Author: David Esther
Place: New Delhi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2016
Volume: with ec 8
Pages: 141
ISBN: 978-93-5029-797-1
Subject: Bombay/ Mumbai
Sub-Subject: History
Keyword: Ahmedabad, Urban Development, Modernization, City Identity
Shelf: C5R6
Accession No: B1492
Contents: Foraord, Essay, Commentary, Afterword, Postscript, Edited
Abstract: Ahmedabad, founded in 1411 AD by Sultan Ahmed Shah, has a legendary origin rooted in a tale of unexpected courage—a hare chasing away a dog on the banks of the Sabarmati River. Impressed by the scene, the Sultan decided to build a city on that very spot. Over six centuries, Ahmedabad has transformed into a dynamic metropolis where the old coexists with the new. Ancient dargahs and havelis share space with modern skyscrapers and shopping malls. Once renowned for its booming textile industry, it now stands among the world’s fastest developing cities. Despite its growth, the city bears deep social and communal divisions, replacing the physical walls of the old walled city with metaphorical ones. These divisions reflect the complex, sometimes conflicting layers of Ahmedabad’s identity. Esther David, a member of the small Bene Israel Jewish community, captures this complexity in *Ahmedabad: City with a Past*. Through her eyes, readers experience the city’s vibrant soul—its traditions, contradictions, and the lives of its diverse inhabitants. Her narrative offers an intimate journey, much like a rickshaw ride through narrow lanes, revealing a city where history and modernity clash and blend in surprising and poignant ways.