The Broken Script by Swapna Liddle (Hardcover)

Swapna Liddle’s The Broken Script: Delhi Under the East India Company and the Fall of the Mughal Dynasty, 1803-1857is a 2022 non-fiction book that explores the period in Delhi’s history following the capture of the Mughal capital by the British East India Company in 1803.

The book focuses on the following:

• The “hybrid half-century” that followed the capture of Delhi, a period when the Mughal Empire and the East India Company coexisted in an uneasy power struggle.
• The decline of the Mughal dynasty and the rise of the British East India Company as the dominant power in India.
• The impact of British rule on Delhi, including the destruction of much of the city and the attempts to rebuild and revive it.
• The lives of ordinary Delhi residents during this time of upheaval.

Liddle uses a combination of meticulous scholarship and vivid storytelling to bring this complex and fascinating period in Indian history to life.

Here are some of the key takeaways from The Broken Script:

• The capture of Delhi by the British East India Company was a turning point in Indian history.
• The decline of the Mughal Empire was a long and gradual process, not a sudden event.
• British rule in India had a profound impact on Delhi, both positive and negative.
• The lives of ordinary Delhi residents were significantly affected by the political and economic changes of the time.

The Broken Script is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the history of Delhi, the Mughal Empire, or British rule in India.