In Anita Desai’s novel In Custody, Mirpore is depicted as a small, historical town located on the outskirts of Delhi, India. Its geographic setting is characterized by its ancient roots and the absence of a river, leading its inhabitants to rely on tanks for bathing. This physical backdrop underscores the town’s historical depth and its detachment from the modernizing influences of nearby Delhi.

Historically, Mirpore reflects the broader impact of British colonialism and the socio-cultural changes that followed. The novel is set in the early 1980s but intertwines with significant historical events such as the 1857 Mutiny, Independence, and Partition. These events shape the narrative and the characters’ experiences, particularly through the protagonist, Deven Sharma, who is nostalgic for the golden era of Urdu poetry represented by the poet Nur. Deven’s struggle with the decline of Urdu in favor of Hindi highlights the tensions between tradition and modernity, as well as the challenges of cultural preservation in post-Independence India.

Mirpore, therefore, functions not just as a physical setting but as a symbol of the enduring legacy of the past and the contemporary struggles of its people.