Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri
The parlour confession. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Proust Questionnaire represents a confessional game that owes its structure to answers given by celebrated French writer Marcel Proust in two parties that he attended at ages 13 and…
Exclusive – The Delhi Walla Interviews the Great Emily Dickinson Scholar Professor Cristanne Miller!
On life with Emily Dickinson. [Photos by Mayank Austen Soofi, except for Cristanne Miller’s portrait] It’s so-so. The new Apple TV series on poet Emily Dickinson is trying too hard to make her look like a millennial woke modernist. But…
Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – Siddhartha Singh, Central Delhi
Poetry in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Not only a prolific poet, he’s also a busy tax lawyer. But Siddhartha Singh, chatting in a Delhi café, does suggest a greater intimacy to poetry, “even while law…
Mission Delhi – Shyam Lal, Kaka Nagar Garden
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Gardener Shyam Lal, a fan of arhar dal, is thankful he’s getting wholesome meals. That wasn’t always the case. He’s now opened his lunch box…
Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – Siddharth Sijoria, Ghaziabad
Poetry in the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This budding Delhi poet is moving to Mumbai for good, and with at least one high hope. Maybe he’ll finally meet some real poets in flesh and blood. At…
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Vivien, Manipur
The 235th death. [Text and photo sent by Vivien] when my breath has stopped and my heart has worked enough And i lay still, bury me. bury me and not cremate me because I’ve polluted the world enough bury me…
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Vishwam Prakash, Noida
The 214th death. [Text and photos sent by Vishwam Prakash] Vishwam Prakash died yesterday when he choked on a gulab jamun. He looked fulfilled and at peace in death largely because of how good the gulab jamun was. Mr Prakash…
Mission Delhi – Ramesh Kumar, KG Marg
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Guru Ravidas’s portrait on the pavement wall is decked with two yellow plastic flowers. Ramesh Kumar, a 51-year-old cobbler, had purchased the poster from Daryaganj….
City Obituary – Tea Man Muhammed Sabir, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
The end of a living landmark. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] In many ways this is just like any other January morning. Cold and sunny. But Muhammed Sabir’s tea stall in a side-lane on Central Delhi’s Kasturba Gandhi…
City Food – The Super-Romantic Tea Kettle, Om Shanti Chai Stall, Gurgaon
A chai monument. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Tea kettles are objects of beauty, especially when they become chipped and worn-out after years of daily use. Then they look as romantic as the tattered copy of a much-annotated…
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