Mission Delhi – Syed Haider Raza, Hauz Khas Enclave

One of the one per cent in 13 million. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] On February 22nd, 2009, a few hours before his 88th birthday celebration, to be held in The Lalit hotel, Syed Haider Raza is struggling…

The Independent View – On Mission Delhi

Praise for the project. [Text by The Independent‘s Andrew Buncomb; picture by Mayank Austen Soofi] The UK-based Independent‘s Asia Correspondent Andrew Buncombe wrote about the Mission Delhi project of The Delhi Walla on the newspaper’s website. Go where it was…

Photo Essay – Sense of the Place

In love with clichés. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Paharganj = Foreign tourists. Kinari Bazaar = Narrow streets. Khan Market = Rich-looking people. Turkman Gate = Ghetto Muslims. Select Citywalk = Mall rats. Gali Qasim Jaan = Ghalib’s…

Mission Delhi – Muhammad Aslam, Nizamuddin Basti

One of the one per cent in 13 million. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] “When I was a child, my parents took care of me. Now it’s my turn for they are old and need care,” says Muhamamd…

City Season – Palika Bazaar Park, Connaught Place

Short and beautiful. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] The sky is blue, the grass is wet and the flowers are blooming. Delhi’s strangest and shortest season – from mid-February to mid-March – has begun. Neither hot, nor cold,…

Sujan Singh Park Diary – My Life with Khushwant Singh

Author Sadia Dehlvi on Delhi’s legendary writer. [Text by Sadia Dehlvi; pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] If you ask me about the women in author Khushwant Singh’s life, I would say I am the only one. That’s how special he…

Mission Delhi – Deen Dayal, Safdarjung Enclave

One of the one per cent in 13 million. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] A firecracker goes up into the cold night sky and burst into a shower of sparkles. “That must be from a wedding celebration,” garbage…

City Region – Kamla Market, Central Delhi

Asia’s big air-cooler bazaar. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] It’s a Dickensian sight. The driveway through the entrance gate is rutty. The clock on the clock tower doesn’t work. Men pee on the boundary wall. Mechanics drill holes…

Dateline Stockholm – The Delhi Walla Enters the Nobel Prize Club

The blogger’s photography gets recognition. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Delhi Walla has got the Nobel Prize for literature. Well, almost. A picture taken by me has been put up in the official website of the Nobel…

Mission Delhi – Sumanta Roy, Khan Market

Mission Delhi – Sumanta Roy, Khan Market

One of the one per cent in 13 million. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] “Where’s the doorman?” Outside the entrance of Sidewok, a dimly lit Chinese eatery in Delhi’s upscale Khan Market, Sumanta Roy refuses to go in…