Delhi: From Mughals to Metro, A discussion with Sohail Hashmi 

In this talk with Sohail Hashmi, we will try to answer one key question:
How does a city come into being? Delhi, the national capital, is majorly full of migrants.
Except the Jats and Gujars, it is impossible to find people who'd be native to this city. In its history, the city has seen everything, in a way that destruction and re-building have been a consistent part of the history of this city. Partition played a key role in shaping the city. The current urban character coexists with the histories that this city holds in its forts, monuments, gates, temples, mosques etc. The entry point of this talk is the Delhi of late-Mughal period, and by traveling through various junctures, we arrive at the present-day Delhi, a city which is run by its Metro. In this journey, we look at a broader and an essential question: How did Delhi come into being? What does Delhi's present retains of its past? In this city of migrants, is there any notion of 'Delhi Identity'? If yes, what does this consciousness around belonging to this city constitute?