Border Lines

INDIA’S HISTORY IS etched in her maps. From her sprawling empires of the 17th century to the tumultuous years leading up to Independence, each event has woven a new chapter in the country’s journey, leaving a lasting imprint on its boundaries, which cartographers then plotted. This epic narrative, spanning centuries, is celebrated in the exhibition, Cartographical Tales: India through Maps at Ojas Art Gallery, Delhi. The exhibition showcases around 100 maps that trace the country’s and the sub-continent’s evolving identity through the eyes of ex­pert cartographers like Matthaus Seutter, James Rennell, Pieter Mortier, Pierre M Lapie, Rigobert Bonne, and John Tallis.

Each map, rare and handpicked by the art gallery’s curatorial director Anubhav Nath over more than a decade, has a unique story to tell. “I have been involved in collecting maps for nearly 15 years now. Cartography provides a great cross-section of history, geography and artistry. It was an exhibi­tion at the Smithsonian many years ago that piqued my interest in this art form,” Nath says.

Nath’s curiosity about old maps deepened with his interest in the era—the 17th to 19th centuries—which is considered the golden age of mapmaking. As explorers ventured into new lands, they mapped the world with precision and purpose, commissioned by Western powers, telling a story of shifting borders and evolving nations. The exhibition’s collection, focused on pre-Independence India, unfolds a narrative spanning the territories of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

With a deliberately non-chronolog­ical display, the exhibition invites vis­itors to pause, read, and appreciate the stories behind each map, spanning 350 years of cartographic history. Printed in England, France, Italy, and the US, the maps provide an insight into the sub­continent’s historical geography.

“India’s geography has been shaped over centuries and these maps narrate stories that transcend their intricate demarcations. Each of these maps helps people relate to an era or period through their geographical enunci­ations and altering boundaries that they represent. One tends to discover something new in these maps on a daily basis,” says Nath.

Among the exhibition’s most striking displays is one titled Coloured Map of the Mughals celebrating 50 years of Red Fort, Delhi created by Wagner in 1687 CE. This rare map, which Nath says is among his favourites and one that continues to still inspire intrigue, is a testament to the cartographic skill and artistic flair of its time, offering a glimpse into the Mughal Empire’s grandeur and architec­tural achievements. This map showcases the empire’s territories and offers a rare glance of the Red Fort in Delhi. Com­missioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 and completed in 1648, the construction of the Red Fort marked the shift of the Mughal capital to Delhi. The map accurately depicts the building’s layout, with Diwan-e-aam and Diwan-e-khaas clearly identifiable. Notably, the map does not include the Moti Masjid, built by Aurangzeb in 1659-60. The three German cartouches at the top provide valuable insights: the left cartouche describes Shahjahanabad as the “resi­dence of the Grand Mogols”; the centre cartouche refers to “The Empire of the Great Mughals”; and the right cartou­che, with a possible typo, translates to “50 years ago, Delhi was built in this place”. The map also uses alternative names, such as “Delly” for Delhi and “Gehanabad” for Shahjahanabad, and employs the term “Grand Mogol”, which captivated European imagina­tion and inspired artists like Rembrandt. Additionally, another curious anomaly catches the eye: a “boat bridge” on the Yamuna is depicted by the cartographer as a single large boat skeleton, rather than the expected string of wooden boats joined togeth­er—likely a loss in translation.

“There is a lot to see and learn, espe­cially for people from Delhi, as many families here originally came from areas now in Pakistan. We have noticed visitors carefully studying these maps, trying to locate their ancestral home­towns,” says Nath.

Next to Wagner’s captivating Coloured Map of the Mughals, another cartographic treasure deserves atten­tion— a map called Imperii Magni Mogolis Sive Indici Padschach [The Great Empire of the Mughal Badshah], created by the esteemed German cartographer Matthaus Seutter in 1728. This strate­gic placement allows for a fascinating comparison between two distinct perspectives on the Mughal Empire, offering a richer understanding of the era’s cartographic representation.

This 1728 hand-coloured map offers a glimpse into the Mughal Empire’s vast reach across northern India, Central Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia. Spanning modern-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and extending into Burma and Thailand, it accurately depicts numerous cities, river systems, and trade routes. Several key cities like Delhi (Deli), Agra, Kanda­har (Candahar), Lahore (Lahor), Kabul (Cabul), Jaisalmer (Gislemere) are precise­ly marked, while several large lakes in the northeastern quadrant are believed to be the sources of four major river systems: the Irrawaddy, Dharla, Chao Phraya, and Brahmaputra. The lake of Chiamay is notably featured among them, adding a layer of geographical intrigue. The map’s ornate design is equally captivating, showcasing symbolic cartouches that highlight the region’s opulence. In the lower left quadrant, the title cartouche features Poseidon, Hermes, an angel, and Pheme admiring Asia’s treasures, depict­ed as precious jewels and metals. Nearby, a distance scale is upstaged by cherubs exploring treasure chests, watched by a few birds. Elsewhere, a majestic caravel navigates the Indian Ocean, symbolising the riches awaiting daring captains on a global voyage.

“This exhibition is dedicated to the stories that the maps tell,” Nath explains. “Each time you look, something new emerges. Every map has its own nuances. Take, for instance, a 1786 map by James Rennell that shows the Ganges River flowing from Haridwar to the sea. This map meticulously marks every city and town the river touches before empty­ing into the Bay of Bengal. Remarkably, each of these cities remains vibrant to this day,” says Nath.

Nath also draws attention to the trans­formation of India’s southern peninsula, highlighting how its shape has changed over time. “If you look at the maps, collec­tively, you will see how differently they are represented. In some, the southern peninsular region is really tapered. In some it is very broad and narrow,” he says. “But personally, I like the cartouches to be very interesting as they tell many stories by themselves.”

THE MAPS ON display reveal more than just geography and are more than just visual aids. They show how boundaries have changed over time, and the historical events that shaped the Indian subcontinent. By studying these maps, we can connect with the past.

One of the primary forces that shaped the region was colonialism. The British, in particular, used maps as essential tools for navigation, boundary-setting, and es­tablishing control in India. They defined land ownership, took key administrative decisions, and collected revenue to fund their colonial operations. This is evident in Neueste Karte Von Hindostan [Latest Map of Hindustan], created by Vienna-based cartographer Franz Anton Schrambl. The map offers unprecedented details, making it highly sought after by rival European powers—primarily the British and the French—vying for Indian land claims. The cartouche of this map is suggestive of the British imperial drive, portraying Britannia receiving books from Hindu Brahmins, as Sepoys, or Indian soldiers in service to Britain, look on. Similarly, another antique map of India displayed nearby, published under the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Information (titled India I-XII, published in 1833), provides detailed topograph­ical information, town names, and a reference guide to British territories, possessions, and independent states. The entire country was divided into 11 parts, making it a rare and valuable resource for understanding the region’s complex history. In sharp contrast, Philippus Baldaeus’ 1672 map of Goa offers a unique view of the Portuguese trading post in India. This map shows a busy harbour with ships arriving and departing, a royal seal indicating Portu­guese authority, and even two elephants working on the harbour’s edge. These elements combine European and Indian influences, creating a realistic picture of life in 17th-century Goa.

Cartographical Tales: India through Maps unlocks a treasure trove of India’s visual history, as it uncovers stories of empires, cultures, and events that shaped this country. In their yellowed creases and faded lines, the maps invite us to pause, reflect, and cherish the legacy of a bygone era.

 (Cartographical Tales: India through Maps: An Exhibition of Historical Maps from 17th Century to 1946 is on view at Ojas Art Gallery, Delhi, till September 22)

About The Author

Soumava Haldar