Does the City Belong to You?

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. 

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

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

Ethiopian Cultural Center

The heart of New Delhi is home to the bustling Diplomatic Enclave commonly known as Chanakyapuri, which houses a number of foreign embassies and high commissions, giving off a distinctly cosmopolitan essence to this location. Most of these diplomatic offices of foreign countries also comprise of a variety of cultural public spaces that bear witness … Continue reading Ethiopian Cultural Center