Julia Child in Delhi – Dharmender’s and Vinod’s Karhi without Dahi, Green Park Julia Child's Delhi by The Delhi Walla - August 2, 20210 The great chef’s life in Delhi. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] A dish as beloved as only comfort food can be, kadhi’s primary ingredient is dahi (yoghurt) and besan (chickpea flour). But that’s not true for Dharmender and Vinod. In their mid-30s, the two labourers are making kadhi without dahi. “Each of us earns 400 rupees everyday,” explains Dharmender. “Half of that is spent on the daily expenses… so we are skipping dahi.” Both, however, concede the central role of dahi. That’s how kadhi is made in their family homes in Raebareli, UP. “Kadhi tastes good when dahi is khatti (soury)... we use lemon instead.” This evening, the two men are preparing kadhi in their home. Having no fixed address, their living
Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – Aryak Ray’s Song on Lockdown, Palam Vihar City Poetry by The Delhi Walla - August 2, 20210 Poetry in the city. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] He’s a writer—Aryak Ray works for an ad agency. He plays the guitar. He also sings. And it’s the first time he professionally released a song he wrote and rendered— on YouTube just last week. With it, he also launched his music band (Midnite Djong) that he co-founded with schoolfriend Joydeep Banerji. Chatting over WhatsApp video from his Palam Vihar pad that he shares with his super calm dog, Dino, Mr Ray, 30, talks about how he arrived at this landmark in life. “I wrote Stealing Time in 2020, and sent it to Joy (Joydeep Banerji) in Calcutta. He composed the music. Soon, I met him at his place, and we recorded my vocals.”