The Rome of Asia

Dehli and its ruins reminded me and our resident architectural historian, Elaine Costello, of Classic Rome and post-Enlightenment European architecture. Both Rome and Delhi have so many ruins that many cannot be restored, and are now being used by the locals for modern purposes. Delhi, Rome, and Florence have all worked hard to make domes with circular holes at the very top of the dome. Both India and Europe have dealt with successive invasions and outside influences. Both Delhi and Pisa have towers that appear to lean. Both Delhi and Washington, D.C. have national malls running between government buildings and national monuments. Both Delhi and Paris have grand arches. There were so many similarities that I started to wonder whether these two cultures were really that much different. I then thought about languages, and recognized that both countries have an ancient language from which their modern languages spring, Latin and Sanskrit, and then remembered that those two languages both belong to the Indo-European group of languages. Finally, I thought about how both Europe and India were invaded then settled by Aryans, and so I conclude that the two cultures really are closer than I had first thought.

(Alex's voice) Like Rome - but on steroids and diet pills - Delhi is an alternating chaotic and inspirational city. It's ancient ruins are interspersed in a vibrant, congested metropolis. For vacationers, there is no need to take a trip to Disneyland, the city itself is an incredible blend of theme park, living history museum and scary sci-fi future. For its 16 million residents, Delhi is home, and a shot at increased access to contemporary tastes and modernity - and the capitol of a proud, cuturally rich, incredibly diverse nation of nations.