In several ways, Delhi is a living historical text — its past and the present are in constant dialogue. The city’s layered biography, the role of successive empires in shaping its contours, the socio-political upheavals that have left their mark on the lives of its residents, and the negotiations between inherited traditions and contemporary realities have been the subject of several studies. Scholars of urbanisation are also familiar with the ways in which the metropolis expanded by absorbing surrounding rural areas. What is less widely understood, however, is how this process of urbanisation has shaped Delhi’s socio-cultural texture. Ekta Chauhan’s Sheher Mein Gaon: Culture, Conflict and Change in Urban Villages of Delhi is a compelling exploration of this neglected dimension in the story of India’s capital. Most people who have lived in Delhi for a long time would be familiar with neighbourhoods where narrow lanes, irregular building layouts, Sufi shrines, temples, gurdwaras and monuments coexist with stylish boutiques, restaurants, cafés and guesthouses, shopping centres, design studios, art galleries and even digital start-ups. These areas were …