The Broken Script: Delhi Under the East India Company and the Fall of the Mughal Dynasty

Combine immaculate scholarship with extraordinary storytelling in The Broken Script by acclaimed historian Swapna Liddle—a definitive narrative history of Delhi and early modern India between 1803 and 1857.

About the Book: Step into a great city in transition during the fascinating, hybrid half-century that connected the late-Mughal world to colonial modernity. The Broken Script lovingly portrays the unique urbanity of Mughal Delhi and its people as they navigated the profound shifts produced by the rising East India Company Raj. Drawing on meticulous research, the book brings history to vivid life through the actual words of the city's inhabitants—from the elegant Urdu of the literati to the irreverent comments of everyday flaneurs. Painstakingly retrieving a rich socio-cultural history that was systematically sidelined following the tragic events of 1857, Swapna Liddle captures the complexities of life under the rule of Akbar Shah and Bahadur Shah like never before.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Definitive Historical Narrative: Explores the critical transition period of Delhi under the East India Company from 1803 up to the fall of the Mughal dynasty in 1857.

• Rich Primary Perspectives: Immerses readers in the era by featuring the real voices, poetry, and commentary of 19th-century Delhi's citizens and literati.

• Praise from Historians: Highly endorsed by prominent scholars and writers including Mukul Kesavan, Amar Farooqui, Narayani Gupta, S. Irfan Habib, and Saif Mahmood.

• Cultural & Urban Insight: Uncovers the intricate social fabric, language, and urban life of the Mughal capital at the absolute cusp of modernity.

• The Perfect Gift: A phenomenal, rigorous scholarly text and an essential read for history buffs, students of South Asian history, and lovers of Delhi's rich past.