Mirza Ghalib in AmericaArticle
Shahjahanabad
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Living through the carnage of the 1857 Revolt, Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib’s was most pained at the ruin of his beloved city, Delhi. Interestingly, we find that while in his ‘official and published’ diary, ‘Dastanbuy’, he writes in support of the British (his then patrons), some personal letters…
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While numerous walks, talks and performances attempt to keep the past alive in the capital city of Delhi, the person who began it all was a young man in his 20s—Syed Ahmad Khan of the Aligarh Muslim University fame. As part of this series on ‘Reading a City’, Sahapedia explores how Khan sees…
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Although Chandni Chowk is a clumsy, congested market with narrow alleys today, it was once the centre of trade in Shahjahanabad. Built in 1650 by Jahanara Begum, daughter of Mumtaz Mahal and Emperor Shah Jahan, this glorious bazaar has a distinct charm that remains unmatched. (Photo Courtesy:…
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Thomas Daniell (1749–1840) and his nephew William Daniell (1769–1837) travelled extensively in India between 1786 and 1793. On their return to Britain they produced many paintings, drawings and prints based on the sketches they had made while travelling. The 144 aquatint prints, collectively known…
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The Bhagirath Palace electrical market is one of Chandni Chowk’s most famous bazaars, visited by thousands in search of lamps, lights and electrical knick-knacks. However, not many are familiar with the intriguing history of not only the 19th-century building that was once a symbol of power and sex…
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Mirza Ghalib is a household name in the Indian subcontinent—a figure who is synonymous with Persian and Urdu poetry. The timeless nature of his verses and the universality of his themes have resulted in his works transcending borders and languages. Thanks to translations of Ghalib's ghazals to…
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Philosophy
Sufism is often described as a path—a path which is both the origin of the journey as well as the intended destination. Completing this voyage (from being with God before birth, with the illusory separation in-between—to being with God again after death, when one reunites with the…
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Shahjahanabad, now known as Old Delhi, has been a city where traditional crafts have been a part of the lifestyle of the residents. There is so much to see in its bazaars as we wade past the fruit sellers, tea shops, cloth merchants, artificial jewellery sellers, etc. The sounds and sights amaze…
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Around c. 57 BC, ‘Dilli’ was founded by Raja Dhilu, a king from the Mauryan dynasty who reigned in the 1st century BC (dates vary in different accounts)—and in c. 1450 BC, Indraprastha was said to have been established by Yuddhishthira, the eldest Pandav. Delhi remained the capital for rulers of…
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