What do you think?
Rate this book
NEW-DELHI IN THY NAME
Brand New Deliver In 6-18 Working Days
248 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
6 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 19, 2022
Delhi- a truly syncretic city – evolving as a fusion of various cultures. It continues to charm with its bazaars, forts and street names which conceal centuries of history!
This fascinating book explores the palimpsest, through stories behind the names of its places and how they evolved. The British had strategically named the streets of Delhi, intermixing with names of their own kings and queens with those of great Mughal rulers to find legitimacy of their own rule.
The author describes the politics behind renaming which "essentially boils down to erasing a past that one does not wish to be associated with and imposing one that is most at ease with the ideology of a governing party". Loss of History is equivalent to loss of everything, and each name change loses or changes some of the history.
A glimpse of what is in the book...
Chandni Chowk: In the middle of Shahjahanabad - the capital city of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan - was envisaged an octagonal shaped commercial area, the dream project of Jahanara Begum, her daughter. As with most Mughal cities, Shahjahanabad had a disorganized street plan - "symptomatic of a world that was democratic, living with a free spirit that allowed the streets to develop as it was most convenient for the residents". Yamuna river flowed through the street between Lahori Gate and police station. It had a large pool in the centre, reflecting the moonlight almost perfectly, thus the name Chandni Chowk. Unfortunately, a lot of such construction was destroyed by the British after 1857 war of independence. But the place is the best glimpse of the bustling city, as it was as the capital of the Mughals.
Connaught Place: Named after Duke of Connaught - Prince Arthur -the 3rd son of Queen Victoria, the modern commercial centre refuses to take any other name, despite attempts by the government. Duke himself had come purely by chance to inaugurate the Parliamentary houses in Delhi, due to bad health of Prince of Wales, but his name is immortalized.
Chittaranjan Park: Also called Bangali colony, it was established for the migrants from East Pakistan or Bangladesh after the partition. As author puts, " It is impossible to live and engage with Delhi without being aware of the resounding echoes of Partition..."
Pamposh Enclave: Established back in 1960's for Kashmiri Pandits migrating in trickles, and later en masse due to terrorism and forced exodus in 1990s. As Rahul Pandita said in an interview by the author, there have been 7 big exodus that have happened from the valley since 14th century. In 1960s, several meritorious Kashmiri Hindu students were asked to leave seats for the Muslims (many states in India allow regional quotas, but none on the basis of religion). Several riots in 1970s and 80s led to the sad situation that Kashmiri pandits keep on leaving the valley even before the tragic exodus of 1990. Rahul Pandita recounts the problems faced by Hindu minorities in Kashmir, and he says it is the same as minorities anywhere in the world. In any case, Pamposh enclave was the result of foresight and resources of such Kashmiri pandits who could leave the valley before things worsened in the valley due to Pak sponsored terrorism led to the eventual exodus in 1990.
Saket: Named by DDA, Saket is another name for Ayodhya, but has no connection with the place of birth of Lord Ram of Hindu religion. Author tells the story of nearby villages of Hauz Rani and Khirki. I have grown up quite near and my schools have been in this area, so quite fascinated to actually explore them with the eyes of Adrija Roychowdhury.
Shaheen Bagh: Shaheen means Falcon in Persian. Conceived recently in 1980s and developed separately from DDA (hence unauthorised), the place was in news due to protests against citizenship act by the Muslims.
A book which makes you wonder at the history at work, and that it is unjust. But we survive, and give our identity to the places we abode. We make non-living land a rich, thriving and growing organism, till another wave comes and wipes it, to be written again.
This fascinating book explores the palimpsest, through stories behind the names of its places and how they evolved. The British had strategically named the streets of Delhi, intermixing with names of their own kings and queens with those of great Mughal rulers to find legitimacy of their own rule.
The author describes the politics behind renaming which "essentially boils down to erasing a past that one does not wish to be associated with and imposing one that is most at ease with the ideology of a governing party". Loss of History is equivalent to loss of everything, and each name change loses or changes some of the history.
A glimpse of what is in the book...
Chandni Chowk: In the middle of Shahjahanabad - the capital city of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan - was envisaged an octagonal shaped commercial area, the dream project of Jahanara Begum, her daughter. As with most Mughal cities, Shahjahanabad had a disorganized street plan - "symptomatic of a world that was democratic, living with a free spirit that allowed the streets to develop as it was most convenient for the residents". Yamuna river flowed through the street between Lahori Gate and police station. It had a large pool in the centre, reflecting the moonlight almost perfectly, thus the name Chandni Chowk. Unfortunately, a lot of such construction was destroyed by the British after 1857 war of independence. But the place is the best glimpse of the bustling city, as it was as the capital of the Mughals.
Connaught Place: Named after Duke of Connaught - Prince Arthur -the 3rd son of Queen Victoria, the modern commercial centre refuses to take any other name, despite attempts by the government. Duke himself had come purely by chance to inaugurate the Parliamentary houses in Delhi, due to bad health of Prince of Wales, but his name is immortalized.
Chittaranjan Park: Also called Bangali colony, it was established for the migrants from East Pakistan or Bangladesh after the partition. As author puts, " It is impossible to live and engage with Delhi without being aware of the resounding echoes of Partition..."
Pamposh Enclave: Established back in 1960's for Kashmiri Pandits migrating in trickles, and later en masse due to terrorism and forced exodus in 1990s. As Rahul Pandita said in an interview by the author, there have been 7 big exodus that have happened from the valley since 14th century. In 1960s, several meritorious Kashmiri Hindu students were asked to leave seats for the Muslims (many states in India allow regional quotas, but none on the basis of religion). Several riots in 1970s and 80s led to the sad situation that Kashmiri pandits keep on leaving the valley even before the tragic exodus of 1990. Rahul Pandita recounts the problems faced by Hindu minorities in Kashmir, and he says it is the same as minorities anywhere in the world. In any case, Pamposh enclave was the result of foresight and resources of such Kashmiri pandits who could leave the valley before things worsened in the valley due to Pak sponsored terrorism led to the eventual exodus in 1990.
Saket: Named by DDA, Saket is another name for Ayodhya, but has no connection with the place of birth of Lord Ram of Hindu religion. Author tells the story of nearby villages of Hauz Rani and Khirki. I have grown up quite near and my schools have been in this area, so quite fascinated to actually explore them with the eyes of Adrija Roychowdhury.
Shaheen Bagh: Shaheen means Falcon in Persian. Conceived recently in 1980s and developed separately from DDA (hence unauthorised), the place was in news due to protests against citizenship act by the Muslims.
A book which makes you wonder at the history at work, and that it is unjust. But we survive, and give our identity to the places we abode. We make non-living land a rich, thriving and growing organism, till another wave comes and wipes it, to be written again.
December 23, 2021
Full review here: https://medium.com/coffee-time-review...
July 31, 2024
Delhi in Thy Name is a captivating book that delves into the fascinating stories behind the names of some of Delhi's most famous places such as Chandani chow, Cannaught Place (CP) or CR Park.I found it incredibly enlightening to learn about the history and the people these names represent.
The book is written in a lucid and engaging style, making it an enjoyable read for anyone who is generally curious about the history of Delhi. What I particularly loved about the book is its one on one conversation format. This approach provides a personal touch, as the history and stories behind the names are told from various people's perspectives.
Overall, it's a recommended read for anyone interested in the stories of Delhi.
The book is written in a lucid and engaging style, making it an enjoyable read for anyone who is generally curious about the history of Delhi. What I particularly loved about the book is its one on one conversation format. This approach provides a personal touch, as the history and stories behind the names are told from various people's perspectives.
Overall, it's a recommended read for anyone interested in the stories of Delhi.
November 26, 2021
A very interesting read about the names of some of the neighbourhoods of Delhi. The research conducted by the author is exemplary & helps the reader understand the etymology and evolution of a city.
December 8, 2021
This was one of the most anticipated books for me, for Delhi is quite close to my heart. I was born in this city and have several memories that adorn my line of thought. Delhi, in Thy Name is a beautiful collection of stories and events that led to the naming of several lanes and places that form the scaffold of the capital. It is amazing to know how each gully has a story behind its name. While some stories are impactful and pragmatic, others just showcase the influence of power over such important tasks like naming and renaming the lanes/places. Well-researched and clearly articulated, Delhi, in Thy Name is interesting and covers most of the well-known places in Delhi like Chandni Chowk and Saket. It is surprising how the information elicits mixed emotions- some of nostalgia and love while others of angst and despondency. A successful rendition of Delhi’s myriad history and its flamboyance, this book is sure to be loved by every Delhite who yearns to know more about his/her city.
February 6, 2022
An addictive medley of history, legends, emotions and reality greets the readers in Delhi in Thy Name.The past and present events pertaining to places like Chandni Chowk, Saket, Shaheen Bagh, Chittaranjan Park and others that lead to it's present identity, varsity and issues are beautifully presented in the book.
☕
It was a refreshing experience exploring the lanes of Chandi Chowk wrapped in aroma of delicacies, visiting the United Coffee House of Connaught place and meeting Bilkis Bano of Shaheen Bagh.An intensively researched and ardently complied, the book reflects the rich history, emotions, politics and conflicts
that lead to the naming and renaming of the
places in Capital.
☕
The narration moved at a steady pace
without any hiccups.The most engaging part is the anecdotes by the natives briming with sentiments.I was glued to the book till the very end.
🦉
I would like to recommend this nonfiction to all the readers who would like to know about the Capital
☕
It was a refreshing experience exploring the lanes of Chandi Chowk wrapped in aroma of delicacies, visiting the United Coffee House of Connaught place and meeting Bilkis Bano of Shaheen Bagh.An intensively researched and ardently complied, the book reflects the rich history, emotions, politics and conflicts
that lead to the naming and renaming of the
places in Capital.
☕
The narration moved at a steady pace
without any hiccups.The most engaging part is the anecdotes by the natives briming with sentiments.I was glued to the book till the very end.
🦉
I would like to recommend this nonfiction to all the readers who would like to know about the Capital
September 7, 2022
I have been following Adrija Roychowdhury's journalistic work with great interest for a while now, not only because of the particular stories she chooses to work on, investigating the backstories of everyday culture, but also because of the way she tells them. This book is no different. Roychowdhury blends history, architecture, legends, literature and oral accounts to create thoroughly engaging narrative braids as she takes readers through places and their etymologies. The book made me pause, and curious enough to dig deeper into the "What's in a name?" question. As Roychowdhury shows us, in its name, a place can contain centuries worth of history, unshakable nostalgia, the pain of displacement and its concomitant remedy of clinging to memory, religious identity and social stratification, among many other markers. The book's lucid prose, at once enriched by historical details, makes it a tremendously readable work.
November 2, 2022
This is a lucidly written book where the author explores various areas in Delhi and how they acquired their present names. In the process she uncovers history and culture of those places and stories of people living there. Six areas - Chandni chowk, Connaught place, Saket, Shaheen Baug, CR Park and Pamposh Enclave are covered in the book. She has interviewed many key people including politicians proposing change of names, DDA authorities responsible for naming places, and people who actually live in the area. This gives the narrative multiple perspectives from different vantage points. As a person who loves Delhi, I found this book to be very engaging.
December 30, 2022
This book covers the origin of names of various areas of Delhi. It is an interesting approach towards the city about which a lot has been written and yet it feels like a lot can be written about.
This books goes on to highlight some forgotten aspect of Delhi. The author tries hard to be not biased towards anyone in the history and cites credible sources.
This books goes on to highlight some forgotten aspect of Delhi. The author tries hard to be not biased towards anyone in the history and cites credible sources.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2021
Having lived in Delhi for the past 10 years and not knowing much about the history behind these famous places, this was a fascinating and informative read.
May 21, 2024
Started off well but it turned too political by the second half of it. A sort of a misleading title, "The many legends that Make a City".
March 2, 2025
great read for newbies on Delhi
August 24, 2022
The book is about "what's in a name". A rose it is definitely not. Names of carry a piece of history (social or political) with them. The books reveals those stories behind the names, and why sometimes the rechristening doesn't work out.
February 27, 2023
When you've loved a city as long as you've known it, you can't help it but unearth everything there is to know about it. Needless to say, its history allures you the most. Delhi has always been that city for me and I haven't been able to read enough on it. The more I read, the more I craved. So when I came across Adrija Rowchoudhury's 'Delhi, in Thy Name', I knew I was going to pick it up soon. And I did.
This book is the journalist-turned-author Adrija Roychowdhury's debut novel excavating the history behind the capital's famous localities and streets. In a very short span of time, you get to learn almost everything of importance of some of the famous places nestled in the city. Written with a flair that only a local could display, the book delves right at the heart of what was, why, and the now of the paces she's chosen to shed light on - from a historical lens.
Right from the uber-striking Chandni Chowk to the bustling Connaught Place, Shaheen Bagh to Saket, and Chittranjan Park to Pamposh Enclave. A detailed glimpse of the places has been allowed through the author's passionate observation and smart knowledge of the subject, unveiling the era, the kings or emperors, and the period the places were named, and the stories behind it. She herself belongs to the capital city and has seen it better than most other locals. As she says, it is impossible to not hear the echoes of a traumatic past left behind by the tragic partition, no matter which lane of you take or human you talk to. And as harrowing as that sounds, it stands true that everyone and everything is dyed in the colors of that past and wear it either with pride or pain, but cannot be bereaved of it, and that much is evident from the very many life snippets she has captured in her book.
The book is well-researched, even well-written and one does feel the past peeling off layers as you traverse through its pages. It's an admirable attempt to lay bare what lies underneath the skin of a city that has been much exploited through all of world history and how! But the reader remains highly unsatisfied as some of the major places have been left out without a mention. I would've loved to read more about Hauz Khas, Old Delhi, and certain places of passion and poise.
This book is the journalist-turned-author Adrija Roychowdhury's debut novel excavating the history behind the capital's famous localities and streets. In a very short span of time, you get to learn almost everything of importance of some of the famous places nestled in the city. Written with a flair that only a local could display, the book delves right at the heart of what was, why, and the now of the paces she's chosen to shed light on - from a historical lens.
Right from the uber-striking Chandni Chowk to the bustling Connaught Place, Shaheen Bagh to Saket, and Chittranjan Park to Pamposh Enclave. A detailed glimpse of the places has been allowed through the author's passionate observation and smart knowledge of the subject, unveiling the era, the kings or emperors, and the period the places were named, and the stories behind it. She herself belongs to the capital city and has seen it better than most other locals. As she says, it is impossible to not hear the echoes of a traumatic past left behind by the tragic partition, no matter which lane of you take or human you talk to. And as harrowing as that sounds, it stands true that everyone and everything is dyed in the colors of that past and wear it either with pride or pain, but cannot be bereaved of it, and that much is evident from the very many life snippets she has captured in her book.
The book is well-researched, even well-written and one does feel the past peeling off layers as you traverse through its pages. It's an admirable attempt to lay bare what lies underneath the skin of a city that has been much exploited through all of world history and how! But the reader remains highly unsatisfied as some of the major places have been left out without a mention. I would've loved to read more about Hauz Khas, Old Delhi, and certain places of passion and poise.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews