Reading the 1st review of this book earlier, I agreed with everything except one...the title of that review, ’’Rediscover Delhi.’’
Delhi, in my opinion, has never been rediscovered. For centuries it was discovered again and again, and yet it had always been new... new in the sense of architecture, culture, people and their customs.
For a very good reason Delhi has always been close to my heart. I am a true blood Delhite. Even a drive back from Jaipur or Chandigarh; for that matter even Gurgaon on the outskirts, make me feel home. Such is my affection with this City...The City of Djinns. And Will Dalrymple has done what living in Delhi for all my life couldn’t.
And that is being travelled around to all the places which have been unheard for our generation! His elaborate and defined way of making us feel as if we are there in the plot, in their respective era’s as well as in 1990’s did work on me!
Few years back, I was involved in the making of a series, a TV Documentary series on Delhi, Delhi Discovered. (That was the source inspiring me to read the book and now title my review.) That series sparked my interest in knowing the history about my beloved City. Hours spent on that series now look like a childish game in front of Dalrymple’s little paperback. In 300-odd pages he made me realise the truth or rather the facts about Delhi. His exhaustive research really would have taken more than 2000 pages. Alas we are a bit unlucky in not knowing more details.
Never before the pre Mughal, Mughal and post Mughal Era looked so enigmatic, never before a westerner so described those spectacular days of this City...
Not going in the details, I would recommend this book to everyone I can think of.
Old members of the society - to add on details, share their knowledge with younger ones and making them realise on what a superb throne of knowledge and history they are sitting.
People of my generation - for they hardly know the importance of their history.
Younger ones - to make them feel proud and honoured for being a part of the ever growing history of this lovely, not once but still, City of ours.
NCERT / CBSE - for making it a reference Text Book, as the other historians, lately, are being flawed with time...
Friends, this book made me do another thing which I just could only think of but was too scared to make that move...get formal education, get qualified and learn more about The City of Djinns...