India, March 19 -- The news from Iran remains troubling and tragic. In recent weeks, this page has reflected on Delhi's long and layered connections with that land-bonds that mostly predate the modern Iranian state. Delhi's Mirza Ghalib composed his finest poetry in Persian, a language that once linked cultures across regions. As with shared histories, these bonds also bear instances of rupture. Acknowledging those does not negate the good in the shared past.

A souvenir of this complexity stands discreetly in Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk. From the roof of the Shahi Sunehri Masjid, the Persian ruler Nader Shah oversaw one of Delhi's most devastating episodes, 287 years ago. The anniversary falls this Sunday, offering a chance to reflect on t...