City of Djinns

I came across this from here. Some of these photographs also occur in the latest issue of M.

William Dalrymple puts forth an explanation to why Delhi is today what it is. Renowned as a shallow and fake culture, accused of being a heartless city with a soaring crime rate, where weddings are as lavish as common are drunk brawls, William says it is in part due to the fact that Delhi today is a city reborn again and again throughout history. Over the years, the metropolis has been the most powerful seat across the whole of the Indian subcontinent, and therefore, has witnessed more wars, coups, 'power' killings, betrayals than any other city. The current set of 'Dilli-wallas' are a curious mix of people, right from Punjabis who migrated during the Partition to the Jats from Haryana and the 'Bhaiyyas' of UP who came to the city in search of a better living. Therefore, William says, the culture of Delhi has, over the years, been covered by veils over veils of these various cultures, each trying to stamp their authority on what Delhi should be. Who or what does Delhi belong to? I guess that is a question that will remain unanswered till more of history is made.

edit: with fond memories of the place...