Photo Essay – Sense of the Place

Janpath Janta

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 haveli. Connaught Place = White pillars. Punjabi Bagh = Punjabi families. GB Road = Sex workers. Gali Parathe Walli = Steamy parathas. Basant Lok = Barcoded consumers. Lodhi Road = Leafy trees.

Trying to get a sense of the place often translates to seeing it through the prism of its popular clichés. It is an easy exercise, but the result is shallow in wisdom and only partially true. Take a look.

Connaught Place

An Evening in Connaught Place

Kinari Bazaar

Such is Life

Blueline 520

Delhi Wallas

Chandni Chowk

Sense of the Place

Khan Market

7 pm In Khan Market

Malliwara

Sense of the Place

GB Road

Difficult Choices

Paharganj

Oh Jerusalem

Basant Lok

Barcoded Consumers

Kucha Pandit

Sense of the Place

Punjabi Bagh

Chunni Munni de Daddy

Gali Qasim Jaan

Dead Poet's House

Pratap Street

Hello Aunty

Gali Parathe Walli

Just Parathas

Turkman Gate

Ghetto Life

Select Citywalk Mall

Mall Rats

Matia Mahal

City Lite

Lodhi Road

Green Delhi

Nizamuddin Basti

One Day in the Basti

Iltutmish’s Tomb

City of Tombs