City Walk – Narrow Lane, Hazrat Khwaja Mir Dard Colony
A passage to life. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Delhi encompasses millions of us, nameless masses. But know better: our lives might be countless but they are as distinct, rich and profound as any epic. And they vividly…
Mission Delhi – Suraj Kumar, Sadar Bazar
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is the hawker of hawa — the breeze. Well, in a manner of speaking. For he is selling phirki, this light disk composed of…
Mission Delhi – Babar Ali, Jama Masjid, Gurgaon
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is five minutes to 2. The afternoon is no longer as hot as it were just a day back. The father and his little…
City Landmark – Central News Agency, Connaught Place
Mother of news stands. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Before he became the prime minister, Manmohan Singh was a regular. Painter MF Husain too would be sighed here. But this place in Connaught Place is more than its…
City Obituary – Mirza Yaseen Baig, Founder of Midland Bookstores
Passing of an icon. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Warm, affable, easy-going and with a crackling voice, it was easier to imagine him spending his waking hours beside his grandchildren, or beside chirpy flocks of pigeons. But his…
City Faith – Bankey Bihari Mandir, Inder Walli Galli
House of faith. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The lady in blue sari is walking down the lane of Inder Walli Galli, here in Old Delhi. At each step she pauses and takes a deep breath. She stops…
Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire – Proust Scholar William C. Carter, On Marcel Proust’s 100th Death Anniversary
The parlour confession. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] How many people do you know who have actually read In Search of Lost Time in its entirety? Marcel Proust’s French novel, À La Recherche Du Temps Perdu, has seven volumes and more…
City Library – Premchand’s Archives, Premchand Archives & Literary Center
Author’s home. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Dainty and dense, and tidy enough to be decipherable. This is his hastlipi (handwriting) in Hindi. And his likhai (handwriting) in Urdu, ditto. The writing of Premchand (1880-1936) is a sangam…
City Monument – Anonymous Ruin, Mehrauli
A sad beauty. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is there. And it is not there. Both assertions are based on ground realities. This severely damaged edifice in Mehrauli is the very essence of contemporary Delhi, where relics…
City Food – Shravan Kumar’s Tea Stall & Shiv Temple, Bhogal
A spot of refuge. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Such a soothing place, feeling so drowsy here. The elderly man in white kurta pajama is indeed nodding off. Can it be because of the easy winter light streaming…
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