City Walk – Civil Lines, North Delhi & Gurugram
Double Lines. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is the balmiest of places. It is the balmiest of places. It is called Civil Lines. It is called Civil Lines. It is in north Delhi. It is further south,…
City Walk – Gali Nal Wali, Old Delhi
The too-short lane. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] This story ought to be really short and must have only three sentences. For this is about Old Delhi’s shortest street, which has just three residential addresses. You can walk…
Mission Delhi – Raghav, Connaught Place
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] At first he was—how to say it—a burger. Then, a “joker.” Now he is being himself. All three versions—call them garbs, or roop in Hindi—are…
City Walk – Patli Gali, Old Delhi
The too-narrow lane. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] You are walking nonchalantly through this severely cramped walled lane in the Walled City. Suddenly somebody approaches from the opposite direction. One of you will have to give up the…
City Food – Daulat ki Chaat, Paharganj
The winter season delicacy. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] His uplifting smile is the rich icing to the sweet lightness of his daulat ki chaat. Namaste winter, and salaam to the season’s first sighting of Old Delhi’s cold…
Delhi Homes – Windows of Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti & Elsewhere
That opening in the room. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] With an upsurge in extreme weather conditions, along with pollution, smog and dengue mosquitoes, most of us are obliged to keep our household windows curtained and shut. The…
Mission Delhi – Ashok, Somewhere in Delhi
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is late afternoon. He steps to the side of the busy street holding a glass of chai, sitting down on the low boundary wall…
City Food – Morena Gajak, Old Gurgaon
The Morena affair. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Murano in Italy is famous for its glass work. Morena in India is famous for its gajak work. Time to return to a sweet indulgence of the year past. Head…
City Faith – Chitli Qabar Dargah, Chitli Qabar Chowk
Sufi shrine, now and then. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The long, curving crack on the discoloured wall evoked the course of a river. A tiny uneven gap through the same wall disconcertingly showed the flower shop on…
City Walk – Gali Takhat Wali, Old Delhi
The street of wooden cot. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Dictionary describes it as “any place raised above the ground for sitting, reclining, or sleeping.” Basically a wooden cot, it gives its name to an Old Delhi street….
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