Cities Of Delhi, Living Without A Lifeline: The Talk

Cities Of Delhi, Living Without A Lifeline: The Talk

Delhi has been called many things, from the City of Djinns, Indraprastha, Dehli to Dilli. It alsohas a long history of rulers and empires with it. It has been ruled for several centuries by different rulers, from all around Europe and Asia. During their reign, they have named the capital many a times, and different rulers have made Delhi their capital.

During the weekend, IHC hosted the ‘Cities of Delhi, Living withouta Lifeline’; A talk by Sohail Hashmi, a writer, film-maker and a Dilli wala.

Wazirabad Drain

He has written on many subjects, including culture, heritage, social issues and conservation. He also has researched upon and scripted various documentaries on the history of Urdu, the pioneers of Women’s Education, History of Delhi, and it still continues.

The event was hosted by Vikramjit Singh Rooprai, the Founder of Youth for Heritage Foundation and Delhi Heritage Photographer’s club. He is also a Heritage lover and plays his part in spreading awareness regarding the conservation of heritage sites.

Vikramjit Singh Rooprai

Sohail Hashmi started by telling us about 7 different cities that had been established in Delhi in the course of history, namely:

1) Qila Rai Pithora

2) Mehrauli

3) Siri

4) Tughlakabad

5) Firozabad

6) Shergarh

7) Shahjahanabad

He focused upon the city and its water sources and water tables from the first city to the present ones. He talked about the different Baolis, from Rajon Ki Baoli in Mehrauli to Agrasen Ki Baoli in modern day Hailey Road. He said that, there was just one dirty Nala called the BadroNala. Slowly, all the small reveries and streams were distributed all over the city.

He told us, how one of his friends used to go for fishing to the NajafgarhNala, as recent as in 1964. But in just few years, it has become this dirty.

Sohail Hashmi addressing the media

“People used to take a holy dip in Chirag Dilli Nala before entering the Holy Shrine in Chirag Dilli.

He also explained various ways, through which water was brought from different channels from as far as Hissar.

He told us, how the people, had started polluting the Yamuna as it is, in the present state. He also pointed out, that it took less than 140 years to kill the river Yamuna.

But he also added that Yamuna had curiously never played any role in fulfilling the water needs of any of the aforementioned 7 cities of Delhi. The reason might be the high mineral content of water which was not portable and fit for domestic use.

He also explains in dejection, that if the government wanted, they could clean the water in all these small streams and refill those streams and Yamuna can once again gain its former purity.
After the talk it was time for the audience interaction.

OWN asked him, about the reason of using life inspired symbols in the architecture of places like Jamali-Kamali’s tomb and mosque. He replied, saying that it was never about religion, but about the culture. “Also there isn’t anything called Islamic architecture. Just Like there isn’t a term called Christian Architecture. Architecture follows a culture, a region and time; not religion. That’s the reason the styles are named Gothic, Renaissance, Italian, Roman etc.

Rajon Ki Baoli

Also if you also follow the elements of architectures of one place to another, you will be surprised. The biggest dome in the world is not found in any Islamic place of worship, but arguably in St. Peter’s Basilica. Before publishing the Holy Quran at Nawal Kishore Press, the plates were washed with Gangajal, and so were the floors of Qutub Minar, when the construction was restarted.“

“What I’m saying is, it was about the faith of people who were located in those regions. They respected others religion as their own and it was their respect, faith and devotion towards all the faiths that gave these instances to us.”

When asked about any message that he would like to give to the generations to come, he said, “Question everything. Don’t believe in anything or anyone, blindly.”