Mission Delhi – Sona Devi, Near Sahibabad Village

Mission Delhi – Sona Devi, Near Sahibabad Village

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Her first name means ‘gold’ in Hindi. One morning, The Delhi Walla meets Sona Devi in a shared autorickshaw, somewhere just outside the city limits,…

Mission Delhi - Sufi the Cat, Mehrauli

Mission Delhi – Sufi the Cat, Mehrauli

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Thumri singer is seated on her writing chair. The cat is seated on the Thumri singer’s lap. The Delhi Walla is in Vidya Rao’s…

Mission Delhi - Ashutosh Tripathi, The Bookshop

Mission Delhi – Ashutosh Tripathi, The Bookshop

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He looks as solemn as a nuclear scientist. Ashutosh Tripathi is the new face at The Bookshop in Jor Bagh Market. The Delhi Walla meets…

Mission Delhi – Devi, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti

Mission Delhi – Devi, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The elderly woman is walking alone with three bags this afternoon. One in her hand, two on her back. One of the bags is actually…

Mission Delhi – S.M. Yunus Jaffery, Ganj Mir Khan

Mission Delhi – S.M. Yunus Jaffery, Ganj Mir Khan

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The historic Iran nuclear deal has gone down well in a modest home in Old Delhi. “I’m very pleased,” says S.M. Yunus Jaffery. “The sanctions…

Mission Delhi – Tippu, Chelmsford Road

Mission Delhi – Tippu, Chelmsford Road

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Everyone is walking freely but not him. He is not a human like us. One cloudy afternoon The Delhi Walla meets a very edible-looking white…

Mission Delhi – Julie, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti

Mission Delhi – Julie, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] She looks like a starving Buddha, so thin that her bones are showing. One evening The Delhi Walla meets Julie, a dog, in Hazrat Nizamuddin…

Mission Delhi – Geeta Devi, Good Earth, Khan Market

Mission Delhi – Geeta Devi, Good Earth, Khan Market

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] “Hello sir,” she warmly greets the man as he steps into the shop. Geeta Devi is probably Delhi’s only woman doorman. The Delhi Walla meets…

Mission Delhi - Asha Sood, Ramnath Patwa, Paharganj

Mission Delhi – Asha Sood, Ramnath Patwa, Paharganj

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The elderly woman suddenly stops, looks up at a private balcony and seems lost in thoughts. She then shakes her head and walks on. The…

City Notice - Important Milestone, Mission Delhi

City Notice – Important Milestone, Mission Delhi

Anniversary moment. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Delhi Walla has reached a significant landmark. Very soon I will be sharing the 100th portrait of my Mission Delhi project. Long time ago I had started this series. I…