“Photography saves an image frozen in time and for that reason, an old photo will always give you a glimpse of the past,” Yuvraj Khanna says. He has painstakingly been collecting old photos of Delhi’s popular places and monuments, for his photography project that juxtaposes the past within the present.
The same old Connaught Place, India Gate, Qutub Minar are seen alongside their refreshingly younger selves in old black and white and sepia-toned photos from the 20th century.
“New Delhi – as we know it – is the 11th city of Delhi. As a result, history is always a stone throw away in this city. I always had a penchant for history and all things old, so I’ve always been curious how the city has changed over the centuries,” Yuvraj, who has spent five months on this project, said.
His photos show that it isn’t only the cityscape which has ripened with age, but it is also Delhi’s sparse population that has gotten thicker, their costumes and vehicles too have changed with age.
For the 24-year-old lawyer and photographer, a photograph provides insight into people’s lives.
“The city has with time become more representative of the country with people from different states and backgrounds, the canvas of opportunities has greatly increased with better reach of education and cultural exposure. Everything from the flyovers, the metro , the malls have all transformed the character of the city,” Yuvraj notes.
For more photos, check out his Instagram.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)