The former Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dixit’s pictorial book traces the evolution of Delhi through its images.
- The book titled “Dilli Meri Dilli: Before and After 1998”, beautifully traces the evolution of the Indian capital over the centuries and showcases its tremendous transformation since the beginning of the new millennium.
- The book is published by Palimpsest Publishers. It includes comments by people like Mark Tully, E Sreedharan and Sunita Narain among others.
- In her book, Sheila Dixit’s perspective towards Delhi was not as its Chief Minister but as its resident who has lived almost her entire life there. She has been the Chief Minister of Delhi for 15 years.
- The book is replete with pictures on various subjects like heritage, culture, law, gender equality, urban environment, education, sports and transport.
- Sheila Dixit believes that Delhi has today grown exponentially despite constraints.
- This kind of book was due because in the 15 years that she was in power as she wanted to pen down the changes made by her government in 15 years.
- Earlier she conceptualized the book to be from the government’s point of view but later on after losing the elections, she thought of doing it herself.
- Mentioning that art and culture were the first passion in her life, she said that her government tried its best to make a difference and meet the challenges of a growing, emerging and demanding Delhi.
- Delhi has seen exponential growth since the last decades of the 20th century till the present day’s Delhi which is beyond recognition. It has evolved into a vibrant and attractive city.
- The book contains pictorial representations of the work and development that Sheila Dixit’s government had contributed towards the city which includes the introduction of CNG buses, building rods, flyovers and underpasses, increasing the city’s green cover etc.
