forgotten Cities of Delhi – Rana Safvi

A talk on Forgotten Cities of Delhi in Knox Hall, Columbia University on 26th March 2019

ranasafvi — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 01:32:24 +0000

As part of my lecture series in USA two Circles dot net organized a talk in Knox Hall, Columbia University.

Mohammed Ali and Shuanna Rodrigues along with Fida Hussain Yamani who are students in Columbia helped to arrange it. I’m extremely grateful to them for that.

It was very well attended with attendees including Prof Frances Pritchett and Prof David Levyveld.

I presented a slide show and described the various cities through their monuments.

An excellent Q&A session followed.

Later Prof David Levyveld said that my translation of Asar us Sanadid was good and he enjoyed it, which has me on seventh heaven

Rewind for The Mint

ranasafvi — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 17:51:34 +0000

In conversation with Rana Safvi | Newslaundry

ranasafvi — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 16:03:33 +0000

The author speaks on the changes made in NCERT textbooks, Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb and more.
— Read on www.newslaundry.com/

Published on Jun 26, 2018

https://youtu.be/pKkNreqQpfc

Author and translator Rana Safvi’s book, The Forgotten Cities Of Delhi, was released on Friday last week, where she talks about 166 monuments in Delhi. Newslaundry caught up with her to discuss her work and views on history. Speaking to Newslaundry about changes in the narrative of history in school books and the media Safvi says, “You cannot change history, the history and facts remain the same. You can only analyse it from different perspectives.” Commenting on the controversy surrounding the battle of Haldighati between Maharana Pratap and Akbar and who won it, she says: “Maharana Pratap was a very honourable man, he fought very bravely. Would he want to be given a backdoor entry as a victor for a battle he did not win?” Attempts have been made to significantly reduce the importance given to Mughals in the texts, she said responding to a question on the presence of an “us vs them” narrative in school books. “They [the Mughals] were not them, they were also us, Akbar was born in India.” She further explains that many rulers married Rajput princesses. Furthermore, she cites the example of Mansingh, the Rajput King of Ajmer, who also the trusted general of Akbar. Speaking on the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, Safvi says, “It was first under the Khiljis that you see the lotus bud.” She also gives examples of architecture in buildings such as Jama Masjid and Jamali Kamali to highlight the multiculturalism of the time. Safvi believes that a spirit of syncretism can be inculcated in young people if they connect themselves to the monuments around them. She says, “Change will come when the young adopt monuments, not in an adopt a monument scheme but in their own personal ways.” She adds: “Temples have beautiful domes and the mosques have the Hindu kalash, if buildings have no problem in adopting elements from each other, why can’t we live like that?” To watch this and many more videos, click on http://www.newslaundry.com/

Book Launch of The Forgotten Cities of Delhi 22nd June 2018

ranasafvi — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 18:46:31 +0000

A jam packed book launch with a wonderful performance by Rashmi Agarwal

https://www.pscp.tv/HarperCollinsIN/1YpKkLRAOddGj

I am overwhelmed by the love and support and turnout for the book launch of my new book with Harper Collins at Turtles Cafe in GK 1.

There was not even space to stand! Around 100 had squeezed in. People were standing in the lift.

Some were queued up below the Turtles Cafe waiting for space so they could come up.

Some had to go back for which I’m extremely sorry.

Thank you dear friends. Will thank each one personally later.

It was a spectacular evening.

Nishtha Gautam, Asif Khan Dehlvi Rashmi Agarwal you were a dream team to share a panel with.

this touched my heart

Young Yadunandan Sharma at the

#BookLaunch

#ForgottenCitiesOfDelhi wrote some lines:

इतिहास के पन्नों को फिर पलट रही हो ‘राना’ ,

फरियाद कर रही किताब ये कि दिल्ली ज़रुर आना ।

भूलते नहीं शहर जो दिल्ली के दिल में हैं ,

याद करा रही हो सबको वो ‘कल’ जो था सुहाना ।

Gum hai tanhaiiyon mein shehar ka shehar

kaise in junglo’n ko paar karein”

– #ShabnamRumani

Verse used to describe the desolation in a monument in

#TheForgottenCitiesOfDelhi

https://ranasafvi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/img_1427.mp4

Rashmi Agarwal sings Ghalib

https://ranasafvi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/img_1427.mp4

Rashmi Agarwal sings Zauq

khaqani e Hind, Ustad e Badshah e Hind, Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq had a number of honorifics and titles. The inscription on his tomb written by Zafar himself. Grave Broken to make a public lavatory sometime in 20th c. ‬

‪Activists like Feroz Bakht got a memorial built there.‬

Rashmi Agarwal captures the pain so well

“Mar ke bhi chaen naa paaya to kidhar jaayenge”

‪More in‬

‪#ForgottenCitiesOfDelhi #BookLaunch ‬

‪

The evening ended on a soulful rendition of Chaap Tilak sab cheeni re

Some feedback

Chunamal ki Haveli, ShahJahanabad, Dilli

ranasafvi — Wed, 16 May 2018 19:24:07 +0000

Lala Chunnamal, a wealthy textile merchant helped the British during the Uprising of 1857 and women their favour.

When the residents of ShahJahanabad were being exiled he not only stayed but flourished. He was amongst the first few people in the city to own a car and a telephone

His income in 1857 was around 1 lakh rupees a month.

The Haveli is built on three floors and has 128 rooms and is spread on half an acre of land.

The ground floor, originally meant to host grand functions of the family, was rented out in 1971 to shop owners, and has since been used for commercial purposes. Today, in this labyrinth of shops, it takes a few minutes for any visitor to find the entrance to the haveli.

It is one of the few havelis that still survive as residential property in ShahJahanabad.

It is located on the main Chandni Chowk road near Fatehpuri Masjid.

In fact he had even bought Fatehpuri Masjid for Ramzan 19000 from the British in 1857. Later in 1877 the British bought it back and restored to the Muslims.

Monuments as Popular Meeting Places : Safdarjung Tomb,Delhi

ranasafvi — Tue, 15 May 2018 02:56:17 +0000

mere mahboob kahiN aur mila kar mujhse

bazm e shaahi meiN ghareeboN ka guzar kya maani

sabt jis raah pa hoN satwate shahi ke nishaaN

uss pa ulfat bhari roohoN ka safar kya maani

In Safdarjung Tomb:

Tohfewala Gumbad & Thanewala Gumbad in Hauz Khas

ranasafvi — Fri, 11 May 2018 19:03:54 +0000

Many heritage enthusiasts confuse Tohfewala Gumbad in Shahpur Jat with Thanewala Gumbad.

Both are different and both are in Shahpur Jat.

I’ve had this conversation with many people.

The Thanewala is inside the village. It was a baradari but as police station was near it , it got this name in the late 19th century

There’s one more in Deer Park also known as Tohfewala Gumbad.

The first photo is of Tohfewala Gumbad in Shahpur Jat

2. Is of Tohfewala Gumbad in Deer Park

3. Is Thanewala Gumbad in Shahpur village. Actual name Baradari so called Bec of police station near it

Purana Qila

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:22:03 +0000

This was definitely a gateway at foot of Qila e Kuhna mosque in Purana Qila

Dargah of Syed Badruddin Samarqandi

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:18:07 +0000

Syed Badruddin Samarqandi is one of the 22 khwajagan of Delhi

His Dargah is at the foot of Firoz Shah Kotla and it’s said the walls had to be diverted to make way for it.

He was a friend and contemporary of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya

Amarnath Ji has been visiting Dargah of Syed #Badruddin #Samarqandi daily since a baby as his father was a devotee too

At foot of #FirozShahKotla

Arziyaan a common sight in all dargahs

The fort wall was made in such a way as to accommodate the shrone

Two Bhairon Temples near Purana Qila

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:11:59 +0000

I also visited the two Bhairon Temples near Purana Qila.

Both claim to be the original Pandav temples.

Tombs inside Delhi Golf Club

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:05:23 +0000

A royal tour inside the Delhi Golf Club unveiled unknown treasures from the Mughal era.

I saw dilapidated tombs, mosques and Graves inside the well manicures lawns

Thank you authorities who extended so much courtesy

A Mughal Tomb in Delhi Golf Club

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 19:51:33 +0000

This is the tomb of a Mughal noble inside Delhi Golf club

The ASI has marked it as belonging to Saiyyed Abid from 1626-7 but it is not his.

It us probably Mir Taqi’s tomb

Sixteen sided tomb : JLN Stadium Delhi

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 19:48:42 +0000

I climbed on top of this interesting sixteen sided tomb inside the JLN stadium in Delhi, to find graves on top but the bats flying around deterred me from entering inside.

Mughal Tomb : Delhi Golf Club

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 19:44:39 +0000

Inside an unknown Mughal era tomb in #DelhiGolfClub

It is very beautiful . Must have been magnificent in its time

Barah Khamba : Delhi Golf Club Tombs

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 19:37:48 +0000

This Barah Khamba with one unknown grave is the prettiest tomb I have seen in Delhi

It’s in the shape of a cross but unfortunately one side has fallen down so only four compartments and 4 domes remain

#DelhiGolfClub

Lal Bangla : Delhi Golf Club Tombs

ranasafvi — Sat, 05 May 2018 19:04:08 +0000

An Empress, a Princess

Dust to dust

Ashes to Ashes

Lal Bangla

Delhi Golf Club

A problem of plenty

Lal Bangla Delhi Golf Club

Lal Bangla the tomb of Lal Kunwar mother of ShahAlam II and his Daughter

this is all that remains. I climbed to the top of both