City Moment - Dog Loves Cat, Near Golcha Cinema

City Moment – Dog Loves Cat, Near Golcha Cinema

A beautiful Delhi instant. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] More than 70 years after gaining their freedom, India and Pakistan are still hostile towards each other. But they aren’t the only countries with such a tradition. Turkey and…

Mission Delhi - Sarju Gihara, Mehrauli Road

Mission Delhi – Sarju Gihara, Mehrauli Road

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Like the pages of an art-gallery coffee table book, the pavement wall consists of a series of hand-drawn paintings. One shows a woman peeking out from behind her veil. Nearby, with a setting…

Mission Delhi - Vishwanath, Kashmere Gate

Mission Delhi – Vishwanath, Kashmere Gate

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Vishwanath takes all the precautions he can to avoid being hurt. But accidents still happen, and some injuries are unavoidable. The rickshaw puller’s leg is bandaged, though he insists it’s not a serious…

City Food - Rajasthani Dahi Bhalla, Gurgaon

City Food – Rajasthani Dahi Bhalla, Gurgaon

Homemade street taste. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There’s the sweet chutney and the sour one, and the super-soft deep-fried bhalla soaked in dahi, and everything is topped with broken shards of crispy papri. The dahi bhalla here…

City Monument - The Church(es) of The Epiphany, Civil Lines, Gurgaon

City Monument – The Church(es) of The Epiphany, Civil Lines, Gurgaon

A tale of two times. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Gurgaon and New Gurgaon. In both cases the ‘old’ and ‘new’ parts stand very close to each other, and yet they are…

Home Sweet Home - Shahnawaz Khan's Rose Garden, Pahari Imli

Home Sweet Home – Shahnawaz Khan’s Rose Garden, Pahari Imli

A private paradise. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] All roses here are white, though some have a pale pink flush, as if a drop of blood had spread through their veins. This is a private garden. What makes…

City Landmark - Toilet Monolith, Deer Park

City Landmark – Toilet Monolith, Deer Park

Art in everyday world. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Recently, the mystery apparition (and subsequent disappearance) of shiny monoliths in the United States and Romania have caused shock waves of excitement. Is it the work of aliens, or…

City Food - Shabnam Restaurant, Motor Market

City Food – Shabnam Restaurant, Motor Market

The wall art. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Here in the Walled City the entire restaurant is uniquely adorned with hand-drawn paintings. This is a feast not merely for taste buds but also for the discerning eye. And…

Mission Delhi - Maan Singh, Central Delhi

Mission Delhi – Maan Singh, Central Delhi

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Shoulder bags come with zips. But his has hundreds of safety pins, for both the compartments. “This has my sone ka samaan (sleeping stuff),” says Maan Singh, walking down a central Delhi road,…

City Faith - Consoling Windows, Krishna Temple, Gurgaon

City Faith – Consoling Windows, Krishna Temple, Gurgaon

The light these times. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This unfortunate year is nearing its end. From March onwards, every life has been defined by the coronavirus pandemic. Everybody has suffered his or her share of small and…