An exhibition at DAG and a new book give us a ringside view of the historic Delhi durbars

Curated by noted historians Rana Safvi and Swapna Liddle, DAG also launched a book, Delhi Durbar: Empire, Display and the Possession of History, co-authored by the duo

In an important contribution to a facet of Delhi’s rich history, DAG is hosting an exhibition drawn from its archives of the city’s resplendent durbars. Curated by noted historians Rana Safvi and Swapna Liddle, DAG also launched a book, Delhi Durbar: Empire, Display and the Possession of History, co-authored by the duo.

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“The British Delhi Durbars have been the subject of much recent scholarly study and re-evaluation,” writes Ashish Anand, the CEO and managing director of DAG. “The objects in this exhibition bring them materially present, through works by some of the leading artists and photographers of the period.” The essays give readers an insight into the city that was. We also get rare visuals of Delhi, its monuments, and its three durbars — all of which were landmarks in British-ruled India.

Safvi speaks to Magazine about the project. Excerpts:

Answer: This exhibition was conceived by Giles Tillotson, senior vice president - exhibitions at DAG. It is the first exhibition that has been drawn from the DAG archives.

A: Every ruler negotiates his/ her idea of kingship. If we read the history of Delhi, kings starting with the Tomara dynasty built cities and citadels to perpetuate their memory. While the Mughal city of Shahjahanabad played a pivotal role in the three Delhi durbars, the last one saw King George announce the shifting of the British capital from Calcutta to Delhi. He also laid the foundation for a new city. This is known today as Lutyens’ Delhi.

A: While all three durbars were unique, there was a thread of continuity. They were all held in the Coronation Park in Delhi and close to the Ridge where the British had fought the Indian forces in the Uprising of 1857. [They] appropriated some Mughal symbols in a bid for continuity and so that Indians could relate to them.