Sair-e-Dilli: Chronicles of Change at Bikaner House
The City as a Museum comes alive this September with Sair-e-Dilli: Chronicles of Change, an exhibition curated by historian Swapna Liddle and presented by DAG. On view from 8 to 15 September 2025 at the Ballroom, Bikaner House, the show presents an unprecedented collection of paintings, prints, photographs, maps, and plans that together tell a layered story of Delhi’s past.
Delhi as a Living Museum
Delhi’s history has never followed a straight line. Instead, the city has grown through a succession of different capitals, each founded on distinct sites yet all claiming to be “Delhi.” Unlike other historic cities where older layers were buried or forgotten, Delhi’s past lies open for all to see. Every era has left behind monuments and neighbourhoods that continue to exist side by side, weaving together centuries of change into a single living landscape.
A Visual Archive of Change
The exhibition draws from a rich archive of visual representations, much of which emerged in the late eighteenth century. These works often carried the colonial gaze, portraying Delhi’s monuments as picturesque ruins or relics of lost empires. At the same time, Indian writers and artists of the nineteenth century approached these very sites differently — as vibrant spaces of habitation, centres of worship, and cultural landmarks deeply embedded in the city’s everyday life.
By bringing together maps, prints, paintings, and photographs, Sair-e-Dilli highlights both these perspectives and allows visitors to reflect on how Delhi has been seen, represented, and lived over time.
Beyond Colonial Narratives
The term Sair connotes travelling, wandering, and viewing sights. Staying true to that spirit, the exhibition does not follow the colonial model of telling Delhi’s story in a rigid chronology of successive capitals. Instead, it embraces the outlook of nineteenth-century Indians, who saw the city as a network of living sites connected by roads, bazaars, and religious pathways. This approach brings alive the city as it was experienced — dynamic, interconnected, and ever-changing.
Curatorial Vision
“This exhibition brings together probably for the first time such a variety of objects—paintings, prints, photographs, maps and plans, to tell a nuanced story of the development of historic Delhi.”
– Swapna Liddle
With her deep knowledge of Delhi’s history, Swapna Liddle has shaped an exhibition that bridges scholarly insight with artistic interpretation, giving visitors an opportunity to see Delhi as both a subject of study and a city of lived memory.
Plan Your Visit
📍 Location: Ballroom, Bikaner House, New Delhi
📅 Dates: 8–15 September 2025
🎨 Organiser: DAG | The City as a Museum
Whether you are an art enthusiast, a student of history, or simply a Delhiite curious about your city’s layered past, Sair-e-Dilli: Chronicles of Change offers a rare chance to step back and view the capital through centuries of artistic and cultural lenses.
