NEW DELHI (PTI): The celebrated medieval lanes of Delhi once known for the luxuriate lifestyles are fast deteriorating into an overcrowded unkempt walled place.
The residents miss the Bonhomie and the togetherness and the inherent security that the back to back houses and the narrow lanes Signified they had to move out as the old city gradually took on 2 business hue and immigrants to the expanding capital city created a consumerist and alluring though Colder “new” city around them
Bound even today by the remains of the old many walls and gates Ghalib Dilli” romantically associated with kings and poets is virtually bereft of the culture associated with it for the past 355 years is inception.
City was originally designed for a 100,000 residents and can by new Means support its present burden” according to former first lady Begum Abida Ahmed who has been taking a keen interest in reviving Dilli Ki Tehzeeb” (the Delhi culture) through stage shows and now through a tele serial.
Swamped by the growing hardware markets and the milling multitudes the area appears a sea of humanity compared to New Delhi No wonder the residents say “its warmer in Old Delhi during winters.”
Delhi was created by Hindus beautified by Muslims and the British called it a new bride. Such was its attraction that whosoever came here stayed here. It steals the heart (DIL) so is called Dilli Says author Maheswar Dayal opening his acclaimed book on Delhi
Wandering through the streets lined with centuries old houses one expects that old culture to Survive somewhere. But these are houses with more than three families living in each The whole landscape is that of broken medieval attics studded with TV antenna overlooking busy shops.
If you move your cot or hand your clothes line the neighbor comes to express his opinion on your civic sense and often in temperamental words” says Om Prakash a president of the Haul Kazi area.
In fact the on slaught on the cultural ethos of Delhi’s old city has been multi-sided say residents and experts.
The city being close to the railway stations and quite central to the capital constant influx of migrants specially at the lower rungs mostly stays in the walled area orate more and more business finding Space there they say.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 15, 1994
