Mission Delhi – Vinod Das, Raj Cinema Mission Delhi by The Delhi Walla - January 31, 20220 One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The ticket seller is sitting outside the cinema theatre. His chair is placed on the cozy, sunlit driveway. Romy, the dog, is lounging lazily beside him. A few men enter the cinema’s gate. The box office windows are closed. They walk straight to the seller, who takes out a sheaf of cinema tickets from his shirt pocket and starts handing them one by one, on the payment of 30 rupees. Soon, half a dozen men step inside the main door for the afternoon show, here in Gurugram’s single-screen Raj Cinema, since the 1950s Now, somebody will have to start the screening. In most other theatres, that process
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Esha Jamal, Delhi Farewell Notice by The Delhi Walla - January 30, 20220 The 269th death. [By Esha Jamal] It was On the wind of yesterday That her fragrance came to me When that closed book Fell from my hands Strewing forgotten petals Of a long pressed rose From between its pages It was then That I remembered her Eyes that yearned For once they too had dreamt But when dreams remained dreams And time kept passing They were Like everything else Disburdened From everyday And as memory Stole out From where Her hands had last Imprisoned it It was then That I remembered her For few now did And few then did Forgotten Before she was gone... Our Self-Written Obituaries invites people to write their obituary in 200 words. The idea is to share with the world how you will like to be remembered after you are gone. (May you live a long life, of course!) Please mail me
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Ameer Hamza, Gujranwala Farewell Notice by The Delhi Walla - January 30, 2022January 30, 20221 The 268th death. [By Ameer Hamza] "The life i craved for, was the life i hated most." Here lived Ameer Hamza, in the filthy streets of Gujranwala in Pakistan. He was a nerd, always immersed in books. His life was full of hopes, that he didn't hope, love that he didn't love. His favourite writer was Kafka and he was in the same conditions that were discovered by Kafka; Kafakesque. He loved poetry but always afraid that his poetical attitude was disturbing his family's dream for him. He never lived with his own will. He asked what does he want but got no answer. Fortunately, he stumbled upon a subject that was meant for him--philosophy. And the question like "who am i? What
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Pahuna, Hong Kong Farewell Notice by The Delhi Walla - January 30, 2022January 30, 20220 The 267th death. [By Pahuna] People close to her called her Pahu. Her last wish was to roam the streets of Delhi and explore the architecture and bookshops, like a free soul. She always knew she belonged there. She would watch a movie, almost everyday. Usually romance or feel-good or romcom movies. She had one hell of a talent for crying while watching almost any movie. Pahuna means ‘guest’. She was not afraid to die, but afraid that one day she would be a guest to the people close to her. In fact, she found the concept of death interesting actually. Like how each civilization had a common notion of an after-life. Like how every significant moment in one’s life reels back minutes
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Harshal Padmakar, Nagpur Farewell Notice by The Delhi Walla - January 30, 20220 The 266th death. [By Harshal Padmakar] "if only my silences could speak, they would talk endlessly about soo many things... " Harshal who was 22 years old was found dead today in his room. The cause of death is unknown, maybe he watched too many movies. He was found with a Murakami book on his lap, an Ali Sethi song playing on his phone, a movie playing on his laptop and lots of crumbled paper filled with verses from his favorite poets. Oddly enough, the entire room was smelling of roses. Harshal was a management student with the most unorganized room in the world. He was a Dreamer, who dreamt of travelling the world, making a movie, Writing a book, Singing for his lover
City Walk – Hauz Khas Village Road, South Delhi Walks by The Delhi Walla - January 30, 20220 A road as destination. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The cool breeze is blowing through the trees. The leaves stir occasionally, like a woman turning in her sleep. Though quietness is not absolute — there are sounds too — a sense of silence does linger around, imperceptibly, as if it were hiding behind a tree. Strolling aimlessly along this partially busy road is like detoxing yourself from your daily existence. The many layers that complicate one’s life are peeled away, leaving one raw and fresh. It is a wonder that no guidebook has recommended a walk along this short route. Tucked in the heart of south Delhi, it is merely exploited as a road to link Aurobindo Marg to the
City Life – Noor Muhammed & Nameless, Mathura Road Subway Life by The Delhi Walla - January 28, 2022January 28, 20220 Underground companions. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] They live together. Noor Muhammed is in his 60s. The nameless one is one year old. The first one is a human. The other is a cat. They pass their time together in a subway. Mr Muhammed sells masks and handkerchiefs in the underground. The nameless one has no known occupation. “She walks here and there, but never ventures very far from me,” says Mr Muhammed. He goes silent. It is obvious that he wants to share something, but hesitates, as if conflicted about whether to disclose a secret or not. Finally, he says in a mumbling tone, “She has a very lazy nature. She sleeps most of the time.” This afternoon, the subway is
Mission Delhi – Rajan, Gurgaon Mission Delhi by The Delhi Walla - January 28, 20220 One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] All great cities become great due to the steady addition of people from other places who make it their new home. Gurgaon in the Greater Delhi Region is no exception. Its energy comes from its migrants — some happen to be from South Korea, some from South 24 Parganas. The new residents are especially full of dynamism because they are the ones who dare to leave their homelands behind in order to shape a new life in an unfamiliar world. In turn, they end up shaping their adopted city. Manning a public garden, Guard Rajan might be one such person. He has left the most precious aspects
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Deepannita Misra, Bhilwara Farewell Notice by The Delhi Walla - January 27, 20220 The 265th death. [By Deepannita Misra] Here lies Deepannita Misra, 25, who laughed and cried a little, gulped down her tears with two shots of bitter espresso, and passed away peacefully on the morning of 22nd November. It was a terrifically mundane day. It was also her birthday. She looked good though – wearing a dark lipstick with no other signs of makeup, basking in sufficient warmth and sunlight filtering in through her hollow 2bhk rented apartment. She was hollow inside-out. Those who knew her testified that she had been embezzled out of emotions worth millions of rupees a long time ago. She revealed shortly before her death that she had fallen prey to this grave crime. They didn’t know who the culprit
Our Self-Written Obituaries – Sumaiya Arshad, Delhi Farewell Notice by The Delhi Walla - January 27, 2022January 27, 20220 The 264th death. [By Sumaiya Arshad] "We carry the tragedy, the legacy, the kindness and the sins." -Sumaiya Arshad Sumaiya was an English professor by profession and a poet in her free time. You could find her baking with her cats every evening in her small apartment that overlooked Delhi's blurry skyline. She loved going to art galleries and the city's monuments for peace and inspiration. Her house always smelled like cakes and coffee and its walls had framed roses and prints of her work. Her first poem was published when she was 17 and that's when her dream for literature was born. She published her first anthology "The Bittersweet Potpourri" at 21 and a photo book titled "I saw it all" at 25. Her