Demolishing a past


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Demolishing a past

Demolishing A Past:  In Madras, Bombay or Calcutta, the living spaces of Indians and the British were sharply separated. Indians lived in the “black” areas,while the British lived in well laid out “white” areas. In Delhi, especially in the first half of nineteenth century, the British lived along with the wealthier Indians in the walled city. The British learned to enjoy Urdu/Persian culture and poetry and participated in local festivals.

  • The establishment of the Delhi College in 1792 led to a great intellectual flowering in the sciences as well as the humanities, largely in the Urdu language. During the revolt that year, as you have seen, the rebels gathered in the city, and persuaded Bahadur Shah to become the leader of the uprising. Delhi remained under rebel control for four months.
  • When the angry lions (the British) entered the town, they killed the helpless………….. and burned houses. Hordes of men and women, commoners and noblemen, poured out of communities and tombs outside the city.”
  • To prevent another rebellion, the British exiled Bahadur Shah to Burma (now Myanmar), dismantles his court, razzed several of the places, closed down gardens and built barracks for troops in their place.
  • The British wanted Delhi to forget its Mughal past. The area around the Fort was completely cleared of gardens, pavilions and mosques (though temples were left intact).
  • The British wanted a clear ground for security reasons.  Mosques in particular were either destroyed, or put to other uses. For instance. the Zinat-al-Masjid was converted into a bakery. No worship was allowed in the Jama Masjid for five years. 
  • In the 1870s, the western walls of Shahjahanabad were broken to establish the railway and to allow the city to expand beyond the walls.
  • The British now began living in the sprawling Civil Lines area that came up in the North, away from the Indians in the Walled City. The Delhi College was turned into a school, and shut in 1877.
  • Sample Questions
    (More Questions for each concept available in Login)
    Question : 1

    Zinat - al - Masjid was converted into which Building ?

    Right Option : D
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    Explanation
    Question : 2

    When the angry lions entered the town, they killed the helpless and burned houses. The angry lions are being referred to ________ .

    Right Option : B
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    Explanation
    Question : 3

    Delhi college was established in ________ .

    Right Option : C
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    Explanation
     
     


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