City Monument – Hijron ka Khanqah, Mehrauli
The retreat. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] A word like ‘freedom’ acquires its true meaning only to those denied it. And so do words like “quarantine’ and ‘self-isolation’, gradually getting more real to us as we experience either…
Mission Delhi – Premchand, Kamla Market
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The life of this betel leaf stall owner is marked by two special facets. First, his modest (but long-time) stall is situated directly beneath the…
Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – Arjun Sagar Gupta, Vasant Vihar
The parlour confession. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] His bedroom’s Yamaha Electone is clamouring for attention, even on Zoom. The statelier Steinway is in the drawing room, out of sight. An accomplished pianist, the enterprising Arjun Sagar Gupta,…
City Obituary – Suhana Begum, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti
Life of a woman. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Her arms were covered with bangles, her ears decked with shiny stones, and stones were adorning her fingers too. She could be heard approaching from a distance, because of…
Mission Delhi – Azim Jawed, Matia Mahal
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It’s cold, and he’s away from home. At night he misses his parents. Azim Jawed is a winter migrant from Kashmir. Like scores of Kashmiri…
Mission Delhi – Pratikansh, Paharganj and Surroundings
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The black sky’s hazy moon is easily visible through the cold smoggy air. Perhaps because of the absence of street lighting. A few folks are…
Delhi’s Bandaged Heart – On January 1, a Poem on Departure and New Beginnings, Gurgaon
Poetry in the city. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] On a cold evening, with Christmassy lights hanging from buildings, Florian Morin is standing by a footbridge in Gurgaon in the Greater Delhi Region. “I like walking around,” he says. “In 2020,…
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