City Hangout – Two Stalls and a Tree, Connaught Place
A perfect table for one. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There is a red letterbox in Connaught Place (CP) that you must visit. But it’s not about the letterbox. Next to it is a lush banyan tree. But…
Mission Delhi – Raj Singh, Chuna Mandi
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] You might not easily spot this graceful gent amid the hubbub of the traffic intersection. But once you do, then it is difficult to be…
City Monument – Rani Tara Devi’s Derelict Grave, Nicholson Cemetery
A resting place. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] We will never know what distresses were raging through Rani Tara Devi’s heart when she boarded a taxi at north Delhi’s Maidens Hotel, drove all the way to the Qutub…
Home Sweet Home – Tailor “Master” Javed Iqbal’s Dwelling, Chitli Qabar Chowk
A new house. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The mattress is spread across the floor. The cooking gas cylinder is in the kitchen, already connected to the double-burner gas range. Two plastic buckets are in the bathroom. All…
City Monument – Mughal-Era Pavilion, Sunder Nursery
A secret spot. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The white walls are embossed with the likenesses of arches and flowers. The outermost skin of choona — the lime plaster on the walls — is peeling off in places,…
Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – Bookseller Ajay Jain, Ansari Road
The parlour confession. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] Does he himself read such heavy-duty books? Ajay Jain deals in scholarly books on Indian history and politics. His shop—Manohar Publishers & Distributors—is frequented by scholars from India and abroad. In his 50s,…
Home Sweet Home – Abida’s Dwelling, Under Oberoi Hotel Flyover
A woman’s house. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The evening is mildly cold. Abida and Raja are at home, sitting by the fireside. Raja has their month-old son, Piraili, on his lap. Wrapped in layers of woollens, the…
City Hangout – February Light, Hazrat Sarmad Shahid Sufi Shrine
Stones of light. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The wall and the floor are covered with bright constellations — little stars and comets. But stretch as much as you can, fly as high as you want, you won’t…
Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – Dr. Esha Jamal’s’s Poem on a Delhi Afternoon, Batra Hospital
Poetry in the city. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] At the time, she was doing her Master’s (specialisation in ophthalmology) in coastal Pondicherry. One evening, after returning to her non-sea-facing apartment following another hectic day of work in the hospital, Dr…
City Hangout – Tulip Garden, Lodhi Gardens
Stuff of love songs. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] A true artist never dies. Singer Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away a few days ago, continues to be an integral part of our daily life. Multiple generations of Hindi…
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