140307 UE Regional Cultures of India (2013W)

Delhi as a city is more than one thousand years old, but not as old as many historians would like to believe. It came into visibility only with the Muslim rulers like Iltutmish in 1206, even though the construction of Muslim monuments like Qutb Minar antedate the reign of Iltutmish. As a geographical expanse with scattered settlements of Jats and Gujjars, it got its identity from massive military settlements at Mahrauli. Slowly different rulers (Sultans) started founding their own citadels in various corners of Modern Delhi and in this way led to a growth of population, markets, monuments and historical anecdotes. Delhi is a city full of food and fun, wars and violence, and many stories to be told. Forlorn, defeated, without hope, the last Mughal Court poet Zauq commented: 'Kah? ja? Dilli ki galiy? cho? ke'('Where should I [Zauq] go, leaving the alleys of Delhi!’). It is full of monuments, including World Heritage Monuments, lively bazaars, and fantastic food to be had. Every nook and corner of Delhi has stories and history, waiting to be explored and touched with raw hands. This course will take students through the city that has more royalty than any, more lively history than most and famous Punjabi and Mughlai food that has made India proud besides its films.

1. Beginnings of Delhi: the coming of the Muslims and the emergence of Shahar

2. Delhi as military camp ‘Lashkar’

3. Water bodies of Delhi

4. Islamic architecture of Delhi

5. Delhi’s bazaars

6. Development of Urdu and the poetry of Ghalib and Mir

7. Modern tourism in Delhi is Islamic

8. Delhi based Hindi films