Mission Delhi - Leo, East of Kailash and DLF Phase II

Mission Delhi – Leo, East of Kailash and DLF Phase II

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Change isn’t easy. Though Leo may not articulate it in words. At least no words any human being can understand. He is a dog. A…

Mission Delhi - Rajkumar, South Delhi

Mission Delhi – Rajkumar, South Delhi

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] At some point or another, everybody confronts — in their own way — the damage the pandemic is causing on their life. In his case,…

Mission Delhi - Kalsang Jigme, Lajpat Nagar

Mission Delhi – Kalsang Jigme, Lajpat Nagar

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There is nobody else in his Lajpat Nagar pad. The young man is alone in this prolonged lockdown following the coronavirus pandemic. Actually, he is…

Mission Delhi - Raffaele Bergamasco, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Mission Delhi – Raffaele Bergamasco, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He coaches India’s women boxing team. He has trained boxing champion Mary Kom. He’s famous. But these days, Raffaele Bergamasco, 49, is holed up in…

Mission Delhi - Sabeeha Jhinjhanvi, Chitli Qabar

Mission Delhi – Sabeeha Jhinjhanvi, Chitli Qabar

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Sannata, utter silence—that’s her word for it. It’s around 10 at night and Sabeeha Jhinjhanvi is standing by her second-floor bedroom window. She is peering…

Mission Delhi - Lanoo, Lajpat Nagar

Mission Delhi – Lanoo, Lajpat Nagar

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] She’s the kind of busy restless soul who hardly spends any waking hours at home. So this is a particularly trying time for her. The…

Mission Delhi - Sudama, Sheetala Colony, Gurgaon

Mission Delhi – Sudama, Sheetala Colony, Gurgaon

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The first thing you notice about him is his smile. Or at least, it is so when you see him on the mobile phone screen….

Mission Delhi - Pavan Bir Anand, Sector 44, Noida

Mission Delhi – Pavan Bir Anand, Sector 44, Noida

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] On 22 March, at 5 pm, quarantined people all across India started to clap and bang their dinner thalis from their windows and balconies to…

Mission Delhi - Ram Iqbal, Pamposh Enclave

Mission Delhi – Ram Iqbal, Pamposh Enclave

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is a tailor with a footpath stall in south Delhi’s Pamposh Enclave, working with a foot-operated table sewing machine. Nothing unique about that. He…

Mission Delhi - Waris Ram, Karol Bagh

Mission Delhi – Waris Ram, Karol Bagh

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It’s so appallingly early on this cold morning, but Waris Ram is already up and about, walking along a deserted street in the west Delhi…