The question that one must ask oneself (and to us) at this juncture is that, who then, does the city belong to? Whose history (or histories) are correct? We may not be able to answer the latter in the same binary form it is put forward, for history is neither black or white: it is mostly gray, although, the methods of reaching this gray area can be clearly classified as black and white. This is precisely why the unsubstantiated idea of equating Delhi with Indraprastha is at best fictional, since it does not have much basis in actual research-based historiography. As prominent historian Romila Thapar states, it is important for historians of the ancient period to look for assumptions that the epic makes about the past and the society, instead of looking for historicity in a particular tradition–historians must look for such details instead of treating it as a factual account of events.Â
The Mosque of Mubarak Begum
When The East India Company arrived in India, it made it compulsory for army men and British officials to either bring their wives along or marry a native. The British also adopted the Mughal practice of taking concubines or prostitutes as partners, which, however, became a problematic practice in the early years of the 19th … Continue reading The Mosque of Mubarak Begum
The Firang Shayar
The word mushaira is derived from the Arabic root word Sh-`A-Ra which as a noun means ‘something that is felt’ and as a verb means ‘to feel’. Mushairas and poets played an essential role in Delhi’s religio-cultural landscape. Verses were recited in the qahwa khanas (coffee houses) of Chandni Chowk, at various urs and at … Continue reading The Firang Shayar
Hotel Broadway
Sandwiched between the Lok Nayak Hospital and the bustling locality of Chandni Chowk lies Asaf Ali Marg, an old and dingy road that houses a number of banks, shops, and bookstores. To the east of this street lies the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, whereas the Lal Quila is just a few miles to the north. … Continue reading Hotel Broadway
Coffee, Community, & Camaraderie
People who follow Bollywood closely may not remember that exactly a decade ago in 2010, Ashutosh Gowariker, the director of Lagaan which was India’s official entry to the Oscars, made another history-based movie called Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, a story based on the revolutionary uprising in Chittagong (now part of Bangladesh) from 1930-34. The … Continue reading Coffee, Community, & Camaraderie
The Impermanent Nature of the Human Edifice
Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan was a judicial officer (munsif) under the East India Company and was transferred to Delhi in 1846, after the death of his brother Munsif Sayyid Muhammad Khan. During his time in Delhi, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan continued to work on a newspaper (Sayyid-ul-Akhbar) started by his brother, and at the same … Continue reading The Impermanent Nature of the Human Edifice
The Impostor Prince
In the 1970s, a strange family deboarded at the New Delhi railway station, consisting of a mother and her two grown-up children. As they made their way into the first-class waiting room of the station, their luggage drew the eyes of the onlookers which consisted of beautiful Persian carpets, potted palms, a silver tea-set, a … Continue reading The Impostor Prince
Delhi in 1947: The Role of Bharat Mata in the Indian Independence
When a nation undergoes a major historical amend, does this change manifest itself in areas other than high politics? As countries undergo significant political changes, they also experience specific paradigmatic shifts in culture and ideology that trickle down and engulf not only it’s people but also transform the very symbols and rituals embedded in them … Continue reading Delhi in 1947: The Role of Bharat Mata in the Indian Independence
The Khayali Gharana of Delhi
The Old-Walled city of Delhi houses a variety of stories behind its mysterious maze of timeworn streets, that trace their origins deep into the annals of medieval Indian history. As we venture into the labyrinth of its galis and mohallas, we come face-to-face with the dearth of treasures it has kept hidden behind its centuries-old … Continue reading The Khayali Gharana of Delhi
An Old Story of New Delhi
For those who are aware of the vicissitudes of Indian history, the story of shifting of the British capital from Calcutta to New Delhi is not new. However, even for a majority of such people, the story is a combination of different narratives told and retold under the aegis of ‘an age-old plan attaining fruition … Continue reading An Old Story of New Delhi









