Delhi By Heart: Impressions of a Pakistani Traveller

undefined

Review ------ This book brought back memories of those lazy afternoons with my grand her where he would reminisce about Peshawar and the near perfect life on Arbab road, surrounded by family and friends....the journey to the other side and the slow and painful realization that there was no turning back......"these blood eyes bear testimony that many a tear you did shed, and so did we"..the book made me feel the pain of being displaced and I guess our callous attitude and indifference toward our history probably stems from there. Delhi by Heart is a beautiful journey through the lanes and by-lanes, s and sounds of Delhi and brings the monuments, tombs and dargahs come alive. This book makes me want to take a long walk in old Delhi and doing my bit to save what is left of our Mughal history....makes me sad, hopeful and nostalgic at the same time....a must read for anyone connected to Delhi/Pakistan. --Nj Jul 7, 2013 My family migrated from West Punjab in 1947, therefore the only stories about Delhi I grew up listening to were from the tales of partition and how refugees settled in camps and colonies, how Lajpat Nagar has changed from single room allotments to its current nouveau rich status and so on.. I think even today Lahore is discussed more often than Delhi by the Punjabi elders. The little we learnt in school was about the Lodhi's, Qutub Minar and the Humayuns tomb, no one told me about the rich sufi history of this ancient city where I was born and live today. Raza has succinctly revealed the city's past not just as a mere chronicle but also as the spiritual hub of Muslim Hindoostan. It came as pleasant surprise that Delhi was/is the Sufi Mecca of the East. I can only imagine the lushness of its spirit during the middle ages. Raza also sprinkles a sensitive narration on India's partition and the aftermath from a Pakistani point of view which was interesting to learn. This will stay as one of my favorite travelogues after Naipaul. --Kabir Pandit Jun 28, 2013 If you live in Delhi and want to understand its ethos and evolution then this book is a must read. Written by a Pakistani it brings a whole new perspective to one's understanding of Delhi. From Sufism to food, from architecture to arches, from bastis to townships, from personalities to passport issues, the juxtaposition is put together in lucid prose. If you are a fan of Delhi or want someone else to share your passion about the city go ahead and buy this book to put words to you wishes. --By Nilesh on 25 February 2015 About the Author ---------------- Raza Rumi is an international development professional based in Lahore. He has worked for national and international organizations such as the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank. He also edits and writes for the Friday Times and contributes to leading national dailies in Pakistan and abroad. He blogs at Jahane Rumi, a website devoted to Sufism and the arts and cultures of South Asia.