This was a period when most princely states in Gujarat and western India did not have printing presses.

Sheikh Mohammad, under the pen-name Manzoor, wrote at a time when the first printed books were coming out in India. That Urdu would grow into a pan-Indian language was also not in his wildest imaginations.

The demarcations between writer, printer and publisher were often blurred in the literary world of Indian languages in the 20th century. Premchand’s Saraswati Press illustrates how difficult it was to manage multiple roles.

Hussonally Abdullaly thrived In the face of stiff competition from the British presses and his own fellow, the Dawoodi Bohras.

Unlike most travellers, Rask had not come to India in search of riches. He was seeking wealth of a different kind: the overflowing riches of Asiatic languages which he hoped would help him understand the source and antiquity of European languages.

A thriving trade between India and Africa brought many slaves to the city.

While Ghalib eventually gave up most of his vices and luxuries from the early phases of his life, his regular evening drink stayed with him till the very end.