Atget’s Corner – 1181-1185, 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,…
Mission Delhi – Harishchandra, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is silently gazing at… perhaps the traffic on the road. A tree leaf falls on his shoulder. He continues to be still. Some might…
City Landmark – Civic Center, Central Delhi
The tallest building. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Here, it is partly entangled within the leafless vines of a tall pavement plant. There, it is framed within the upturned shaft of a horseless tonga. It has many other…
City Food – Seasame Platter, Sonu Gajak & Namkeen
Taste for winter. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There are many ways of telling the same story. Same goes for til. The seasame seed exists in many meetha adaptations. The sweet teeth-sticking gajak is the most common. Many…
Mission Delhi – Pankaj Kumar, a Construction Site
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Some weeks back, a bungalow in a posh neighbourhood emptied of its longtime dwellers. Overnight, blue tin barricades came up around the deserted house. Next,…
City Home – Irshad’s Residence, Near GB Pant Hospital
Home sweet home [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Here, the white cord of a mobile phone charger. There, a blue-rimmed handheld mirror. On a hook, two jackets. On the floor, a blanket. This room is an entire house,…
City Hangout – Madras Coffee House, Connaught Place
A lounge to be with yourself. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The chandelier is burning faintly. Its slight light is shining up an elderly man’s bald pate. Elsewhere, a woman is sitting alone, wiping her eyes occasionally with…
City Obituary – Ameer Dehlvi, Haji Hotel
The death of a poet. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] His life was like a love poem. He himself was a poet, and a familiar face (and voice) at the Red Fort’s nighttime poetry mushaira, held every year…
City Walk – The Lane Along Red Fort, Old Delhi
The best stroll. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Sailing into the Red Fort used to be so smooth. You would buy the ticket, queue up by the entrance and slip in. This was before the pandemic. Now that…
Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – Sweety Mamta’s Love Poem, Cyberhub
Poetry in the city. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] Cheery, chatty and confident—her friendly voice and her gently streaming batcheet are like that of a radio jockey. But then she is one of those RJs, and works in a “web radio,”…
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