Picture Essay – Poverty Pornography in Sarojini Nagar General by The Delhi Walla - November 22, 200617 Mother India looking sexy in poverty pornography. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]Following a Beggar in Sarojini Nagar Market (S N), One of Delhi's Busiest Bargain BazaarsIndia is now more than just a the flavor of the season. Superstar columnist Thomas Friedman got the title of his latest bestseller The World is Flat from an Indian CEO - Nandan Nilekani of Infosys. Brangelina chose to shoot their latest film – A Mighty Heart - in Mumbai, the heart of the Indian filmdom. Most of the AIDS drugs for the world’s poor are manufactured by Cipla, a pharmaceutical firm of India. The world no. 1 steel baron, Lakshmi Mittal, holds an Indian passport. The historic Boston hotel, Ritz-Carlton, is all
Photo Essay: Reading Past and Present in Humayun’s Tomb, India’s Most Melancholic Monument General by The Delhi Walla - November 14, 20062 Walking and talking history at a world heritage site that inspired the Taj Mahal.[Pictures and text by Mayank Austen Soofi]The Fall It was a cold winter night but the sky in Delhi was unusually clear and devoid of the predictable fog. After watching the rise of the planet Venus from his library's pavilion, he prepared to leave for his private quarters. As he walked down the stairs, the muezzin started calling all the Muslims of the world to remember Allah. Being a pious believer, he stopped and was about to kneel down in respect when his foot got caught by the folds of his magnificent robes. He slipped down the stone stairs, blood dripped out from his right ear, and
Photo Essay – Time Out Jama Masjid General by The Delhi Walla - October 19, 200610 Visiting the society of Muslims in the world's greatest and grandest Mosque.[Pictures and text by Mayank Austen Soofi]Mecca has Masjid-al-Haram and Istanbul boasts of Blue mosque. The former has its ancient authenticity compromised by Petrodollar-funded air-conditioned renovations and the latter's magnificent splendor pales under the brilliant glow of the much older basilica of Hagia Sophia.Delhi's Masjid-i-Jahan Numa - the mosque commanding a view of the world - neither tolerates nor suffers such ignominies. Standing erect on a high ground, the grand mosque is the sole custodian of all that is beautiful, commanding, powerful, and historical about Old Delhi.Welcome to Jama Masjid, so called because of a large prayer congregation that gathers in its great courtyard in the Fridays or Jummas
'White Ghosts' at Red Fort: Late Evening Sufi Music Concert at a 17th Century Delhi Monument General by The Delhi Walla - October 12, 20063 Old Delhi charm; Ramadan night magic; Red Fort glitter; Pakistani pop stars' charisma; and my digicam.- by Mayank Austen SoofiSince this was Delhi, we reached Red Fort one hour after the scheduled start of the concert. It is not considered respectable in the status-sensitive society of India's capital to arrive at a venue on time. Red Fort is Old Delhi's most imposing architecture - a 17th century monument of sandstones excavated from the burning deserts of Rajasthan. Constructed during the reign of Shahjahan, the emperor who gave Taj Mahal to the world, Red Fort was the grand palace of the great Mughals from whose ornate chambers they used to rule over the immeasurable expanse of their gigantic empire in South Asia.Feeling smug and arrogant, we held our chin up high as we allowed
Live From Jantar Mantar – The Iron Lady of Manipur Comes to Delhi General by The Delhi Walla - October 9, 20061 Far away from New Delhi, beyond the heart of mainstream India, forgotten in the eastern corner of the country, close to the Burmese border, lies a troubled Himalayan province with a population of around 2.2 million people, less than even Delhi. No, we are not talking about Kashmir. This is a tragedy in the remote Indian state of Manipur.The Short Story of ManipurManipur, formerly ruled by a Raja, has been a problem state since the time it was annexed to India in 1949. Insurgents have often resorted to violence (terrorism for rest of the Indians) to demand secession from the world's biggest democracy. In 1958, Indian government introduced a special law — The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) —
Photo Essay: To Delhi or Not To Delhi, That is The Question Photo Essays by The Delhi Walla - October 4, 2006May 23, 20101 A Dutch diplomat calls Delhi filthy, but an American scholar seems more riveted than repulsed.Mr. James Mutti is a holder of a Master's degree in South Asian Studies. Mr Mutti has made three trips to India. He talked to this writer about his impressions of the Indian capital. Delhi was recently described as filthy by a Dutch diplomat. He lives in Seattle.Is Delhi Ugly or Colorful? I don't know that I've ever gone to Delhi willingly. All told, I've been there on four occasions, with my stay there adding up to about two weeks.I know there are a large number of great things about Delhi: its history, architecture, music, markets, food, nightlife, parks, mosques, temples, and the list could go
A Dutch Diplomat Calls Delhi Filthy, and Its People a Nuisance General by The Delhi Walla - October 4, 20061 A Delhi-based Dutch diplomat is apparently so frustrated being a resident of this chaotic Asian capital city that he was moved enough to confess that "New Delhi is the most miserable place I have ever lived in". The venerable diplomat expressed his explosive perceptions to the Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad.Mr Arnold Parzer, holding the innocuous title of Agriculture Councilor at New Delhi's Royal Netherlands embassy, but actually being the senior-most Dutch diplomat after the ambassador, is 63 and has been posted in the city for the last three years. However the diplomat's outburst, perhaps vented out in one of his weaker moments, was not entirely off the mark. His penetrating observation that "anything that can go wrong, does go
Book Review: Home – Chronicling the Lives of Middle Class Women of Delhi General by The Delhi Walla - August 25, 2006May 23, 20101 [Picture and Review by Mayank Austen Soofi]THE noteworthy matter of interest about Home is that it happens to be the first novel to have come out of Random House India. The binding is fine, the paper is tough and the cover picture is evocative. There is gold lace attached to a fine-looking built-in bookmark. The book, like every new book, smells of fresh wood shavings. Besides, Random House did good homework before pinning down on who ought to be the author of the first book of its newly launched Indian imprint. Manju Kapur — the author of Home — has respectable credentials. She is a professor of English Literature in the up-market Miranda House — a prestigious college for girls
Photo Essay: A Short Walk in Connaught Place Photo Essays by The Delhi Walla - August 22, 2006May 23, 20102 [Pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi. They cannot be used without his permission.]The official name of Connaught Place is Rajiv Chowk, named after India's late Prime Minister. However, it is usually called CP by Delhi Wallas. Its colonial design, built by the British masters, was modeled after the Royal Crescent in Bath - an English town known for its most famous resident Jane Austen. A premier shopping and office district, right in the heart of Delhi, Connaught Place is a necessary tourist destination.Gopaldas Bhawan at Barakhambha Traffic LightA Man Reads His Newspaper, While You Read the Brand NamesFeeding PigeonsA Peek into the White Corridors of the Inner CircleNight Life Outside Rivoli Theater
Photo Essay: How does a Delhi Walla Commute in the Times of Terrorism? Photo Essays by The Delhi Walla - August 17, 2006May 23, 20100 [Pictues by Mayank Austen Soofi]8:15 AM: On Way to Office; Bomb Warning in a Delhi Transport Corporation Bus!8:16 AM: Lurking Fear - Could This Man be a Bomber?THE END