India, Nov. 7 -- A giant flowerpot is standing under the blue sign for Brijmohan Chowk. Nothing is growing in the pot. Its wide mouth is holding plastic bags, empty cigarette packs, wrappers and other rubbish. The paving around it is cracked. Cars are edging past on either side in the afternoon rush.

As you can see, dear reader, even a flowerpot can grow into something else in your beloved Dilli. This one has the air of a nihilist art installation to which the common man has been invited to contribute.

This Saturday, our weekly series exploring the present and past of Old Delhi's streets arrives at this dreadful crossing on Netaji Marg in Daryaganj. Here, you might spend enough time stuck in a long traffic jam to learn the name on the s...