New Books Network

Eric Chopra, "Ghosted" (Speaking Tiger, 2026)

Feb 5, 2026
Eric Chopra, public historian and storyteller who founded Itihasology, walks Delhi’s haunted monuments. He maps spirits, jinn rituals, and why ruins collect memory. Short, vivid tales range from Jamali-Kamali’s locked tomb to Malcha Mahal’s urban legend. He probes colonial ghosts, queer readings of love, and ethical tourism in the city’s spectral landscape.
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INSIGHT

Horror Meets Public History

  • Eric Chopra combined his childhood love of horror with a discovery that Delhi's monuments spark ghost stories and curiosity.
  • He framed those stories as an entry point to public history rather than paranormal proof.
INSIGHT

Local Forms Shape Supernatural Lore

  • Chopra distinguishes jinn from revenant ghosts and shows how both adapt to local history and geography.
  • He notes recurrent Indian motifs like the white saree woman but stresses local variations shape each legend.
ANECDOTE

Devotees Petition Jinn At Firoz Shah Kotla

  • At Firoz Shah Kotla devotees bring government IDs, tie knots and ask jinn for help, then host feasts if wishes are granted.
  • Chopra observed rituals like depositing letters and returning to untie knots when problems resolved.
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