The great riddle.

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]

What is India Gate and what is Gateway of India?

The first monument is in Delhi and the second is in Bombay.

But there’s a greater riddle.

What is chappal and what is sandal?

Well, they are footwear and they are not shoes.

But how are they different from each other?

The riddle has finally been solved.

The Delhi High Court has ruled that woman’s footwear without a strap at the back is a sandal, and not a chappal.

The Delhi Walla will finally sleep peacefully for all nights to come.

For years, I have been walking across the city and snooping around peoples’ sandals and chappals. This photo essay, obviously, is dedicated to Lord Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Lord Justice Najmi Waziri.

Spot your sandal, spot your chappal

1a.

1.

1b.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.