The history of Delhi has been told and retold many times. Often the intent is to use history as an ideological tool for staking a claim to the present of the city. In Intizar Hussain’s retelling, it is the tale itself that becomes delectable. A popular recital that highlights the forgotten nuances of the story, Once There Was a City Named Dilli, is a celebration of the people and culture that made the city unforgettable. Forts, walled cities, bazaars, diwan khanas, durbars, and the Yamuna itself come alive in this ode to a capital serenaded or ravaged by powerful kings and chieftains over time.
