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DK India: DK Eyewitness 'Humayun’s Tomb' launches at Sunder Nursery

A light shower brought down the temperature in Delhi and provided an ideal setting for the open-air launch of DK Eyewitness Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin and Sunder Nursery by author, blogger and photojournalist, Mayank Austen Soofi, custodian of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah and Sufi missionary, Farid Nizami, along with author, Gillian Wright. Commissioned by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the exciting event was held at Sunder Nursery Delhi on the evening of 29 April.

The day started with a treasure hunt where four copies of the book were hidden around Sunder Nursery and clues were provided through social media posts. About six groups set out, racing against time and each other, to rack their brains and try their luck at finding the hidden treasures and once they were discovered, the elated participants shared pictures of their copy of the book on Instagram.



The special guests for the evening event were treated to a delicious assortment of food from the Nizamuddin area and drinks before they set out to the garden amphitheatre for the official launch of the book. The Director of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and noted conservation architect, Ratish Nanda took on the anchor’s role with elan. The lovely welcome address by DK India's Managing Director, Aparna Sharma, was followed by some eloquent words shared by Farid Nizami, Gillian Wright, and Mayank Austen Soofi.

The highlight of the event was a special qawwali performance by Ustad Ghulam Qadir Niazi Nizami, a renowned musician and master of the traditional Sufi music form. The soulful performance by the Nizami brothers ended with their rendition of Khwaja Mere Khwaja and Damadam Mast Kalandar as the crowd marvelled at their mastery of the qawwali art form.

The fact that all the copies of this travel guide book made available at the venue by a local bookstore were sold out was ample proof that DK had done its job of bringing these landmarks to life, providing readers with a deeper understanding of this area’s importance in Delhi's history.

cover image @Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Abhidha Lakhera & Vineet Singh