City Secret – Bollywood Seller, Ballimaran General by The Delhi Walla - May 30, 20099 The Delhi walla's pretension in writing makes me want to lodge a bullet in his balls - Blogger Nimpipi, the woodchuck chucks GO STRAIGHT TO MORE STORIESContact mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com for ad enquiries.Selling Shah Rukh in Ghalib’s territory.[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]Mr Arif Khan’s business establishment stands a few steps away from Ghalib’s last haveli in Ballimaran, an Old Delhi neighborhood best known for being the address of... well, Ghalib’s last haveli. Ironically, Mr Khan’s cart has no book by Ghalib. That doesn’t embarrass him - “I’m illiterate, can’t read,” he says. Ghalib-lovers might beat their chest but then how many in this city read him? Mr Khan has other knick-knacks that will make you forget the Delhi’s
Photo Essay – Big City Loneliness Photo Essays by The Delhi Walla - May 28, 2009October 12, 201017 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 a silhouette in Central Park, a broken soul at Nizamuddin dargah. Loneliness is a coolie in a railway station, a society lady in a living room. It is even a bird, bitch, or kitten. It is also a beggar, also a best-selling author. Here’s the proof. Mirza Ghalib's Tomb, Nizamuddin Basti Rooftop, Old Delhi Living Room, Malcha Marg Outside a mandir, Kailash Colony F-block, Connaught Place Matia Mahal, Near Jama Masjid Lake-side, Lodhi Garden N-block, Connaught Place Pavement, Road (Unknown) N-block subway, Connaught Place Auto, Near ITO Crossing N-block, Connaught Place Living Room, Sujan
City Classifieds – Book Search for Shakespeare General by The Delhi Walla - May 26, 200911 The Delhi walla's pretension in writing makes me want to lodge a bullet in his balls - Blogger Nimpipi, the woodchuck chucks GO STRAIGHT TO MORE STORIESContact mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com for ad enquiries.The Delhi Walla needs a special copy.[Text by Mayank Austen Soofi; picture by Marina Bang]I’m looking for The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Not just any copy.I spend most of the day and night walking around in the city, armed with a camera, a notepad and, usually, a book. Unfortunately, when it comes to Will, I could either carry him or handle my camera, not both.To get rid of this Catch 22 situation, I seek a small paperback edition of the Complete Works. It should ideally be tiny enough to fit
City Guest – Lychees in Delhi General by The Delhi Walla - May 25, 20096 The Delhi walla's pretension in writing makes me want to lodge a bullet in his balls - Blogger Nimpipi, the woodchuck chucks GO STRAIGHT TO MORE STORIESContact mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com for ad enquiries.They stay here for two months.[Text and picture by Mayank Austen Soofi]Even as Chinese goods have become a year-round sight in Delhi, one Chinese-origin product still makes its guest appearance only for two months in a year — May and June. I am not talking about switches and watches, but the sweet, round lychees. Trust Delhiites not to let go of this annual event, even though at the time of writing this piece, lychees are yet not that visible save on a thela or two. In early May, 2009, I
City Times – The Connaught Place Facelift General by The Delhi Walla - May 23, 20098 The Delhi walla's pretension in writing makes me want to lodge a bullet in his balls - Blogger Nimpipi, the woodchuck chucks GO STRAIGHT TO MORE STORIESContact mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com for ad enquiries.Botox shot for Delhi's heart.[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]Without creating any noise, hype, fuss or traffic jams, central Delhi is re-inventing itself. From Platform No.1 of New Delhi Railway Station and Connaught Place's C-block to Gole Market, the entire area, as on May, 2009, is in the midst of a makeover. If the outer façade of the railway station looks toothpaste white, then many portions of the colonial Connaught Place structures are at present hidden behind scaffolding. Connaught Place – also known as CP or Rajiv Chowk –
City Life – A New Yorker in Mayur Vihar Life by The Delhi Walla - May 22, 2009May 22, 20100 An expat on the wrong side of the Yamuna. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Not all expats live in the steel bubbles of south Delhi. Meet Ms Rachel Tanzer. A New Yorker from 1993 to 2008, she is now a Delhiite living ‘on the wrong side of the Yamuna’. Her address: Samachar Apartments, Mayur Vihar. Outside, the doorbell doesn’t work. Inside, the sofas, the beds, the dining table and everything else is not Ms Tanzer’s, but the landlord’s. Though the book on the coffee table – At Home in India – is her property. She purchased it from a homeless man in New York - on the corner of Avenue B and 3rd street – just when she was offered
Capital Guest – Mr Bond in Delhi General by The Delhi Walla - May 21, 2009April 30, 20115 A beloved author's links to this city. [Text by Mayank Austen Soofi; picture by Sunil Saxena] Everybody loves Mr Ruskin Bond, the children's writer who celebrated his 75th birthday on May 19th, 2009. Born in Kasauli, brought up in Simla, Jamnagar, Dehradun and Mussoorie, Mr Bond has been living in Landour in the Himalayan province of Uttarakhand, since the 60s. But he does have a strong connection with Delhi — because this is where the business is. He comes to Delhi frequently on the invitation of his publishers. But Mr Bond, despite being one of the most renowned authors in the country, is not one to seek the luxury of Delhi's five-star hotels. "I've stayed in big hotels of big cities for a day
Photo Essay – Amaltas Trees, Hailey Road Nature by The Delhi Walla - May 19, 2009May 26, 201517 The best part of Delhi summers. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is always good when the temperature crosses the 40-degree mark. It is then that amaltas flowers start blooming and mind you, they remain in full bloom only during the months of May and June. So if you happen to be in Delhi during this time of the year, just leave your air-conditioned room and hit the road — Hailey Road, that is. This quiet stretch of a road near Connaught Place is, at the time of writing this piece, glowing on both sides in a spectacular sprinkling of gold. Thanks to the amaltas tree (Cassia fistula L.). But why should you care? "In peak summer, the sky is hazy grey, the
Capital Note – The Delhi Walla Gets a Sponsor General by The Delhi Walla - May 18, 20098 The Delhi walla's pretension in writing makes me want to lodge a bullet in his balls - Blogger Nimpipi, the woodchuck chucks GO STRAIGHT TO MORE STORIESContact mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com for ad enquiries.A reader has paid for this blogsite's flickr account.[Text by Peter Saal who has sponsored The Delhi Walla's flickr picture pro account for the year 2009-2010; picture by Mayank Austen Soofi]It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a young man in possession of a great many talents might be in want of some external support and encouragement.It gives me a great deal of pleasure to bring this aspect of Mayank Austen Soofi's work to the attention of a public who I hope appreciates his views and insights of a city
City Wonder – The Kite Flier of Nizamuddin Basti General by The Delhi Walla - May 17, 20096 The Delhi walla's pretension in writing makes me want to lodge a bullet in his balls - Blogger Nimpipi, the woodchuck chucks GO STRAIGHT TO MORE STORIESContact mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com for ad enquiries.The office peon's magic hour.[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]Can you fly kites? If not, be envious of kite-flier Mr Raja. His family runs a tea stall adjacent to an unknown tomb in Nizamuddin Basti, a neighbourhood that’s older than Old Delhi. Above this stall is his house, and above the house is his rooftop, where I’m right now, tapping this piece. Mr Raja is standing next to me, flying his kite. While still in his night pajamas, he is acting like he is the king of his rooftop,