Originally known as the Palace Museum, this museum dates back to 1911 when it was located in the Naubhat Khana. It was later moved to the Mumtaz Mahal, originally used as a mess by the British occupiers. The museum is now under the aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India. Most of the Mughal belongings and jewels of the Red Fort were looted and stolen during Nadir Shah's invasion of India in 1747 and again after the failed Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British colonialists. They were eventually sold to private collectors or the British Museum, British Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum. For example, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the jadewine cup of Shah Jahan and the crown of Bahadur Shah II are all currently located in London. Various requests for restitution have been rejected by the British government. The museum, therefore, is only able to show a very small fraction of Mughal property and heritage.
Exhibits
The objects are displayed thematically in six galleries belonging to the Mughal period. The first few showcases have articles belonging to Emperor Akbar I and his successors which include miniature paintings, manuscripts, stone inscriptions, farman etc. One of the showcases has 17th century brass astrolabes which were used for astronomical calculations. The next gallery has porcelain, celadon and jade objects, textiles and glazed tiles. The most distinctive of the Mughal jade objects are the hilts of swords and daggers. Curtains, carpets, pillows, cushions and dresses are also on display. The Bahadur Shah Zafar gallery houses objects belonging to the last Mughal emperorBahadur Shah II and his queen such as dresses, powder horns, rose water, toilet box, etc. Two specimens of calligraphy ghazal of Bahadur Shah II with his, inkpot and scissors can be seen. An ivoryminiature painting believed to be of Zinat Mahal and a photograph of the last days of Bahadur Shah in the prison at Rangoon are also displayed. The arms used in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by the then Nawab of Pataudi, arms used by Bahadur Shah and field glass used by Brigadier-General John Nicholson during the siege of Delhi are part of the collection. Portraits of the last Mughal rulers and contemporary personalities like court poetMirza Ghalib, maps and lithographs depicting scenes of Delhi and Bahadur Shah's letter to Queen Victoria with the thumb impression of his son Mirza Jawan Bakht are some of the other pieces on display.
