Banaras : urban forms and cultural histories / editor, Michael S. Dodson.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [234]-244) and index.

City of negotiations : urban space and narrative in Banaras / Madhuri Desai -- Material truths and religious identities : the archaeological and photographic making of Banaras / Sudeshna Guha -- Hiding in plain sight : Gosains on the Ghats, 1809 / William R. Pinch -- The lost and small histories of the city of patronage : poor Mughal pensioners in colonial Banaras / Malavika Kasturi -- The shadows of modernity in Banaras / Michael S. Dodson -- A Hindu temple of learning : the hybridization of religion and architecture / Leah Renold -- Literary modernity in the holy city / Vasudha Dalmia -- 'The alleyways of Banaras' and 'The Ka'aba of Hindustan' : Varanasi through Banarsi Muslim poetry / Christopher R. Lee.

"The book presents a rich and surprising account of the recent history of the north Indian city of Banaras. Supplementing traditional accounts, which have focused upon the city's religious imaginary, this volume brings together essays written by acknowledged experts in north Indian culture and history to examine the construction of diverse urban identities in, and after, the British colonial period. Drawing on fields such as archaeology, literature, history, and architecture, these accounts of Banaras understand the narratives which inscribe the city as having been forged substantially in the experiences of British rule. But while British rule transformed the city in many respects, the essays also emphasize the importance of Indian agency in these processes. The book also examines the essential ambiguity of modernization schemes in the city as well as the contingency of elements of religious narrative. The introduction, moreover, attempts to resituate Banaras into a wider tradition of urban studies in South Asia. The book will be of interest to not only scholars and students of north Indian culture and urban history, but also anyone looking to gain a deeper appreciation of this remarkable, and complex, city."--Provided by the publisher.