City Hangout – Prime Minister Shastri’s Home, 1, Motilal Nehru Palace Hangouts by The Delhi Walla - April 16, 20183 A homage to simple living. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Imagine spotting an earthen chulha (stove) in a modern kitchen, atop a gleaming counter, in the home of a former prime minister. This is 1, Motilal Nehru Palace where Lal Bahadur Shastri lived as prime minister, and which was later turned into both a memorial and museum, just like Indira Gandhi’s more popular book-filled home some roads away. Mr Shastri, who was PM from 1964 to 66, embodied good taste in his living arrangements, but with a lingering sense of village life, as the chulha suggests. His bedroom is shockingly austere, and includes a single iron bed. The thin mattress lies covered with white khadi bordered in green. The adjoining bedroom
City Obituary – Restaurant Captain Shamshad Ahmad, Chor Bizarre, Hotel Broadway General by The Delhi Walla - April 16, 20181 The passing of a nice man. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] A legend in his own right, this discreet Delhi restaurant captain more than merely rubbed shoulders with the favoured and famous. Shamshad Ahmad, who died recently, presided over Chor Bizzare, a Kashmiri eatery, in a career launched in 1991 as a waiter. Eventually he supervised a dozen stewards working under his gentle but exacting leadership. Ever-polite and excessively formal, his voice exuded gravitas when he shared with The Delhi Walla charming stories about luminaries who chose to dine at the Central Delhi restaurant. Once he recalled the impeccable manners of the late film actor Shashi Kapoor who instructed: “Do serve me anything you like but please serve from the heart.” Another time