Focussing on the hinterland of Delhi in the period between 1870 and 1910, this essay explores the... more Focussing on the hinterland of Delhi in the period between 1870 and 1910, this essay explores the ways in which Shahjahanbad/Old Delhi and its rural periphery approached each other. In particular, the period saw a tighter integration of the economies of city and rural periphery with crucial repercussions on the ‘constitution’ of the rural itself.
Conventionally, historian see the partitioning of Delhi into two opposing urban landscapes, of mo... more Conventionally, historian see the partitioning of Delhi into two opposing urban landscapes, of modern New Delhi / traditional Old Delhi, healthy/insalubrious as largely a consequence of the colonial state’s preoccupation with the preservation of aesthetic ideals of New Delhi. Placing the characteristic traits of the colonial state at the centre of analysis - racism, limited liberalism, exercising both sovereign and disciplinary power - scholars contend that the vision of an imperial capital, designed to embody the political and aesthetic rationalities of British empire contributed largely in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city in post-1911 period. In contrast this article aims to highlight the dilemmas that the colonial state encountered and took in to account, beyond merely the aesthetic considerations, in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city. It also show how colonial state’s concern for profit contributed much more than the aesthetic imperatives in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city as it grew westward.
The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly ... more The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly as colonial history itself. To suggest that colonialism was (or is) a single entity is not just analytically problematic but another form of colonial mystification. Colonial rule was secured through both coercive and non-coercive strategies of control. British Indian Army, which was strongest land force in nineteenth century Asia, was a major component of colonial India state apparatus to not only secure and maintain the so-called ‘legitimate authority’ of colonial state but also manifest the magnificent ‘power’ of the Raj. Army was not just a mechanical part of the state, but constituted an important social base of foreign ruler as collaborators. The recruitment of East India Company was central to the development of the company’s political sovereignty.
The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly ... more The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly as colonial history itself. To suggest that colonialism was (or is) a single entity is not just analytically problematic but another form of colonial mystification. Colonial rule was secured through both coercive and non-coercive strategies of control. British Indian Army, which was strongest land force in nineteenth century Asia, was a major component of colonial India state apparatus to not only secure and maintain the so-called ‘legitimate authority’ of colonial state but also manifest the magnificent ‘power’ of the Raj. Army was not just a mechanical part of the state, but constituted an important social base of foreign ruler as collaborators. The recruitment of East India Company was central to the development of the company’s political sovereignty.
Focussing on the hinterland of Delhi in the period between 1870 and 1910, this essay explores the... more Focussing on the hinterland of Delhi in the period between 1870 and 1910, this essay explores the ways in which Shahjahanbad/Old Delhi and its rural periphery approached each other. In particular, the period saw a tighter integration of the economies of city and rural periphery with crucial repercussions on the ‘constitution’ of the rural itself.
Conventionally, historian see the partitioning of Delhi into two opposing urban landscapes, of mo... more Conventionally, historian see the partitioning of Delhi into two opposing urban landscapes, of modern New Delhi / traditional Old Delhi, healthy/insalubrious as largely a consequence of the colonial state’s preoccupation with the preservation of aesthetic ideals of New Delhi. Placing the characteristic traits of the colonial state at the centre of analysis - racism, limited liberalism, exercising both sovereign and disciplinary power - scholars contend that the vision of an imperial capital, designed to embody the political and aesthetic rationalities of British empire contributed largely in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city in post-1911 period. In contrast this article aims to highlight the dilemmas that the colonial state encountered and took in to account, beyond merely the aesthetic considerations, in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city. It also show how colonial state’s concern for profit contributed much more than the aesthetic imperatives in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city as it grew westward.
The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly ... more The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly as colonial history itself. To suggest that colonialism was (or is) a single entity is not just analytically problematic but another form of colonial mystification. Colonial rule was secured through both coercive and non-coercive strategies of control. British Indian Army, which was strongest land force in nineteenth century Asia, was a major component of colonial India state apparatus to not only secure and maintain the so-called ‘legitimate authority’ of colonial state but also manifest the magnificent ‘power’ of the Raj. Army was not just a mechanical part of the state, but constituted an important social base of foreign ruler as collaborators. The recruitment of East India Company was central to the development of the company’s political sovereignty.
The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly ... more The constitution, mechanisms, techniques and procedure of colonial power varied as extravagantly as colonial history itself. To suggest that colonialism was (or is) a single entity is not just analytically problematic but another form of colonial mystification. Colonial rule was secured through both coercive and non-coercive strategies of control. British Indian Army, which was strongest land force in nineteenth century Asia, was a major component of colonial India state apparatus to not only secure and maintain the so-called ‘legitimate authority’ of colonial state but also manifest the magnificent ‘power’ of the Raj. Army was not just a mechanical part of the state, but constituted an important social base of foreign ruler as collaborators. The recruitment of East India Company was central to the development of the company’s political sovereignty.
Uploads
Papers by Dinesh Kataria
ways in which Shahjahanbad/Old Delhi and its rural periphery approached each other.
In particular, the period saw a tighter integration of the economies of city and rural periphery with crucial
repercussions on the ‘constitution’ of the rural itself.
New Delhi / traditional Old Delhi, healthy/insalubrious as largely a consequence of the colonial state’s
preoccupation with the preservation of aesthetic ideals of New Delhi. Placing the characteristic traits of
the colonial state at the centre of analysis - racism, limited liberalism, exercising both sovereign and
disciplinary power - scholars contend that the vision of an imperial capital, designed to embody the
political and aesthetic rationalities of British empire contributed largely in shaping the urban landscape
of Delhi city in post-1911 period. In contrast this article aims to highlight the dilemmas that the
colonial state encountered and took in to account, beyond merely the aesthetic considerations, in
shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city. It also show how colonial state’s concern for profit
contributed much more than the aesthetic imperatives in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city as it
grew westward.
ways in which Shahjahanbad/Old Delhi and its rural periphery approached each other.
In particular, the period saw a tighter integration of the economies of city and rural periphery with crucial
repercussions on the ‘constitution’ of the rural itself.
New Delhi / traditional Old Delhi, healthy/insalubrious as largely a consequence of the colonial state’s
preoccupation with the preservation of aesthetic ideals of New Delhi. Placing the characteristic traits of
the colonial state at the centre of analysis - racism, limited liberalism, exercising both sovereign and
disciplinary power - scholars contend that the vision of an imperial capital, designed to embody the
political and aesthetic rationalities of British empire contributed largely in shaping the urban landscape
of Delhi city in post-1911 period. In contrast this article aims to highlight the dilemmas that the
colonial state encountered and took in to account, beyond merely the aesthetic considerations, in
shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city. It also show how colonial state’s concern for profit
contributed much more than the aesthetic imperatives in shaping the urban landscape of Delhi city as it
grew westward.