An exhibition with paintings,maps and photographs of Delhi,some dating back to the 1780s,showing the rise of the city as a Capital was opened to the public on Monday. Titled Dawn of Delhi : Rise of a Capital,the exhibition focuses on Delhi of the late 19th and mid-20th century,which has since been the centre of political and cultural life. The works on display include engravings,from the time of Qutub-ud-din Aibak and Shah Jahan to vintage and modern photographs sourced from the ASI ,Central Public Works Department and the archives of veteran photographers D N Choudhuri and Habib Rahman. Inaugurating the exhibition,Secretary,Ministry of Culture said,Delhi has grown into a shanty township. It is chaotic and expressionless. We havent been able to preserve our heritage. It is now with serious efforts from the ASI that we are taking care of it. The government had said that with Commonwealth Games ,we will make Delhi a world class city. Where is the world class city? The photographs on display include Delhi Coronation Durbar and areas such as Shahjahanabad,Tughlaqabad,aspects of Mehrauli and the making of the secretariat. Photographers whose works have been used for the exhibition include Vernon and Co.,Johnston and Hoffmann,Bourne and Shepherd. Rahaab Allana,curator of Alkazi Foundation for the Arts,said ,It took us nearly two years for planning and executing this exhibition. The oldest work we have here is from the 1780s. The reporter is a student of EXIMS,New Delhi
