Manisha Choudhary

The Eternal Dastur Craft is a study of the Rajlok, Khojas of the state and the political and religious dignitaries and protocol applied to them in the court of the Jaipur State from early eighteenth to late nineteenth century. While appearing in court, the protocol laid out for different social groups depended on the status of the individuals and their castes. Interestingly, in this limited sphere also, the state accommodated nearly all the sections, clans and castes in the court. Being attached to the court, political and religious groups became representative of the court and exercised political pressure.

After the shift of the capital of British India to Delhi in 1911, the imperial administration noted the need for a new educational institution in the city. The University of Delhi was ultimately established in 1922, after many delays and a decade-long struggle. Though originally conceived to serve imperial interests, the university underwent transformative changes. It has played an important role in the growth and development of the nation-participating in the nationalist movement, aiding refugees during Partition, and embodying the democratic traditions of independent India even in turbulent times. Over its hundred-year-long journey, the university expanded across the city and evolved to represent the mosaic of the nation, mirroring its struggles and aspirations. It provided an environment for academic and non-academic learning, a vibrant and open space for discussion, and maintained its standard of education and research. This book presents and commemorates the long journey of the University of Delhi. Based on hitherto-unused archival material, the research here covers the early days of the university's conception to its growth over the decades, revealing different and complex facets of a century-old institution.