Images of Delhi: A Literary and Humanistic Geography of Post-independence India

Description

The main objective of this book is to analyze prominent literary images of Delhi in post-independence India. The author has probed into a number of eminent writings in Hindi, English and other languages. The author's methodology, a humanistic and phenomenological approach, allows exploration of experiential dimension of writers’ and their characters in various genres of literature. An inquiry into perceptions and imagination in literature enriches the understanding of place, space, time, and seasons, the concerns central to geography.  The Perceptions of the metropolis of Delhi interestingly vary between authors and their characters. The images of Delhi in plethora of literary works show a wide spectrum of colors. The images evoke feelings of reverence, love, adoration, dislike, indifference or neutrality. Experiences vary from places of beauty and grandeur to utterly ugly environments. Natives express different views and attitudes toward the city of Delhi from those of expatriate writers. Acknowledgements Contents About the Author 1 Humanistic Study of Urban Images Literary Contributions to Geography Exploration of Imaginative Literature by Geographers Philosophical Framework Evocation of Urban Images Conceptual Framework Conceptual Framework Facet One Conceptual Framework Facet Two Notes References 2 Delhi: Evolution of an Urban Region Delhi: Mughal Period Delhi: During the First Independence Movement Delhi: During Colonial Times Delhi: Post-Independence Period Notes References 3 Images of Delhi in Indo-Anglian and Hindi Literary Works Indo-Anglian Authors (Indian Writers Whose Works Are Primarily in the English Language) Hindi Authors (Indian Writers Whose Works Are Originally in the Hindi Language) Notes References 4 Delhi: As an Idea Post-Independence Delhi: A Mixed Emotional Response Idea of Delhi Among Expatriate Literature Naipaul’s Dark and Wounded Delhi Buckhory’s Sacred Call of Delhi Mehta’s Tranquil Delhi Santha Rama Rau’s Delhi: The Home Recapturing Expatriate Experiential Dimension of Delhi Notes References 5 Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) and Adjacent Regions Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad): The Traditional City Subzi Mandi Qutub Road Bridge Civil Lines: An Area of Bungalows and Gardens Katra: Traditional Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) Business-Cum-Residential Area Chandni Chowk: The Moonlit Square Refugee Colonies: Experiences of Refugees from West Pakistan G. B. Road and Chaori Bazaar: Red Light Districts of Delhi The Many Facets of Old Delhi: Shajehanabad Notes References 6 New Delhi and Neighboring Colonies New Delhi: Symbol of Power, Sprawling Suburbs, and Westernized World The World of Nouveau-Riche Colonies The Office World of New Delhi: The Domain of Bureaucracy J. J. Colonies, Slums, and Pavement Life of New Delhi Connaught Place: The Center of the City The World of Government Employees’ Colonies Seva Nagar: City of Serving People New Delhi’s Kaleidoscopic Vision Notes References 7 Four Authors and Their Perceptions of Delhi Abstract “No Matter; Delhi Is, After All, My Delhi!”—Manohar Shyam Joshi “Dedicated to the City of Delhi”—Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ Delhi and Moscow—(1945) Delhi, by “An Unknown Indian”: Nirad C. Chaudhuri Indigent World of Delhi of Uday Prakash References 8 Epilogue Abstract Literary Geography and Me Empowerment of Place Literature and Media as a Catalyst Possible Future Research Dimensions Glossary Bibliography Index