City Life – Portrait of a Marriage, Central Delhi Life by The Delhi Walla - October 30, 2022November 3, 20220 Two lives [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] One of the many things that make Delhi truly cosmopolitan is the fact that so many of its citizens are not Delhi natives. Almost everyone, or at least their parents or grandparents, comes from somewhere else. This is also true of Janaki and Santosh. The wife and husband are a two-member team of freelance labourers, and they are from Jhansi district, in UP. The couple agree with the assessment that very many labourers in the capital happen to be from their part of the world. In fact, they themselves live with a large group of colleagues, all of whom are from Jhansi. Some of the many Jhansi labourers The Delhi Walla has earlier encountered would
City Monument – Joseph Stein’s Legacy, Central Delhi Monuments by The Delhi Walla - October 27, 20220 An architect's world [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Pierced with elongated holes, this otherwise simple wall can also be perceived as a maze of air. And along a portion of the staircase, the ordinary afternoon light has miraculously condensed into a pool of pale gold. Such are the restrained splendours of Stein’s legacy,, here at Triveni Kala Sangam. This building, along with a handful of others designed by him, are most grounded and grand specimens of contemporary architecture in the entire national capital region. Last Friday witnessed the dedication ceremony of the Joseph Allen Stein Archive to the Cornell University Library in New York. The materials spanning 70 years of Stein’s career include drawings, brochures, publications photos, papers
City Faith – Gospel Hall Assembly, Connaught Place Faith by The Delhi Walla - October 25, 20220 Peace island [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The air is viscous with traffic sounds. The afternoon light is hard on the eyes. Such is the sense of the day, here at the H block Outer Circle in Connaught Place. Suddenly, one pauses by a curtained door. On pulling apart the pink drapes, another world is revealed. The hall is quiet. So quiet, as if the clocks had stopped. Rows of benches are lying on both sides, with a narrow passage going further ahead. A young man is sitting on a chair towards the far end, tapping something on a laptop. On stepping deeper into this space, calmness drips into the weary senses. The noises outside seem as remote as watching
Mission Delhi – Muhammed Sadiq, Near Jama Masjid Mission Delhi by The Delhi Walla - October 23, 20220 One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] A hotel near Jama Masjid. Sitting behind the counter, its manager Muhammed Sadiq opens his lunch box. The chicken korma, dal fry and rotis were prepared by his wife, Shahida. This lunch hour scene encapsulates the world of two Old Delhi streets, represented by the husband and the wife. Sadiq was born in Katra Hiddu. Shahida was born in Ahata Hajjan Bi. In his 40s, he has lived all his years in the same street. She spent her years in hers until their marriage in 2015. Katra Hiddu is part of Farash Khana. “Hiddu was a buzurg (elderly man) who lived a long time ago,” Sadiq says. Ahata
Mission Delhi – Manju, Outside Kasturba Hospital Mission Delhi by The Delhi Walla - October 21, 20220 One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The baby’s tiny bed is a pink polka-dotted mattress, with prints of teddy bears floating inside white clouds. The baby is wearing a mustard green jacket, and is wrapped in a pink blanket. The only visible parts are his sleeping face, and a bit of his left arm. His small fist is lying beside his peaceful face. One wonders what dreams must be unspooling behind these closed eyes. This smoggy afternoon, the baby is lying on the footpath, protected from dust, flies and dengue mosquitoes by a light pink mosquito net. “His name is Aman,” says the woman sitting beside the child. She is his mother. “He is two
From The Delhi Walla Archives – A Selection of Prints, “Somewhere in Delhi”, First Batch General by The Delhi Walla - October 19, 2022July 5, 20230 Tangible souvenirs [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] A dream come true. To share prints of the many many photos I take daily in this big and wide Indian capital. The “Somewhere in Delhi” prints are professionally executed by an excellent printer on Hahnemühle photorag308 gsm, and the selection is curated and designed by Anna Gerotto in Venice. Each print is signed and numbered by its writer-snapper—me! These tangible souvenirs are intended to carry a spirit of the work I have been doing non-stop day and night in the lanes of Delhi—since 2007! Three options as a start! Write to me for details at mayankaustensoofiarchive@gmail.com. Somewhere in Delhi 1. 2. 3.
City Nature – Saptaparni Tree in Bloom, India International Center & Other Places Nature by The Delhi Walla - October 19, 20220 Devil's shrub [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Silence, all. Suddenly—plop! Something falls. A bunch of pale green flowers is lying on the ground, here outside an old bungalow in Gurugram’s New Railway Road, close to pavement tailor Muhammed Irshad’s establishment. Lying as unwanted as a bird dropping. On looking up: a large tree is clothed with these flowers. Just as the arrival of golden yellow amaltas flowers launches the summers, the apparition of the much milder green globules of saptaparni marks the debut of winter. Curiously, in common speak it is known as shaitan ki jhad, or devil’s bush, which makes you wonder if shaitan could actually be that much of a shaitan. The namesake is so ethereal. Unlike the flowers of
City Life – Lakshman Rekha, Gurgaon Life by The Delhi Walla - October 18, 20220 Her line of "prudence." [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] In life, each one is obliged to navigate through a maze of liberties and restraints. “One learns to strike a balance between the things one can do and the things one does not do out of prudence,” says Pari Singh, who works in a design firm in Noida. A Gurgaon native, she shows her kitchen slab, pointing to a white line circling around a few bowls containing the day’s lunch (mixed veggies and parathas) and milk. “This chalk keeps the ants away. You get it from any general store for 30 rupees, and it is called Lakshman Rekha.” The name is inspired from an episode in Ramayan. While not mentioned by Adikavi
City Walk – Kucha Saad Ullah Khan, Old Delhi Walks by The Delhi Walla - October 16, 20220 A lane of beauty [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The dusty iron door is padlocked with a crude made-in-China lock. Yet looking so pretty with floral motifs. Even so, no passerby is caring for this poor beauty. Neither is anyone attentive to the fliers plastered on the walls of Kucha Saad Ullah Khan. Although, just studying the defaced walls makes it easy to crack this winding street behind Golcha Cinema. Sample some of the bills: “Both Illiterates and graduates welcome… direct recruitment as security guards “ “De-addiction center, free treatment!” “Carry six medical tests for 100 rupees—blood sugar, blood pressure, heartbeat rate, oxygen level, body temperature, body weight” “Free dance class, hip hop and Bollywood, only for boys” The lane’s friendliest landmark is sans
City Food – Master Sherbet Walla, Meena Bazar Food by The Delhi Walla - October 16, 20220 Summer's legend [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The sun is setting, and the cart is surrounded by a great number of thirsty folks. The large vessel on it is filled with icy roohafza sherbet. A young man is theatrically pouring down the red drink from a jug into the cauldron. This is the establishment of Master Sherbet Walla. Seven such carts are in Meena Bazar, the open-air market that unrolls each day in front of Jama Masjid’s eastern gateway. All are called Master Sherbet Walla. They were set up 30 years ago by a pioneer called Master Sherbet Walla. He began with just one cart, explains his son Abdul Wahid. At that time, Master Sherbet Walla was yet to be known