Old Delhi, new perspectives

Pankaj Deo

People’s interest in Delhi’ history remain undimmed despite the large number of tomes that continue to be published on it. The allure of Delhi actually lies wrapped up in the mystique of several layers of history that still remain buried in its terra firma or are hiding in plain sight. When you get a new book on Delhi, you look for new nuggets of information on this hoary city whose history still remains lost in the mists of time, especially its ancient part. Manisha Choudhary’s Delhi: A History does not disappoint on this count.

Choudhary considers Mehrauli “as the oldest of Delhi’s cities in terms of the monumental remains.” Citing various historical sources and records, she postulates that the Qutub Minar was an observatory tower built according to Hindu astrological principles. The author goes on to argue that although some history books identify the Qutub Minar as the mosque’s minaret to call for prayers, “many disagree that it was used to call for prayers as the door of the column or entrance is north facing, similar to the entrance of a temple—the doors of the minarets are always east facing.” She argues further that the Alai Minar, whose construction was started by Allaudin Khilji next to Qutub Minar, “has an east facing door, which is common in Mosque constructions.”

A new book on the history of Delhi is a tribute to its hoariness, its resilience against time. It’s the duty of a historian to address its history objectively, even though layer by layer that history turns out to be more and more embarrassing to us in our newfound identity as citizens of a secular nation. Archaeological excavations or discoveries of hitherto unknown manuscripts or inscriptions many a time throw up such thorny issues. What a historian proposes to be a correct interpretation may not always sound a politically appropriate one. History does become a contesting ground for political ideologies.

Delhi and its monuments have several intersecting points of history, and the same monument or event is enfolded by different stories from different texts. So, the author correctly points out, “Knowing the correct history of Delhi and its monuments is a task for anyone, as all places have multiple histories around them. The problem for the listener is to sort out the true version that he or she is able to relate to.”

The book attempts to chronicle the history of Delhi from the ancient period till modern times. Unlike other books, which offer plenty of information on the Medieval and Modern history of Delhi but very little on its ancient part, this book attempts to unravel the city’s ancient history. The author has painstakingly delved into many inscriptions and historical texts, which are backed by archaeological excavations, to piece together the city’s ancient history.

The author deals in detail with the nomenclature of the city and traces the first mention of Dhillika in the Bijolia inscription dated c.1170.

Delhi has been the capital of India for ages, but could never accept to be part of another empire. So, in 1192, when Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan and annexed Delhi as part of the Ghorid empire, the arrangement did not work for long. Ghori died in c.1206 and his slave Qutbuddin Aibak declared his freedom and Delhi became the capital of his independent sultanate. The British also transferred the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911 and a new capital was inaugurated in 1931 as New Delhi. New Delhi again refused to play a subsidiary role for long, as it ceased to be part of the British empire in 1947.

Since the book does not present the city’s past in a chronological order, as most history books usually do, the narrative tends to slink off into the labyrinthine at many places. So, a reader may find it hard to see any sense of coherence in the multiplicity of narratives and hence lose interest. Besides, the book somehow also misses out on the Sikh part of Delhi’s heritage — there is very little by way of information on the gurdwaras in the city.

However, Choudhary’s book presents new perspectives and derives new insights from multiple sources. Be it the founding of Shajahanabad by the Mughals or Lutyens’ Delhi by the British, it offers a cornucopia of information. The book also weaves into its narrative the political, social and economic aspects of the different eras it chronicles. It would indeed be a worthy addition to any history buff’s collection of books on Delhi.