Desiring Delhi Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Speaker thanks organizers: Sankalp, Lux, Yasha, and others.
• Talk titled "Desiring Delhi" is part of a new book, exploring desire in Indian history.
• Questions the notion of whether cities can feel desire.

Key Themes

Crossing Borders

• Emphasizes the literal crossing of borders, setting the stage for the discussion of cities and desire.
• Introduces a clip from an ad called "The Reunion" that resonates emotionally with the audience.

Emotional Resonance

• The ad taps into deep emotional reservoirs in the subcontinent, particularly:
  • Sociosexual Bonds Between Men:
    • Historical context of male homosexual cultures in Delhi.
    • Example of poet Mir Taki Meir and the tradition of male friendships.
    • The concept of "yarana" in Hindi cinema exemplifies strong emotional bonds.
  • Relationship Between Cities:
    • Delhi and Lahore portrayed as emotionally intertwined.
    • Discussion of Partition and its impact on collective memory and desire.

Historical Context

• Partition of 1947 as a recent example of a long history of violent separations in Delhi.
• Intazar Hussein’s perspective on historical loss tracing back to 300 BC (Indraprastha).
• Partition as a repeated occurrence in Delhi, linked to the 1857 uprising against British colonialism.

Desire and Loss

• The conflict between hybrid desires of previous rulers and conservative British morality.
• The role of Partition in shaping Delhi’s identity and desire, with echoes of past loss still present.
• The idea that loss engenders a stubborn desire for reunion and restoration of connections.

Delhi's Desire

• Desire for Delhi is layered and complex:
  • Profusion of Desire:
    • Accumulation of desires from various inhabitants over centuries.
    • Examples of architectural layers reflecting different historical periods.
  • Cultural Significance:
    • The famous Loi Gardens as a space of blending historical and contemporary desires.
  • Monumental Desire:
    • Poetry about Delhi emphasizes its physicality as part of its desirability.

Conclusion

• Delhi’s desire is not limited to human actors; it includes buildings, ruins, and landscapes.
• The exploration of desire in Delhi shows how it is marked by loss and trauma, yet continues to grow and evolve.
• Final thoughts underscore that desire in Delhi is pervasive, timeless, and a complex interplay between history and modernity.

Closing

• Audience is thanked for their engagement.