Home Sweet Home - Rachna Jain's House, Gali Maata Wali

Home Sweet Home – Rachna Jain’s House, Gali Maata Wali

A slice of haveli. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The most beautiful part of her house is the bedroom window. One afternoon The Delhi Walla enters the home of Rachna Jain in Old Delhi’s Gali Maata Wali. Ms…

Our Self-Written Obituaries – Khadeejah Gibran Raja, Medina, Saudi Arabia

Our Self-Written Obituaries – Khadeejah Gibran Raja, Medina, Saudi Arabia

The 122nd death. [Text and photo by Khadeejah Gibran Raja] In memory of Mrs. Khadeejah Gibran. She did her living! Climbed mountains, flew hot air balloons, traveled from Rome to China, played Bach, enjoyed Dostoevsky, and lived on sushi. Married…

Photo Essay – The Empty Banquet Hall, Pahari Bhojla

Photo Essay – The Empty Banquet Hall, Pahari Bhojla

Scenes of silence. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The blue-robed chairs are neatly arranged around tables that are covered with white clothes. This must be the setting for a formal sit-down dinner but there is no one. One…

Our Self-Written Obituaries – Simran Jagdev, Ashoka University

Our Self-Written Obituaries – Simran Jagdev, Ashoka University

The 121st death. [Text by Simran Jagdev; photo by Srutanjay Narayanan] Simran Jagdev, 24, was found dead in room 615, Women’s Residence at Ashoka University. She was one of the 200 fellows, touted to be the brightest minds in the…

City Notice - Gravedigger Allah Hu is Dead, Batla House Graveyard

City Notice – Gravedigger Allah Hu is Dead, Batla House Graveyard

Death of a man. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The elderly gravedigger Allah Hu died on 25 April 2016. The details of his life are not known. The Delhi Walla had taken his portrait in August 2007 at…

City Hangout - Café Goethe, Max Mueller Bhavan

City Hangout – Café Goethe, Max Mueller Bhavan

The dead place. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The wall-sized menu chart is still there on the wall. It shows the same beloved dishes–macaroni masala veg, chilli chicken with rice, muffin, and brownie. One night The Delhi Walla…

City Monument – Baolis, Step Wells of Delhi

City Monument – Baolis, Step Wells of Delhi

The water resorts. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The wet sari clinging to her skin, Zeenat Begum is washing herself in cool water. The pool is covered with Kikar leaves. “It’s my hamam,” says the elderly woman. Picking…

Atget’s Corner – 916-920, Delhi Photos

Atget’s Corner – 916-920, Delhi Photos

The visible city. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi is a voyeur’s paradise and The Delhi Walla also makes pictures. I take photos of people, streets, flowers, eateries, drawing rooms, tombs, landscapes, buses, colleges, Sufi shrines, trees, animals, autos, libraries, birds,…

City Style - A Conference of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay's Saris, India International Center

City Style – A Conference of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay’s Saris, India International Center

The handwoven world. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There, blue with red border. Here, green edged with orange. And now walks in a landscape patterned with paisley. One evening The Delhi Walla enters a room peopled with handloom…

City Food - Kallu Mian Nihariwalle is Dead, Unchi Masjid, Old Delhi

City Food – Kallu Mian Nihariwalle is Dead, Unchi Masjid, Old Delhi

The legendary nihari cook is no more. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Old Delhi’s legendary cook Kallu Mian Nihariwalle died on 18 April, aged 60. He was famous for his nihari, the delicious Mughal-era meat stew that is…