Ingang van Sarkhej Roza bij Ahmedabad before 1866

This photograph, titled 'Ingang van Sarkhej Roza bij Ahmedabad' attributed to Thomas Biggs, offers a glimpse into the architectural landscape of Ahmedabad. It's part of an album, and as such it reflects the colonial gaze that categorized and documented the Indian subcontinent. The image presents the Sarkhej Roza, a mosque and tomb complex that blends Islamic and Hindu design elements. It was a prominent social space where diverse groups of people converged. The architecture is captured through the objective lens of the camera, yet it also hints at the power dynamics inherent in colonial representation. Biggs, presumably a British photographer, captures the Roza in a way that reflects both an appreciation for its aesthetic qualities and a sense of distance from its cultural significance. What stories might these stones tell if they could speak? How do we, as contemporary viewers, navigate the layers of history and representation embedded within this seemingly straightforward image?