It is in the aftermath of 1857 that one sees the beginning of the rift between the two communities which will 90 years later result in partition.

AMBREEN KHAN: What explains your passion for the Mughals... why so much of them?

As far as Mughals are concerned, my interest has always been in the culture of Delhi, which is a mixed culture. Its certainly not an exclusively Muslim culture. It is the interplay of Hinduism and Islam in Delhi which interests me. It is in the porous character, it is in the syncretism, it is in the pluralism. I don’t think of myself as someone who writes exclusively on Muslim or Mughal matters. But Delhi is the focus of my interest because it’s the place where I’ve lived for most of the last 20 years and I’m inspired by this place.

BHAWESH MISHRA: Did the policies of the colonial regime under the crown from 1858 onwards set in motion political events that led to the division between Hindus and Muslims or were the seeds sown in the events of 1857?

First of all, I should say that I am not at all a specialist on the late 19th century early 20th century so I should be very careful before making pronouncements about what happened then. What one does see though in the immediate aftermath of 1857 is the end of this composite civilization. That world ends very abruptly and completely in 1857. And what you find is that the high Mughal culture which is a mixed culture and goes out of its way to be inclusive in the later Mughal period is finished and not only finished but discredited. The Muslims have lost the dominant position. The Hindus grow very quickly in wealth.

... contd.