“HISTORY of Urdu literature cannot be comprehended fully unless one understands Delhi, the greatest centre of Indian culture,” writes Prof Sadiqur Rahman Kidwai in his editorial in Jan-Jun 2023 issue of Urdu Adab, a literary magazine published by Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu Hind (ATUH), Delhi.
Situated at important geographical crossroads, Delhi, the centuries-old capital, had indeed been an epicentre of great historical and political upheavals and an eyewitness to cultural and intellectual changes. It was Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who moved Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi, got a new fort built along with other buildings and named it Shahjahanabad in 1648. Urdu Adab’s just published special issue on the historic town Shahjahanabad, also known as Old Delhi, captures rich history and vibrant culture of Delhi wonderfully well.
Prof Kidwai, the chief editor, president of ATUH and a well-known scholar, says that this special issue is historic as well, since these days literary Urdu magazines have restricted themselves to poetry, fiction and criticism. Unlike past, now Urdu journals do not portray diversity and colourfulness of our culture and civilisation as they used to, adds Kidwai.
Dr Ather Farouqui, the editor and ATUH’s general secretary, has emphasised in his editorial note that this special issue of Urdu Adab is the first issue of any Urdu periodical on Shahjahanabad, in which the research aspects and principles of historiography have been fully taken care of. And it is, says Dr Farouqui, therefore, “free from the myths concocted and narrated like an episode from Daastaan-i-Ameer Hamza at chaupaals (informal gatherings) and teashops”.
This issue, adds Farouqui, presents texts that are credible and can be taught at history departments of universities. Glancing at the table of contents one can vouch for Farouqui’s claim: the issue includes some scholarly pieces that capture true colours of Delhi’s culture and its history, for instance, Prof Shareef Husain Qasmi has described some historical buildings of Delhi from the era of Amir Khusrau; a keynote address by Prof Irfan Habib sheds light on Delhi’s literary and historical peculiarities; Prof Inayat ali Zaidi has deliberated, with historical evidences, on how and why Rajput girls were married off to Mughal rulers; Prof Ali Nadeem Rizvi has explained Shahjahanabad’s concept of civic life.
Swapna Liddle in her article ‘Jawaab Kaahe Ko Tha Lajawaabb Thi Dehli’ has beautifully narrated the history of Shahjahanabad and Red Fort and how the city, the bazaar and the other buildings were constructed; and how the city flourished with all its architectural grandeur and cultural vivaciousness even in the reign of Aurangzeb Alamgir, the pious Mughal Emperor who spent a good many years in a campaign to make Deccan subservient to Mughal dynasty. Then she tells us how the city went through the inevitable: the political infighting caused the city to change and so did the fate of the people of Shahjahanabad: riches vanished, clouts waned and Havelis (mansions) were subdivided into small quarters. She in this article has tried to find Delhi’s historical architectural lay out and town planning, but for Delhi’s cultural history she recommends Muraqqa-e-Dehli, a book written in Persian in 1740 and translated into Urdu and English.
Shahjahanabad’s culinary art is discussed by Suhail Hashmi in his article and Dr Sonal traces the tradition of khil’at (the royal robe presented as a gift or reward). Other articles by Ather Farouqui, Syed Noor-ul-Hasan, Sadaf Fatima, too, are much absorbing and informative. Pavan Kumar Varma’s longish article, translated by Ather Farouqui and accompanied by some fascinating colour photos by Sandeep Shankar, brings the old havelis of Delhi to life with all their grandeur and historical background, albeit not without a melancholy feeling that is invoked by their present state of decadence and sorrowful fall from the grace.
Sair-ul-Manaazil is another work that ATUH has recently published on Delhi and its social history. In his intro to the book Ather Farouqui has succinctly described the book’s background and its significance. The original Persian work, penned by Asgher Ali Baig, also known as Mirza Sangeen Baig, was in a manuscript form and Prof Shareef Husain Qasmi had translated it into Urdu. First published by Delhi’s Ghalib Institute in 1982, Sair-ul-Manazil’s Urdu translation has now been revised by Prof Qasmi and he has also added footnotes to it. With the addition of an index at the back of the book and reproduced images of some paintings of Delhi’s architectural landmarks, the book is almost a new one now.
Prof Qasmi in his erudite intro has described the details about various manuscripts of the work and discerns that Berlin manuscript must have been committed to writing in 1821. Sangeen Baig, the author, was an eyewitness to the geography and social history of Shahjahanabad and has described with minute details different vicinities, buildings and gardens of the city, says Prof Qasmi.
ATUH deserves kudos for publishing such remarkable works.
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