City Life – Fleeing from Nightmares, Jacobpura
On “unsolvable mind problems”. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] They can do nothing but wait. The “Baba” will return to his home here in Gurgaon’s Jacobpura—in the Greater Delhi Region—only in another hour or so. He is away…
Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – Reggae Musician ‘Delhi Sultanate’, Man Singh Road
The parlour confession. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Proust Questionnaire represents a confessional game that owes its structure to answers given by celebrated French writer Marcel Proust in two parties that he attended at ages 13 and…
City Hangout – Sunset Point, N-Block, Connaught Place
The idyllic evening spot. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi has a sometimes-fraught relationship with sunlight. Brief winters do transform the sun into welcome relief. But mostly it remains elusive because of smog. In the summertime, sunlight is,…
Mission Delhi – Rajesh, Lal Kuan
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] His black leather jacket is tattered. A stylist might call that a distressed look. Whatever, it must be very old. “Nahin, I got it two…
Atget’s Corner – 1146-1150, 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 Food – Salt Lassi, Chandni Chowk
Lassi without sweetness. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Please concede that salted lassi is a lesser-loved cousin among yogurt drinks. You’ll seldom hear friends swearing by it. And frankly speaking, the few places in Delhi serving salted lassi…
City Library – Shakespearean Jonathan Gil Harris’s Books, Hauz Khas
A vanishing world. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Yes, finally discovered! A Delhi library with arguably the best collection dealing with Shakespeare. Not at the British Council. Nor even the ample library of Karol Bagh’s Rupin Walter Desai…
City Walk – Hauz Khas Village at Midnight, South Delhi
Sensing the village life. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] How could such a small neighbourhood have so many layers? Hauz Khas Village in South Delhi is not only known for its clubs. As well as boutiques, galleries, curio…
City Hangout – Apna Bazar, Gurgaon
The market with a mouthful of sky. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Let’s be clear about this. Apna Bazar in Gurgaon, in the Greater Delhi Region, is snuggled into a building that’s seen better days. Even so. The…
Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – Jaya Jaitly, Hazrat Nizamuddin East
The parlour confession. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Proust Questionnaire represents a confessional game that owes its structure to answers given by celebrated French writer Marcel Proust in two parties that he attended at ages 13 and…
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