City Improbable: Writings on Delhi

by Khushwant Singh

‘ Delhi is the twin of pure paradise, a prototype of the heavenly throne on an earthlyscroll ’—Amir Khusrau A city of contradictions, where ancient traditions and modern aspirations jostle for space, Delhi has often been compared to a phoenix rising from the ashes. Its three thousand years of eventful history have witnessed the rise and fall of several empires, a process that continues today. City Improbable brings together writings by immigrants, residents, refugees, travellers and invaders who have engaged with India ’s capital over different epochs. Babur shares his earliest experience of the city and Amir Khusrau praises the fine lads of Delhi ; Ibn Battuta and Niccolao Manucci record the glories and follies of prominent rulers; William Dalrymple and Khushwant Singh provide intriguing accounts of the threshold period that saw the coming of the British and the waning of the Mughals. Poets and storytellers—Meer Taqi Meer, Ghalib, Yashpal, Kamleshwar, Ruskin Bond—narrate their versions of the city. Contemporary Delhi is featured in a variety of vignettes: the bureaucracy, the Emergency, the anti-Sikh violence, lovers and joggers in Lodi Gardens , the city’s Sufi legacy as well as its changing cuisine. Among the new pieces in this expanded edition are Sam Miller’s account of his experiences in the suburb of Noida, Manto’s story about a girl from Delhi leaving the city during Partition, Jarnail Singh’s unflinching recollection of the massacre of Sikhs in 1984, a photo essay on Shahpur Jat by Karoki Lewis, and a composite narrative by the young writers of the Cybermohalla Collective about the making of a resettlement colony.

Genres: Nonfiction, India, History, Anthologies

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Khushwant Singh, (Punjabi: ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Hindi: खुशवंत सिंह) born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.

An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.

Reviews

[Vamil Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Mahabharata to Partition, the story of a city.

[Debanshu Sinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most colorful anthology of a city, I have ever read. perhaps it is possible only in case of Delhi. Contents of this book ranges from Historical accounts like description of Delhi by Ibn-Batuta during Tughlaq era, Timburlane's note on his conquest of delhi, A British Soldier's account on attack on Shahjahanabad during 1857 uprising to various other facets of Modern Delhi culture like street foods, markets, businesses etc. Even the change of culture with the change of area is also sketched.The book is a fascinating read.

[Vaibhav Srivastav · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant collection of writings with both stories/authors dating all the way back to Vyas. There are tragic tales - moving accounts of the terrors of 1984, and the British reprisal to the first war of Independence, and comedy - the British effort to collect donations from old Delhi during WW2, wistful glimpses of Delhi past - Delhi's Dastarkhan and how unfortunately Butter chicken passes for the quintessential Delhi dish while the cuisine is so much more.

It's a must read for those interested in the history of this ancient perpetual city.

[Sachin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every writing better than the previous one...a fine collection that you cannot stop reading...!!

[Nandini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delhi - The age-old consort of emperors, the very coveted capital of our country, the lore , the myth and the magic.
I had meaning to read a book on Delhi for very long. However this one came by as a surprise after a couple of wrong picks - VERY glad I found it. This was such a wholesome read!! Ranging from obvious themes such as history, people, poetry, expansion to curious ones such as ragpickers, Noida, seasons, Red Tapism, even toilets, this was so so good !
I believe, to read about something as diverse as city, we need multi-perspective collections - precisely as fulfilling as this one. I loved loved loved it.

[Itswhilereading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Account of selected writers about a city of past. From fiction by Kushwant Singh, poem by Mir, non fiction about the sidelines of the city, this is a book that travels from central to peripheries of Delhi. If there's one thing I wanted, it was to read about more unknown aspects of the place. I think it's a good book to see what are the gaps, because it's able to show you absences of some themes, which I won't say. Read and search for them!

[Ankush Saikia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Left out a couple of the pieces, especially towards the end. Vijay Nambisan and Ruskin Bond's pieces stood out for me. Overall a helpful exploration of a city where I had spent 14 years of my life.

[Iqra Tasmiae]

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid...

[Nishant Jha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this some time back...it is always fun to know & read more about my City :) and when Khushwant Singh's name comes up on any book then it makes it all the more special!

[Raheel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology of above-average selections.

Recommended read, specially for someone who is visiting or has visited the city.

[Siddharth Mohanty · Rating 5 out of 5]

an excellent read.

[Ta]

Beautiful! An exquisite collection of writings! :)