Gezicht op de Achut Bibi-moskee in Ahmedabad before 1866

This is a photograph of the Achut Bibi Mosque in Ahmedabad, taken by Thomas Biggs. Biggs made this photograph during a time of immense social and political change, as the British consolidated their power in India. While the photographer’s intentions may have been documentary, we cannot ignore that this image is seen through a colonial lens. The mosque itself, built in the late 15th century, is a testament to the cultural and religious diversity of the region, bearing witness to the historical narratives and the individuals who shaped it. The structure and the figures who used it, particularly women, often had their stories overlooked or misrepresented in colonial accounts. This image therefore serves as a reminder of the complexities of representation, prompting us to consider whose stories are told, and whose are left untold.