
16/03/2025
“Not quite sure if it’s a modern city or a medieval village, Delhi sits happily in between”.
Authored by Supriya Sahai, ‘Delhi on the Road’ explores the paradox of a city caught between stillness and motion. Published in 2010, this collection of black and white illustrations captures the essence of Delhi through the eyes of the author, who, over a period of eighteen months, documented its streets, monuments, and everyday scenes. The result is a balanced portrayal of the city, showing it as both frozen in time and constantly evolving.
The drawings serve as a visual template, allowing readers to journey through the quiet neighbourhoods of North Delhi, the vibrant lanes of Old Delhi, and the rapidly transforming spaces of South Delhi and Mehrauli. Whether depicting the city’s map, shop signs, crowded streets framed by monuments, or common sights such as markets, cattle and commuters, through her observations, the illustrator turned fleeting moments into lasting art. The work spurs one to reflect on their own interactions with the city, recalling personal stories connected to the locations outlined.