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What we call Old Delhi is actually only about 350 yearsold, which is not terribly ancient, considering that the city wasinhabited around 1000 to 800 BC. But it is a good place to lookbecause Old Delhi has retained its character from the Mughaldays. Most of what we call Old Delhi was built by the emperorShah Jahan who, with characteristic modesty, called itShahjahanabad. The city was built around 1640-1650 AD (so,by Delhi standards, it is actually young!) and remained thecapital of the Mughal empire ever since.
India was one of the world’s richest countries in that age,so the capital’s commercial quarter was one of the mostimportant trading and business centres in the East. The originalChandni Chowk was built around a canal of the Yamuna, whichpassed down the street, forming a pool that reflected themoonlight and gave the area its name.
The business of Chandni Chowk was business only.Some people say that it was the ruthless reprisals from theBritish after the 1857 Mutiny/War of Independence thatdestroyed the peaceful character of Chandni Chowk; as did thelooting that was the hallmark of the East India Company’ssoldiers. Others say that the rot set in after New Delhi wascreated in the 20th century.
Either way, Chandni Chowk is a mess now. It isovercrowded, parts of it are dirty and its wonderful historicalmansions are now in disrepair. In an era when the world’s greatsquares have become landmarks, why should Chandni Chowkbecome a slum?
DIRECTIONS :
Read the passage given below and answer thequestions that follow (Q. Nos. 112 to 120) by selecting thecorrect/most appropriate options.What we call Old Delhi is actually only about 350 yearsold, which is not terribly ancient, considering that the city wasinhabited around 1000 to 800 BC. But it is a good place to lookbecause Old Delhi has retained its character from the Mughaldays. Most of what we call Old Delhi was built by the emperorShah Jahan who, with characteristic modesty, called itShahjahanabad. The city was built around 1640-1650 AD (so,by Delhi standards, it is actually young!) and remained thecapital of the Mughal empire ever since.
India was one of the world’s richest countries in that age,so the capital’s commercial quarter was one of the mostimportant trading and business centres in the East. The originalChandni Chowk was built around a canal of the Yamuna, whichpassed down the street, forming a pool that reflected themoonlight and gave the area its name.
The business of Chandni Chowk was business only.Some people say that it was the ruthless reprisals from theBritish after the 1857 Mutiny/War of Independence thatdestroyed the peaceful character of Chandni Chowk; as did thelooting that was the hallmark of the East India Company’ssoldiers. Others say that the rot set in after New Delhi wascreated in the 20th century.
Either way, Chandni Chowk is a mess now. It isovercrowded, parts of it are dirty and its wonderful historicalmansions are now in disrepair. In an era when the world’s greatsquares have become landmarks, why should Chandni Chowkbecome a slum?
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