What Delhi looked like in 1883-84

Not much was manufactured in the city and one could actually see the Himalayas from Delhi, according to the Delhi Gazetteer for the period

Can one see the Himalayas from Delhi? I don’t mean from a plane. Evidently, you could, once upon a time. So the Delhi Gazetteer for 1883-84 tells us. “The hills of Delhi, though not attractive in themselves, give a pleasant view across the Jamna, and in clear weather allow, it is said, even a glimpse of the Himalayas.” “Irrigation, as in the case of Rohtak” (BS, September 7) was not an unmitigated blessing for Delhi district either. “In the villages irrigated by the Western Jamna Canal the standard of health and vitality is materially lower than elsewhere... Dr Taylor showed clearly the presence of an unusual amount of spleen disease, and its close connection with the degrees of swampiness and want of drainage found in various parts. The villages ‘enjoying the greatest advantages’ of irrigation were almost invariably those where the debilitating disease assumed its most prominent form.”

But I am sure the following is unexpected. “Besides fever, the zamindars of the canal villages complain that copious irrigation of the land brings with it, though they do not know how, impotence in men... Mr Sherer expressed the same opinion. “The unfruitfulness of women in canal villages is a subject of common remark, and the consequent difficulty of inducing other Jat families to give their daughters to the men of Panipat, and the environs of the canals generally, is very great.” Dr Taylor heard that sexual incapacity existed greatly among men, but that women were not barren in the same proportion. The local belief is the same; and it is said in addition that the women are generally more healthy than the men. Two reasons are given — the women come from other villages — often villages not irrigating from the canal, and so have a healthier stock to begin with. Secondly, they work more than the men. This sounds strange, and is only half true; but there is no doubt that the women in the canal villages look less lazy and demoralised than the men, who are indeed a very degenerate race.”

Not much was “manufactured” in Delhi. “The reputation of Delhi as a manufacturing centre is perhaps greater than is warranted by the actual state of the industries now practiced there. Many of the trades for which the city is famous, like, those of Lucknow, Gulburga and Haidarabad, (Deccan) are relics of the Musalman Courts, and only precariously survive. Nearly all are now, so far as their profits are concerned, in Hindu hands. Before it was a Mogul capital Delhi was a Hindu city; and it would seem that in wealth and in social and political influence the Hindus are resuming their ancient sway. And the tendency of the leading castes in modem times is more towards trade as a means of accumulating money than towards craftsmanship. So while the city is growing, and must from its position continue to grow in commercial importance, it is doubtful whether the arts by which it is historically known are equally flourishing.” However, “As to the objects produced, there is scarcely anything called jewelry that cannot be imitated at Delhi; and the continual passage of tourists has created a demand for several varieties of native work not strictly belonging to the locality, as well as for articles of English style... Large quantities of sham jewelry made of brass, coloured glass, and plain glass with tinted foil behind it, are sold. These preserve the native forms of earrings, bracelets, and head ornaments, and are often very pretty. Year by year, however, a larger number of European imitations are imported; notably large brass beads in open work rudely counterfeiting filigrain. It is not always easy to say in such things where Germany or Birmingham ends and Delhi begins, for the stamped tinsel settings are combined with wire, silk and beads in the most ingenious way, till the completed ornament resembles those made in good materials of real native work.”

There is a link between today’s Zakir Husain Delhi College (University of Delhi) and Delhi (Oriental) College, which very few people remember. The former was created to plug a gap left by the latter, way back in 1877. “The Delhi College has ceased to exist since 1st April 1877. It was abolished with a view to concentrating the higher teaching power of the province at Lahore. Its abolition is still much resented by the inhabitants, and attempts have been made, though as yet without success, to obtain funds for its re-establishment by private subscriptions. It was originally a college for the education of Musalmans in Oriental literature, science and art, and was established at Delhi in 1792, and supported by subscriptions from the wealthy residents of Delhi belonging to that creed. In or about the year 1824 this college was made the foundation for a superior college, and taken over by Government, who subsequently added to it an English Department, which was called the Delhi Institution.”

When you pass a Railway office in Delhi, remember this. “The portion of the East Indian Railway which runs through the district is in the charge of the Deputy Traffic Superintendent, Allahabad, while that of the Sind Panjab and Delhi Railway is in the charge of the Traffic Superintendent at Lahore. That part of the Rajputana-Malwa Railway running through the district is controlled by the Manager living at Ajmir. The head offices of the three railways are at Calcutta, Lahore and Ajmir, respectively.” 

The author is chief of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. 

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