A visually compelling new book by Pilar Maria Guerrieri, prosaically titled Maps of Delhi (Niyogi Books), studies the capital through the lens of its maps—from early 19th century to the master plan for 2021. In this process, it provides a cartographic history of Delhi with commentary that narrates the story and historical context behind each map. One of these maps, pulled out from the Delhi State Archives, presents a plan of Shahjahanabad and its surroundings, as they stood in 1857, “drawn in the Quarter-Master General’s Office in the British Camp on the Ridge”.

Map of Delhi from 1857
Map of Delhi from 1857
Illustrations Courtesy: Maps of Delhi

The title suggests, according to the book, that the map served a very specific purpose—representing the locations of barracks, infantry, cavalry, artillery batteries, and picket locations of the British military during the mutiny of 1857. In this respect, it might have been a guide for the counter-attack strategy. Besides the fact that the map was produced in 1857, a crossed-swords symbol on the top-left marks the “fight of June 19th”, which refers to the start of the mutiny. The book points out that the colours used on the map, too, hold military relevance—red indicates British camps, brown, the Mughal city, yellow, principal routes, and blue, rivers and canals.

We’ve read aplenty about the 1857 mutiny from the Indian side but it is a revelation to see an artefact made by the British to counter the mutiny. It’s been nearly 160 years since the battles, yet this part of history does not fail to stir our collective consciousness.