Two friends trying to find their purpose in life by traversing the streets of Delhi.
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
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 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
The first Afghans who travelled to India came in the 10th and 11th century AD, as invading parties accompanying the infamous Ghaznavid and Ghorid armies of Afghanistan. Invaders soon turned into settlers, and when the Sultanate was founded, Afghan immigration proliferated as India was gradually transforming into a land of new opportunities. By the late … Continue reading Little Kabul
Plate 3 from the first set of Thomas Daniell's 'Oriental Scenery' depicts Qudsiya Bagh’s north-east view facing the river Jamuna. The bagh was laid out along the west bank of the river Jamuna, north of Shah Jahan's palace and fort in Delhi. Huge gateways paneled it and the Bagh was embellished with murmuring waterfalls. The … Continue reading Qudsiya Bagh
Dastaan-E-Dilli 