Jewels from our past

rare Exhibition

While going around exploring in Old Delhi, the senses so filled with the aroma of kebabs being prepared in roadside kiosks, that the eyes gets fixed and do not go beyond to see the old shops of books and calligraphers. It would be difficult to believe, but their history dates back to the Mughal era when the place was known as Shahjahanabad.

The map of this city was recently put up at the recently concluded exhibition ‘Pahari Imli – Window to a Lost World’. Curated and organised as part of India International Centre’s ‘A Festival of the Arts’, the exhibition was not merely a documentation of the history of Delhi but also evoked the interest of visitors for its rich and well researched content. How else would one know today that Delhi even used to celebrate the ‘Festival of Falez’ (festival of fruits) back in history?

Displaying books, photographs and objects that are decades-old, the exhibition showcased collection of the Hazrat Shah Waliullah Public Library and private collections of Abdul Sattar and Naseem Beg Khan Changezi.

Located in Chooriwalan, in the Pahari Imli area of Shahjahanabad, the library houses some of the exquisite treasures from our historic times. Such as the 100-year-old Quran with manuscripts embossed in gold. On display was also the cover of the Dewan-e-Zafar (collection of poetry by Bahadurshah Zafar II published in 1855 in the palace). Belonging to the 19th century, these artefacts, including the Bhagwat Gita’s cover (in Urdu), leave a visitor gazing at it for long.

From the private collection of Abdul Sattar, the paintings and calligraphy exemplifies the finesse that Indian art stands for. To add to this were porcelain plates and bowls with verses from holy Quran in Arabic. What added to the curiosity of the viewers were paintings that authenticated various significant moments in history. Take for instance the painting on ‘Festival of Falez’ which depicts people of Shahjahanabad celebrating the summer night festival of fresh fruits (melons, cucumber, etc.). For the sports lovers, there was also a group photograph of ‘Delhi hockey team’ with Mughalzadah Mirza Naseem Beg Khan Changezi in it.

There was a contrast between the Delhi before and after 1857. Since the revolt of 1857 destroyed most parts of the city, the photograph of a painting capturing ‘The Last Mushaira of Delhi’ gains importance. Even the history of Delhi College in the mid-19th century found space in this exhibition devoted to the nation’s Capital.

As if all these weren’t enough, outside the conference room of IIC were photographs of present day Matia Mahal by veteran lensman Ram Rahman. As a juxtaposition to what was inside, the frames were shown filled to their capacity with people. Just opposite were images by Saurabh Prasad of the place called ‘Pahari Imli’. It is actually a hillock not too far from the historic Jama Masjid. It is said that the place got its name from a huge tamarind tree that provided shade to Afghan travellers to rest.

When there is so much to unravel, one feels it is unjustified to have such exhibitions for only few days!