The tombs of Jan Baba Tarkhan and Isa Tarkhan II in the Makli Cemetery

The doctoral dissertation titled "Jan Baba Tarkhan and Isa Tarkhan II in the Makli Necropolis" presents a detailed analysis of the tomb monuments of Jan Baba Tarkhan and Isa Khan II Tarkhan, prominent members of the Tarkhan Dynasty, located in the Makli Necropolis in Sindh, Pakistan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These monuments, reflecting the burial traditions of the Tarkhan Dynasty, which ruled the Sindh region between 1555 and 1592, exhibit both the influence of Central Asian burial architecture on the Indian subcontinent and the cultural heritage of the period. This study examines the architectural characteristics of structures associated with the Samma, Argun, and Tarkhan dynasties in Makli Necropolis, with a particular focus on the tomb monuments of Jan Baba Tarkhan and Isa Khan II Tarkhan to trace the origins of these traditions. The inscriptions on the cenotaphs and various parts of Isa Khan II Tarkhan's tomb have undergone detailed iconographic analysis, and the Persian inscriptions have been transcribed. Field research included the measurement and photography of these tomb monuments, documenting them comprehensively. This research aims to reveal the intricate stone carving, influences from Timurid art, and Islamic architectural features present in the Tarkhan Dynasty's tombs. The architectural details and decorations observed in these monuments are evaluated as reflections of the cultural dynamics that emerged with the Islamization of the Sindh region. Contributing to the literature in cultural and art history, this study illustrates how the dynastic tombs in the region reflect the transfer of Central Asian artistic and architectural principles.