ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses conflicts around hundreds of mosques, Hindu temples and Sufi shrines in Delhi during the chaotic aftermath of the partition of BritishIndia in August 1947. In that context, the place of the sacred in (urban) society evolved into a key question of reordering state and society. Based on some specific observations related to contested boundaries between sacred and secular urban space in the context of decolonisation, forced migration and inter-religious violence, the chapter provides general insights into the meaning of sacred space in (modern) urban history. First, the sacred is not only a transitive category that arises from people’s ritual practices, but it is also a result of modern governmentality. Second, the history of the urban sacred in postcolonial societies is not only an illustration of continuities from colonial times but also demonstrates discontinuities and ruptures during decolonisation. Finally, the history of the urban sacred illustrates the interwoven character of the religious with socio-economic and political transformations of the 20th century.
