Mission Delhi – Rakesh Chandra, Connaught Place

One of the one per cent in 13 million. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] With a cloth tied to the end of a wooden rod, the bookseller is busy cleaning the shelves – “wooshaaaacck” goes his duster. Puffs…

City Landmark – Chanakya Cinema, 1970-2007

1970-2007 [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Last night, at 9:45 pm, I dreamt I went to Chanakya again. It seemed to me I stood by the box office that sells Rs. 30 front stall tickets, and for a…

City Landmark – Khan-i-Khana’s Tomb, Nizamuddin East

Scarred with beauty. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] A stone-paved lane hedged with marigold flowers leads to one of Delhi’s strangest monuments. The 16th century tomb of a Mughal noble, Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana, is both ugly and beautiful….

Special Report – The Delhi Walla in Jaipur

Notes from the fifth Jaipur Literature Festival. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Delhi Walla attended the fifth Jaipur Literature Festival, 2010. The five days were sunny and intense. There were singers, actors, ambassadors, college students, tourists, hippies,…

Jaipur Diary – The Final Fifth Day

Notes from the Jaipur Literature Festival. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Click here to reach the complete compilation of the Jaipur Diary His language sits lightly on his shoulders. As one of the few Hindi writers in the…

Jaipur Diary – The Engaging Fourth Day

Notes from the Jaipur Literature Festival. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Click here to reach the complete compilation of the Jaipur Diary Tina Brown, one of America’s most influential editors, is in love with the Jaipur Literature Festival….

Jaipur Diary – The Disappointing Third Day

Notes from the Jaipur Literature Festival. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Click here to reach the complete compilation of the Jaipur Diary There is no reason why The Delhi Walla shouldn’t feel lucky to be in the fifth…

Jaipur Diary – The Intense Second Day

Notes from the Jaipur Literature Festival. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Click here to reach the complete compilation of the Jaipur Diary As the only Nobel laureate in the fifth Jaipur Literature Festival, Wole Soynika – writer, poet…

Jaipur Diary – The Spectacular First Day

Notes from the Jaipur Literature Festival. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Click here to reach the complete compilation of the Jaipur Diary The first day of the fifth Jaipur Literary Festival rocked. Held in Hotel Diggi Palace, there…

Jaipur Diary – The Early Birds

Notes from the Jaipur Literature Festival. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Click here to reach the complete compilation of the Jaipur Diary 9 pm, January 20th, 2010. Clear sky, cold wind. The food is so-so but who cares…