City Landmark - Maqbool Sons Tailoring Shop, Mohan Singh Place

City Landmark – Maqbool Sons Tailoring Shop, Mohan Singh Place

Founder’s story. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi wouldn’t exist as a major metro without its countless small enterprises. Like this family-owned tailoring shop launched years ago by an enterprising UP villager seeking a better standard of living…

Mission Delhi - Ghisa Ram, Regal Cinema Building

Mission Delhi – Ghisa Ram, Regal Cinema Building

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This friendly doorman at the colonial-era Connaught Place is frequently photographed by passing shoppers. And for good reason. His moustache is grand. This week, Ghisa…

City Food - Baiju Tea Stall, Naya Bazar, Gurgaon

City Food – Baiju Tea Stall, Naya Bazar, Gurgaon

Bihar calling. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Baiju Tea Stall in Gurgaon’s Naya Bazar has all the romance of standard street-side chai shacks littered across the National Capital Region—the friendly owner, the chipped kettles, the tangy scent of…

Mission Delhi - Uma Parvathy, Indian Coffee House

Mission Delhi – Uma Parvathy, Indian Coffee House

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Just a few years back, the lady from Kochi was scarcely speaking a single word of Hindi. But after living in Delhi for a while,…

City Hangout - Plant's Shade, Palika Bazaar Park

City Hangout – Plant’s Shade, Palika Bazaar Park

Summer escape. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] One of the very best places to cool off in Delhi isn’t an air-conditioned mall. Nor some lovely monument in a park offering shade. It’s not even a tree. But instead,…

Mission Delhi - Sanju Balmiki, Gurgaon

Mission Delhi – Sanju Balmiki, Gurgaon

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is mopping the floor in a billiard lounge. This is his first job in the Millennium City of Gurgaon in the National Capital Region….

City Food - Hazari Lal Jain Khurchan Wale, Kinari Bazaar

City Food – Hazari Lal Jain Khurchan Wale, Kinari Bazaar

Sweet leftover. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Khurchan means ”scraped leftovers” in Hindi. The preparation sounds simple: boil the milk, scrape off the cream as it appears on the top, and eventually mix it with “bhoora”, or powdered…