Mission Delhi - Renu Prajapati, Near Gurgaon Bus Stand

Mission Delhi – Renu Prajapati, Near Gurgaon Bus Stand

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This e-rickshaw driver is a woman. Such a sight is rare in Delhi, and more so across the city border here in conservative Haryana. “Yes,…

Mission Delhi - Ghisa Ram, Regal Cinema Building

Mission Delhi – Ghisa Ram, Regal Cinema Building

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This friendly doorman at the colonial-era Connaught Place is frequently photographed by passing shoppers. And for good reason. His moustache is grand. This week, Ghisa…

Mission Delhi - Uma Parvathy, Indian Coffee House

Mission Delhi – Uma Parvathy, Indian Coffee House

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Just a few years back, the lady from Kochi was scarcely speaking a single word of Hindi. But after living in Delhi for a while,…

Mission Delhi - Sanju Balmiki, Gurgaon

Mission Delhi – Sanju Balmiki, Gurgaon

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is mopping the floor in a billiard lounge. This is his first job in the Millennium City of Gurgaon in the National Capital Region….

Mission Delhi - Vinod's Rani Devi, West Delhi

Mission Delhi – Vinod’s Rani Devi, West Delhi

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] His lunch spot is always the same. It’s a table for one, in the snug passengers’ seat of his auto-rickshaw now safely parked along a…

Mission Delhi - Chhaya, Construction Site, Gurgaon

Mission Delhi – Chhaya, Construction Site, Gurgaon

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Her name is supremely ironical, at this moment in the day at least. The young woman is working as a labourer under the searing noon…

Mission Delhi - Bhoora the Goat, Old Delhi

Mission Delhi – Bhoora the Goat, Old Delhi

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Downing a cold drink is Bhoora’s own way of dealing with the scorching heat in this Old Delhi alley. As a goat, he’s certainly gotten…

Mission Delhi - Muhammed Alam, Outside Hope Apartments, Gurgaon

Mission Delhi – Muhammed Alam, Outside Hope Apartments, Gurgaon

[Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Summer isn’t a friendly season in our part of the world. But tailor Muhammed Alam’s four children aren’t insisting that he get an AC for their one-room home in Gurgaon village in Gurgaon…

Mission Delhi - Bijendra Data, Gurgaon

Mission Delhi – Bijendra Data, Gurgaon

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is the memento of an earlier age. Bijendra Data’s family legacy consists of the typewriter. “My father had a typewriting training institute in our…

Mission Delhi - Kewal Singh, Paharganj

Mission Delhi – Kewal Singh, Paharganj

One of the one percent in 13 million. One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] His is an old and very, very rare specialty. Kewal Singh is now applying some final touches…