a silver railing ran around the remaining three sides of the hall.<ref name="ASI"/> The audience ceremony is known as ''[[Jharokha Darshan]]''.

Behind the canopy, the wall is decorated with panels inlaid with multi-coloured ''[[pietra dura]]'' stones. They represent flowers and birds and are reputedly carved by [[Austin de Bordeaux]], a Florentine jeweler.<ref name="Murray"/><ref name="ASI"/> The hall was restored by Lord Curzon, while the inlay work of the throne recess and the plaques of the arch to the west side of the throne were restored by the Florentine artist, Mennegatti. Bernier gives a full account of the splendid appearance of the hall during the rule of Aurangzeb, as well as the 17th century merchant [[Jean-Baptiste Tavernier]].<ref name="Murray"/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Ghulam Ali Khan 009b.jpg|The wall of the balcony with inlay work (painting by [[Ghulam Ali Khan]], before 1854)
File:Royal Platform with Marble Canopy - Diwan-i-Am - Red Fort - Delhi 2014-05-13 3213.JPG|The throne of [[Shah Jahan]] (today with anti-bird netting)
File:Throne of king Akbar Red fort Delhi.jpg|Throne detail
File:Diwan-i-Aam Description.jpg|Diwan-i-Am Description
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Diwan-i-Khas (Red Fort)|Diwan-i-Khas]]
* [[Peacock Throne]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat-inline}}

[[Category:Red Fort]]

Diwan-i-Am Red Fort - Revision history

>Tarjun 7 at 04:08, 18 April 2020