Mission Delhi – Rahul, Central Delhi
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He appears every morning on this central Delhi street. And sits on the pavement, watching the passersby go by. “I’m a beggar, why to hide,”…
Mission Delhi – Manbeer Singh Negi, Apna Bazaar
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] In a crisis, he had no home to turn to. We move from our small towns and villages to make a new life—and refuge—in cities…
City Life – The Paris Bound Rooster, Near Pahari Rajaan
A meat shop immortal. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Every day Muhammed Aijaz runs his knife through some 50 chickens at hisOld Delhi meat shop. But one of them refuses to die. The pride-of-place wooden rooster, beautifully carved,…
Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – Bharatanatyam Dancer Geeta Chandran, Gulmohar Park
The parlour confession. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] These scary days, the world seems to be divided into people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and those who haven’t (yet). Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran tested positive last week….
City Series – Apoorva Chaudhry in Gurgaon, We the Isolationists (369th Corona Diary)
Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Apoorva Chaudhry] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona… and I see myself transitioning from chaos to calm. I can’t seem to comprehend exactly what transpired, but this calm is unsettling. I…
City Series – Jayabharathi Padmanabhan in San Francisco, We the Isolationists (368th Corona Diary)
Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Jayabharathi Padmanabhan] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona… and I see myself hearing the clock stop, forever suspended in the present. Haunted by a guilty past and yet left with nothing…
City Obituary – Poet Gulzar Dehlvi, Noida, 1926-2020
The passing of a time. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] New Okhla Industrial Development Authority — who would relate a place with such an unpoetic name with writers? But novelist Vikram Seth lives in this same Noida, after…
Mission Delhi – Raju Karigar, Sadar Bazar
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] In this season of losses, it is just another loss. And yet it has to be recorded. Gurgaon’s Sadar Bazar in the Greater Delhi Region…
City Series – Anisha Saxena in Faridabad, We the Isolationists (367th Corona Diary)
Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Anisha Saxena] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona… and I see madagascar periwinkles (sadabahar ke phool) glowing under the sultriness of the sun. I feel a warm gush of air kissing…
City Series – Sudhir Pratap Singh in Delhi, We the Isolationists (366th Corona Diary)
Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Sudhir Pratap Singh] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona… and I see damp Odhnas on the clothesline in my village home flowy, diaphanous drapes of yellow, red, magenta I feel the…
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