I once complained to Dr Jaffery that so many of the Sufis in Old Delhi appeared to be blatant fakes. The doctor said he agreed with me, although he added: ‘But William, my friend, you must remember one thing. Fake Sufis are like any other kind of counterfeit. Forgeries only exist because the read gold is so incredibly valuable…’ (pg. 284, “City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi” by William Dalrymple)
Incidentally, if you’re interested in travelogues in general and Delhi in particular, I’ll recommend the above book wholeheartedly. Its a sensitive, gripping and intelligent introduction to modern and ancient Delhi. History has never been so interesting.
Sidharth’s Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
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