3 Review(s)

Built upon the foundations of the madrasa of Ghaziu'd-Din, the Delhi College still evokes a strong emotive reaction. It has come to symbolize the complex encounter between British and Indo-Muslim culture through the medium of Urdu. Men like Nazir Ahmad and Zaka Ullah were among its pupils, Ghalib and Sir Saiyid Ahmad Khan felt close to it and watched it with keen interest. The Delhi College brings together renowned scholars from a wide array of disciplines-history, art, literature-covering topics ranging from the history of the building and the White Mughals of Delhi, to the biographies of the patrons, teachers, and pupils of the College, their work at the College and beyond, and their place under colonial rule. It explores how far the colonial intentions were executed, re-interpreted, adapted, and resisted or simply ignored in the day-to-day life of the educational institution. It also shows how contact with ‘new ideas' impacted the lives of those for whom they held out the promise of an exciting cultural encounter, social rise, and respect by the colonial masters. Contributors include: M. Ikram Chaghatai, well-known author, translator, and editor, William Dalrymple, well-known writer, Michael H. Fisher, Oberlin College, USA, Mushirul Hasan, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Ebba Koch, University of Vienna, Austria. Swapna Liddle, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Gail Minault, University of Texas, USA., C.M. Naim, University of Chicago, USA, Christina, Oesterheld, University of Heidelberg, Germany, Margrit Pernau, University of Bielefeld, Germany, Avril A. Powell, University of London, UK