A photographic ride to the city of Djinns
From the roundabouts of Mandi House to the iconic buildings of Connaught Place, everything in the Capital has changed over the years. But, you can relive all these in their former glory at an ongoing show of photographs that will transcend you to the bygone era and help you see the Delhi that you haven’t witnessed before.
Titled Delhi That Was, this show has 45 images from the 1940s to the 1990s, from archives of three photographers — Habib Rahman, Madan Mahatta and Raghu Rai. These three have captured the majestic monuments and some magical lanes. So, from the Qutab Minar to the Jantar Mantar, there’s a lot to relive.
Alongside the city’s architecture, the displayed images also depict the lifestyles that are unique to Delhi, and show how the city has changed over the past five decades. So, the exhibition also gives a chance to view the visual histories of the three master photographers. “In the past 50 years, photography has seen a paradigm shift. But the purpose remains the same — to capture an evocative moment that reflects the essence of time as this is the visual history of tomorrow,” says Rai.
The exhibits are a gateway to a more bustling yet relaxed Delhi. “I’m a quintessential Delhiwallah; no other city even comes closer to Delhi. The only place that may be better than Delhi as it exists today is the city as it existed in the past. This exhibition features that,” adds Anubhav Nath, curator of the show.