Mission Delhi – Sanya, South Delhi Pavement
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] “My name is Sanya.” The little girl introduces herself in English. It is early evening but half of the family is already done with the…
City Hangout – a Beautiful Staircase, Janpath Market
Romancing the stairs. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Grand old staircases haven’t yet suffered the fate of the bird dodo — extinction — but they are few and far between. Elevators and escalators are gradually taking over, downgrading…
City Faith – Red & Green Colors of a Sufi Complex, Outside Jama Masjid
The lights of Sufism. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The blinking spotlight was put up just last week. It first glows red, then green. Do not confuse this for a traffic signal please. This is the new lighting…
City Food – Best Rusk, Diamond Bakery
The best tea-time dip. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Just about any Old Delhi resident will pronounce the same verdict. The very best rusk, or ‘paapey’ as it is popularly known, have always been created at the family-owned…
Atget’s Corner – 1106-1110, 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,…
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Archana Ravi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
The 197th death. [Text and photos sent by Archana Ravi] Leggings campaigner Archana Ravi died of a death curse on Saturday. She had been adamant about wearing ill-fitted leggings, and desecrating the cultural sanctity of Thiruvananthapuram streets, despite being warned…
City Monument – A Lesser Known Baoli, Matia Mahal
A step-well around the corner. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] With a mere 380 years behind it, Old Delhi isn’t all that old. (Sorry to shatter your illusions) Centuries before the Walled City was founded, it still had…
Delhi Metro – The Sunset Journey, Blue Line
The midsummer’s sunset metro line. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Over the centuries the good people of Delhi have painstakingly learned to cope with stifling summer heat. But it’s admittedly hard to form some sort of friendship with…
City Faith – Shakuntala Devi’s Shiv Temple, Paharganj
A tranquil pilgrimage. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Tranquility isn’t always easy to find in our teeming metropolis. But, of course, there’s recourse to temples. The Shiv Mandir in central Delhi’s Paharganj, for instance, is about as close…
City Hangout – Library of Newspapers, Daryaganj
Celebrating the print edition. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This place may not match any preconceived ideas about public libraries. But that’s exactly what it is. No shelves, no books. Just tonnes of newspapers, all piled up in…
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