The book provides a unique analysis of the city of Banaras and explores the city's diverse urban cultures from the 18th to 20th century. It brings together essays written by acknowledged experts in north Indian culture and history to examine the construction of diverse urban identities in, and after, the British colonial period.

Preface. Introduction. Part I: Constructing Historical Identities for the City 1. City of Negotiations: Urban Space and Narrative in Banaras Madhuri Desai 2. Material Truths and Religious Identities: The Archaeological and Photographic Making of Banaras Sudeshna Guha Part II: Histories Lost and Recovered 3. Hiding in Plain Sight: Gosains on the Ghats, 1809 William R. Pinch 4. The Lost and Small Histories of the City of Patronage: Poor Mughal Pensioners in Colonial Banaras Malavika Kasturi Part III: Architecture and Fragments of the Modern City 5. The Shadows of Modernity in Banaras Michael S. Dodson 6. A Hindu Temple of Learning: The Hybridization of Religion and Architecture Leah Renold Part IV: Literature and Urban Identity 7. Literary Modernity in the Holy City Vasudha Dalmia 8. 'The Alleyways of Banaras' and 'The Ka'aba of Hindustan': Varanasi through Banarsi Muslim Poetry Christopher Lee. Bibliography. About the Editor. Notes on Contributors. Index