Photo Essay – The Heartbeat of Delhi

Connaught Place after 8 pm. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] To listen to Delhi’s heartbeat, make a round of the Inner Circle (or Outer Circle) in Connaught Place. Do it after 8 pm. Don’t walk inside the corridor…

Photo Essay – Sense of the Place

In love with clichés. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Paharganj = Foreign tourists. Kinari Bazaar = Narrow streets. Khan Market = Rich-looking people. Turkman Gate = Ghetto Muslims. Select Citywalk = Mall rats. Gali Qasim Jaan = Ghalib’s…

Photo Essay – Basant Celebrations, Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah

Colour me yellow. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] On January 19th, 2010, the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya was all yellow. It was the eve of Basant Panchmi, the day that marks the arrival of spring. Hence yellow,…

Photo Essay 2010 – In Search of Lost Time

On the New Year’s eve. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] In 2009, The Delhi Walla captured a few Delhiwallas while they were searching for the lost time. There they were – in Connaught Place, Nizamuddin Basti, Chitli Qabar,…

Photo Essay – Season’s Greetings, Bhikaji Cama Place

Lest we forget. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Tuesday, December 29th, 2009. A cold, windy evening. Bhikaji Cama traffic light. A street performer. The little girl is barefoot. Please wish her a happy New Year. Wish her too

Photo Essay – Traffic Jam, Kasturba Gandhi Marg

The carefree hours. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] The cop has surrendered. The traffic lights are not working. The scooters, cars and buses are not moving. You are no longer caring for your appointment. This must be the…

Photo Essay – Women Are Not Allowed Inside Nizamuddin Dargah

They say it’s the tradition. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Women are not allowed inside Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi’s principal sufi shrine. While they could pray in the courtyard, the women are denied entry into the tomb-chamber of…

Photo Essay – Will in the World

Chasing Delhi’s most popular historian. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Five evenings after the formal launch of his book Nine Lives – In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, author William Dalrymple (Will, if you please) was…

Photo Essay – Delhi@Night

It’s dangerous, but beautiful. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi is considered an unsafe city at night. They say that the instant the sun sets in Janakpuri, Connaught Place’s Outer Circle starts getting crowded with sex workers. While…

Photo Essay – Big City Loneliness

1 in 13 million. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] In this crowded city, loneliness is hardly elusive. It is sitting on the steps of Rajauri Garden metro station, crouching on the grassy grounds of Lodhi Garden. It is…