Reliving Dehli in Delhi

Ek chhappar hai shahar Dilli ka,jaise rouza ho Sheikh Chilli ka. This couplet by Mirza Ghalib says a lot about Delhi,as it was when it was “Dehli”. The charm of Ballimaran nukkad ,the bylanes of Dariba,the times spent in Company Bagh in what is now known as Old Delhi,and the majestic Qutub Minar on the other end of the city — few of us truly know what living in Delhi in those days meant. To familiarise us with that sentiment and relive his own memories,Pakistan-based Brigadier (retired) Abdul Rahman Siddiqi,86,has written a book titled Smoke Without Fire: Portraits of Pre-Partition Delhi (Rs. 695,Aakar Books). It was launched in Delhi on Tuesday night at Azad Park near Town Hall in Chandni Chowk by Kapil Sibal,Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology.

Having spent the first 23 years of his life in old Delhi,the book recalls the times Siddiqi spent here — celebrating Diwali with neighbours,playing at Company Bagh,crossing the landmark Ghanta Ghar everyday,memories of births and deaths in the family,schooling,working as a sub-editor at the Delhi office of The Dawn and finally the pangs of Partition in 1947. “This book is dedicated to Delhi. I am overwhelmed by the response here in Delhi,” said a nostalgic Siddiqi at the launch,as he spoke about spending his childhood and youth in the very park the event was being held at.

Retaining the feel and enigma of Old Delhi,the evening began with a qawwali and after the launch,Mahomood Farooqi and Danish Husain presentsed a dastangoi about the Delhi,pre and post-Partition.