ABSTRACT
The Qutub Minar complex is preserved as a national monument and UNESCO World Heritage site. It receives thousands of visitors daily, few of whom venture into the Mehrauli village that adjoins it. Though the complex was “monumentalised” in the 19th century and physically set apart from its surroundings, its history is closely tied to that of Mehrauli. It is undoubtedly worthwhile to study what the structures within the complex tell us about the people who built them. It is equally important to look at what meanings are assigned to the monument by those who visit it, study it, report on it and live in its close vicinity. In the latter case, it is also interesting to speculate on what impact the understanding of these historic structures has had on the history of the settlement.
