City Monument – Jahaz Mahal, Mehrauli
Marooned palace. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Every year after the monsoons, this ravaged monument whose name means “ship palace” hosts music, dance and acting. It becomes the focal point of cultural activities marking Phoolwalon ki Sair, a…
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Pallavi Pundir, Dehradun
The 89th death. [Text by Pallavi Pundir; photo by DN] And just like that, Pallavi Pundir–a magnanimous friend, an unpredictable daughter and a malicious sister–has died. It wasn’t like her to pen her own obituary, for introspection was the least…
Netherfield Ball – Geeti Bhagat’s Cocktail Reception, Tees January Lane
The party secrets. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The most handsome person in the select gathering was the new Mexican ambassador. Melba Pria entered the drawing room with her long hair cascading down her back. Her multi-stringed necklace…
Metro Observed – Inside the Coaches-1, Delhi Subway
Life in the Metro. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] His eyes were closed. His right fist was wrapped in a yellow cloth. The cloth was printed all over with the names of Lord Ram and his wife Sita….
Atget’s Corner – 836-840, 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 Hangout – Ramzan Nights, Matia Mahal Bazaar
The annual blockbuster. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Picnicking year after year outside Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid during Ramzan nights is like re-reading a favourite Ghalib couplet. Everything is familiar, and yet each thing is a thrill, as…
The Delhi Proustians – 10 July, Hazrat Marcel Proustuddin’s Happy Birthday
Celebrating Marcel Proust. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] 10 July is a special date. It is the Happy Birthday of Marcel Proust, author of the seven-volume French novel À la Recherché du Temps Perdu, known to the English-speaking…
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Gayatri Jayaraman, Kodai Probably
The 88th death. [Text and photo by Gayatri Jayaraman] She objectified men, because there is more than one way to close the gender divide. When she laughed, she cried such that it was confusing to know, at any point, whether…
City Food – Jalebi Porn, Old and Famous Jalebi Walan, Chandni Chowk
The family sweeteners. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] With the sudden closure in July 2015 of the historic Ghantewala confectionery in Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, it has become more urgent to record the daily grind of the area’s…
Netherfield Ball – Sanjay Suri’s Book launch, India International Centre
The party secrets. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It was raining. The famous TV news anchor Sagarika Ghose still managed to reach the India International Center (IIC) on time. She was to stage a conversation with author and…
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