The Nepal diary. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The devotees were sitting on the stone stairs in groups of families and friends — some were talking to each other, others were quiet. They were looking down at the…
Old Delhi cure. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Kamini Khatoon lives in Amroha, a small town near Delhi. She was suffering from body ache for many years. Ms Khatoon consulted doctors, visited hospitals, tried allopathic and homeopathic medicines….
The beautiful Delhi instant. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] One afternoon The Delhi Walla attended the funeral of a rat in the Central Delhi neighbourhood of Jorbagh. “Our dog attacked him,” the woman told me. She lives in…
Breaking the fast. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The platter consists of a jalebi, a samosa, a litchi, a banana, a sliced piece of water melon or papaya, and a glass of Roohafza sharbat. This food is served…
The Proustian self-introspection. [By The Delhi Proustians] The Proust Questionnaire represents a form of interview that owes its structure to answers given by French novelist Marcel Proust, the author of In Search of Lost Time, at two birthday parties that…
The afternoon shower. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] One afternoon in July 2013 The Delhi Walla was having green tea at Elma’s Bakery in Central Delhi’s Meharchand Market when it started to rain. I immediately called photographer Raghu…
The faces of Delhi. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] A city is not made by its buildings and bazaars, but by its people. That’s why The Delhi Walla started the Mission Delhi project in 2009. My mission is…
The magical greenhouse. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] From October to March, it is a country of roses, tulips, poppies and dahlias – all available at bargain basement prices. Government Sunder Nursery – Sunder means ‘beautiful’ in Hindi…
Feasting and fasting in Ramzan. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] The kaleji and korma are done. The khajla has been left to soak in milk. As her daughter-in-law Sumaiya slices onions for the salad, Rashida Qureshi, 50, adds rice to yakhni….
The woes of a millionaire novelist. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi-based novelist Vikram Seth was to submit the manuscript of his new novel A Suitable Girl to his publisher in June 2013. He hasn’t – according to…
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