🌆 Chapter 6: Colonialism and the City

(The Story of an Imperial Capital)

🏙️ Introduction: A City of Dreams and Power

• Cities are not just places where people live—they are centres of power, culture, and economy.
• In history, every great empire had its capital:
  • Mughals → Shahjahanabad (Delhi)
  • British → Calcutta, then Delhi
• With the rise of colonial power, old cities were reshaped and new cities were born.
• This chapter explores Delhi’s transformation from a Mughal imperial city to the British capital of India.

🕌 Delhi Before the British

Delhi was one of the most important cities of medieval India.

• Several rulers made Delhi their capital:
  • Tomaras and Chauhans (Early Delhi rulers)
  • Delhi Sultans (13th–16th century) – built forts, mosques, palaces
  • Mughals (16th–18th century) – turned Delhi into a city of wealth and grandeur

✨ Shahjahanabad (Built by Shah Jahan in 1639)

• Delhi’s most famous Mughal city.
• Features:
  • Red Fort (Lal Qila) – symbol of Mughal power
  • Jama Masjid – largest mosque of India at the time
  • Chandni Chowk – busy bazaar with shops, gardens, fountains
• Delhi became a cultural hub of:
  • Poetry (Urdu, Persian)
  • Music & dance
  • Sufi traditions

👉 For Mughals, Delhi was not just a political capital, but also a symbol of cultural pride.

⚔️ Delhi After 1857 – Decline of Mughal City

• The Revolt of 1857 was a turning point.
• Delhi was at the heart of the rebellion → Bahadur Shah Zafar (last Mughal emperor) became the symbol of resistance.
• After the revolt was crushed:
  • The British destroyed parts of Shahjahanabad.
  • Many areas around the Red Fort were demolished.
  • Mosques were closed or destroyed, as they feared these places encouraged rebellion.
  • Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon (Myanmar).

👉 Delhi’s Mughal grandeur began to fade, and the British wanted to establish their own authority over the city.

🏛️ Shift of Capital: From Calcutta to Delhi (1911)

• Initially, the British ruled India from Calcutta (Kolkata).
• But in 1911, the capital was shifted to Delhi because:
  1. Delhi had historical significance (Mughal capital).
  2. Its central location made administration easier.
  3. To symbolise the power of the British Empire in India.

🎉 Coronation Durbar of 1911

• King George V of Britain was crowned in Delhi.
• Announcement: Delhi would become the new capital of India.

🏗️ Building New Delhi – The Imperial City

After 1911, the British began building a new city – New Delhi – to the south of Shahjahanabad.

Architects:

• Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker were chosen to design the new capital.

Features of New Delhi:

• Wide roads and avenues lined with trees.
• Government buildings with classical British and Indian styles.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan (Viceroy’s House) – symbol of British authority.
• India Gate – war memorial for Indian soldiers.
• New Delhi was planned as a symbol of power, order, and control.

👉 Contrast:

• Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) = narrow lanes, crowded bazaars, Mughal culture.
• New Delhi = modern, orderly, built to impress.

🏘️ Life in the City: Segregation and Change

• The British did not mix freely with Indians.
• Segregation:
  • British officials lived in well-planned areas (New Delhi).
  • Indians lived in old crowded neighbourhoods.
• Old Delhi continued to thrive with:
  • Markets (Chandni Chowk)
  • Traditional crafts
  • Religious centres

But over time:

• Many people lost jobs (as Mughal patronage ended).
• Artisans, poets, musicians struggled to survive.
• Delhi’s cultural life faced decline.

🌸 Gardens, Bazaars, and Streets

Delhi was famous for its gardens and bazaars.

Mughal Period:

• Delhi was called the “city of gardens”.
• Beautiful gardens like Roshanara Bagh and Shalimar Bagh.

British Period:

• The British cleared many gardens and havelis.
• Built wide roads and government offices instead.
• Many traditional markets were replaced with new shopping centres.

🎭 Culture and Decline of Delhi’s Grandeur

• Before 1857, Delhi was the centre of:
  • Urdu poetry (Mirza Ghalib, Zauq)
  • Sufi music and dance
• After 1857, patronage ended → poets like Mirza Ghalib wrote about the decline of Delhi.

👉 Example: Ghalib’s poetry shows the pain of losing a glorious city.

📖 Key Terms

• Shahjahanabad → Mughal capital built by Shah Jahan.
• Coronation Durbar → Ceremony where British king was crowned in Delhi.
• Segregation → Separation of British and Indian living areas.
• Lutyens’ Delhi → New Delhi designed by Lutyens and Baker.

📝 Summary

• Delhi has always been an important city, ruled by many dynasties.
• The Mughals made Delhi a cultural and political hub.
• The Revolt of 1857 destroyed much of Shahjahanabad.
• In 1911, the British shifted their capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
• New Delhi was built as a symbol of British imperial power.
• Old Delhi remained a centre of traditional markets and culture but faced decline.

❓ Practice Questions

Very Short Answer (1 mark)

1. Who designed New Delhi?
2. Which Mughal emperor built Shahjahanabad?
3. In which year was the capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi?

Short Answer (3 marks)

1. Why did the British shift their capital from Calcutta to Delhi?
2. Write three differences between Old Delhi and New Delhi.
3. How did the Revolt of 1857 affect Delhi?

Long Answer (5 marks)

1. Explain the features of Shahjahanabad.
2. Describe how the British built New Delhi as a symbol of power.
3. Discuss the cultural decline of Delhi after 1857.

🎨 Learning (Highlights for Notes)

• 🕌 Mughal Delhi = Shahjahanabad → Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk.
• ⚔️ 1857 Revolt → Destruction, decline of Mughal culture.
• 👑 1911 Durbar → Capital shifted to Delhi.
• 🏛️ New Delhi = Lutyens’ Delhi → Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate.
• 🌸 Old Delhi = crowded bazaars, fading traditions.