City Food – The World of Gur, Sadar Bazar, Gurgaon
The other sweet. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There are people who can identify a great number of birds by their names. Some have an encyclopedic insight on butterflies. Others are big on flowers. An environmentalist in Delhi…
City Moment – The Pavement Flute Concert, Central Delhi
Music of the street. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Here’s a ho-hum central Delhi pavement, complete with a snoozing dog and a free public urinal, unexpectedly bursting into live classical music. Certainly not something that happens every day….
City Monument – Muhammad Shah Rangila’s Tomb, Hazrat Nizamuddin’s Dargah
King’s grave. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He was known as ‘Rangila’, the colourful, but his grave is white. Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila‘s marble tomb lies in the central Delhi sufi shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. The…
Mission Delhi – Deepak Kumar, Connaught Place
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There are various ways of dealing with living alone, and with grief. This evening, Deepak Kumar made a rare purchase, buying a sacred book for…
City Food – Mr Gupta’s Carrot Halwa, M Block, Connaught Place
Winter treat. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It’s easy to sense the shift of seasons in Delhi. Summer starts when Amaltas trees bloom with golden yellow flowers. While the arrival of the winter in the city is registered…
Mission Delhi – Irudaya Kumar, St Michael’s Church
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The room has two tables. The smaller is placed at the center. There is barely any other furniture. This is the meager world of Irudaya…
Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri
The parlour confession. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Proust Questionnaire represents a confessional game that owes its structure to answers given by celebrated French writer Marcel Proust in two parties that he attended at ages 13 and…
City Landmark – Loke Nath & Co, Connaught Place
CP’s early draft. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Once upon a time, it was a bustling tailoring establishment. Today, Loke Nath & Co is one of the most haunting showrooms in the colonial-era Connaught Place (CP). Entering the…
Mission Delhi – Ashish Chauhan, Blue Line Metro
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Frantic evening rush hour on the Blue Line and, as you’d expect, almost every metro train passenger is hunched over their mobiles for some reason….
City Food – Anoj’s Ram Laddu, Naya Bazar, Gurgaon
A winter tale. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The snack vendor walks along a pavement, carrying a wicker basket of ram laddus on the head and a bamboo stand under the arm. This is a common sight in…
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