Delhi is a city of extremes: extreme size, population and diversity. There are the visible temporal contrasts between the remains of architectural monuments and ruins of the Mughal times and the modern glass and steel structures increasingly present in the growing, modernizing city.

Shahjahanabad or the walled city of Old Delhi is spatially very differently mapped than the big green boulevarded New Delhi. The former is a thriving commercial area of narrow, winding streets with old houses and mosques and the latter is a geometrically prim, well planned site of official buildings including the imposing residence of the President of India. Between these two ends of the spectrum is a vibrant megalopolis of 14 million people who contribute to the daily hustle-bustle that is Delhi.

As the national capital, Delhi is privileged to host vibrant cultural events and shows that are almost always available gratis. Posters and recordings of current Hindi films abound and their rhythmic tunes serve as a rousing soundtrack, often accompanying the noise of the three wheeler auto-rickshaws, public buses and cycle rickshaws.

The opportunities for learning about the dynamics of contemporary India, inextricably tied to its many pasts, will be manifold – in the classroom and in the city at large.