A NEW SPACE CELEBRATES SHAHJAHANABAD

Kathika, a new museum and cultural centre in the heart of Old Delhi, hopes to revive a lost cultural legacy

- Noor Anand Chawla

In the winding lanes of the walled city of Shahjahanabad, the humdrum of life rings out a unique melodic beat. Yet, on this balmy summer evening, a different kind of music is at play. Inside the airy courtyard of a haveli in Kucha Pati Ram, a set of percussion instruments-drums, tambourines, tablas, cymbals, etc.-build a slow and steady rhythm. Their thrum bounces off the old brick walls and high ceilings, encompassing centuries of history in their fast beats. Soon, every person in this intimate gathering is on their feet, swaying. Once the excitement has simmered down, the attendees move across the narrow slip of road to the haveli's twin. Here, under a neem tree, they partake of the delicacies Old Delhi is known for-chaat, samosas, mithai, kulfis, mohabbat ka sherbat...

The setting is the Kathika Cultural Centre (KCC), a new, non-profit space that aims to showcase the cultural heritage of Old Delhi and offer an exclusive stage for performing arts, workshops, screenings, culinary experiences and interactive panels-the kind of space that has become rare for the congested area. The purveyor of this mood is Atul Khanna, its founder.