City Obituary – Restaurant Captain Shamshad Ahmad, Chor Bizarre, Hotel Broadway
The passing of a nice man. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] A legend in his own right, this discreet Delhi restaurant captain more than merely rubbed shoulders with the favoured and famous. Shamshad Ahmad, who died recently, presided…
Julia Child in Delhi – Italian Diplomat Elettra Verrone Cooks Her Perfect Pasta, Jor Bagh
The great chef’s life in Delhi. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Narrowing her eyes, she says, slowly and carefully, emphasizing each word, “Miscook the pasta and all is spoiled.” The Delhi Walla is at Elettra Verrone’s kitchen. A…
City Hangout – Watching Shadow Leaves, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
Pure hypnotism. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This is a free exhibition sponsored by Mother Nature and it can immediately calm the ruffled minds, if you have the time. And it’s conveniently located on Kasturba Gandhi Road in…
City Obituary – Old Delhi’s Living Encyclopedia, Naseem Mirza Changezi, Dies at 108, 1910-2018
Death of a landmark. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Naseem Mirza Changezi, born in 1910, died on 5.30 pm, 12 April 2018, at his home in the Walled City neighbourhood of Pahari Imli. He was ill since some…
City Hangout – The Mostly Empty Cafeteria, National Gallery of Modern Art
A midsummer’s day cafeteria. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It stands to reason that some Delhiwallas seek out safe havens in Nainital and New York during those blistering April/May/June days when temperatures rise to inhumane levels. Many may…
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Amrit Khanna ‘Nobody’, Lucknow
The 192nd death. [Text and photos sent by Amrit Khanna ‘Nobody’] We wish to inform to the few who may wish to know that Amrit Khanna ‘Nobody’ is no longer among us. He was a nobody at workplace, a loser…
Mission Delhi – Kishni Thadani, Mayfair Gardens
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] At age 102, Kishni Thadani may well be the oldest person in India regularly playing rummy, doing it every afternoon. At 2 pm every day,…
City Monument – The Ascent of Humayun’s Tomb, Central Delhi
The top of the monument. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The place is very breezy, and so quiet that you can hear the kites flapping their feathers. For a brief moment, you may even dream of getting a…
Atget’s Corner – 1101-1105, Delhi Photos
The visible city. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi is a voyeur’s paradise and The Delhi Walla also makes pictures. I take photos of people, streets, flowers, eateries, drawing rooms, tombs, landscapes, buses, colleges, Sufi shrines, trees, animals, autos, libraries, birds,…
Julia Child in Delhi – Professional Cook Archana Das Cooks the Bengali Panchmishali Subzi in Her Home Kitchen, Chilla Village
The great chef’s life in Delhi. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Here is a brief account of a day in the life of Archana Das, a 26-year-old working woman. 5.30 am. Alarm rings on the mobile phone. Ms…
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