Mission Delhi - Qurban Ansari, Hazrat Nizamuddin East

Mission Delhi – Qurban Ansari, Hazrat Nizamuddin East

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The dainty ornamental park at the B block in genteel Hazrat Nizamuddin East is ringed by trees. All day long they swell with the twittering…

Mission Delhi - Muhammed Anas, Pahari Rajaan

Mission Delhi – Muhammed Anas, Pahari Rajaan

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is 23. He has a dream. “I want to live in a house that has more than one room,” says Muhammed Anas. A bangle…

Mission Delhi - Furqan Ali, Ghalib Academy Library

Mission Delhi – Furqan Ali, Ghalib Academy Library

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He contains multitudes within himself. Furqan Ali writes verses in his journal, is a trained calligrapher in Urdu, and an archivist as well, and also…

Mission Delhi - Aditya Raj, CR Park

Mission Delhi – Aditya Raj, CR Park

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Such a vivid series of cumulous clouds. There’s also a man with a moth perched on his mouth. To a visitor at Aditya Raj’s studio…

Mission Delhi - Rajesh, Mathura Road

Mission Delhi – Rajesh, Mathura Road

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Isn’t Rajesh a man’s name? Rajesh shrugs her shoulders. “My parents named me Rajesh, I don’t know why,” she says sombrely, admitting in a surprised…

Mission Delhi - Unnamed Monkey, Hazrat Chirag Dehlavi's Sufi Shrine

Mission Delhi – Unnamed Monkey, Hazrat Chirag Dehlavi’s Sufi Shrine

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He has no known friends or relatives. Utterly alone, he seems to prefer his own company. This unnamed monkey lives in the dargah of Hazrat…

Mission Delhi - Rupkesh Kumar, Central Delhi

Mission Delhi – Rupkesh Kumar, Central Delhi

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It was a brief sleep, and a deep sleep. And a rare occurrence, for Rupkesh Kumar, 53, never sleeps during the day. But this late…

Mission Delhi - Mangey Ram, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti

Mission Delhi – Mangey Ram, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Mark the scene carefully. You rarely see it these days. Here’s the low table. It’s covered with a mat. Six small glass bottles are arranged…

Mission Delhi - Meharchand, Sadar Bazar

Mission Delhi – Meharchand, Sadar Bazar

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Jeweller Meharchand’s shop is in the Millennium City of Gurgaon. But the vibes of this small cozy establishment in the town’s Sadar Bazar goes far…

Mission Delhi - Anil Kumar, Central Delhi Roadside

Mission Delhi – Anil Kumar, Central Delhi Roadside

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It’s a secret. Nobody in the village knows that he is selling balloons in the big city. “My family believes I’m here as a house…