City Landmark — Emilio Piacentini’s Wood Carving Shop, Venice Ghetto
The last man standing. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This frail white-haired man is among the last of his kind in Venice. Emilio Piacentini is a wood-carver in the city’s ancient Jewish ghetto, which is observing its 500th…
City Landmark – Lodhi Colony Art Installation, Mehar Chand Market
Public reviews of a public display. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Public art, so common in world cities, has been slowly finding its space in Delhi, a huge metropolis that swallows up all puny efforts. Nonetheless, any art…
City Landmark — Hem Raj Jain Clinic, Paharganj
The dream palace of a doctor. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] An elderly man is patiently looking out into the street through a curtained glass window. He is dressed in a three-piece suit, complete with a tie. The…
City Landmark – Chor Bizarre, Asaf Ali Road
A trip to Kashmir. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] If you throw a few stones standing somewhere south of Khan Market, you might not hit many Delhiwallas under a certain age, but you are likely to hit many…
City Landmark – Nini KD Singh’s The Bookshop, Jor Bagh Market & Khan Market
The portrait of a marriage. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] A lone customer steps in. Miles Davis is gently filling the hushed corners. The doorman stands erect at his post in a brown safari suit, and an elegant…
City Landmark – Chiki Sarkar’s New Publishing House, Near Kamal Nursery
A star is born. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The place is as sparse as Hemingway’s prose. There are tables and chairs, to be sure, but no unnecessary furniture. It is, however, too early to draw conclusions. This…
City Landmark – Nehru’s Red Rose, Teen Murti Bhawan
The Prime Minister’s flower. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Both Jawaharlal Nehru and Babur shared a passion for the rose. The first Mughal emperor not only composed a poem on gul, Persian for rose, but also made sure…
City Landmark – Mahatta & Co, Connaught Place
The original photoshop. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Not a moment to spare. A constant stream of customers through the door. Some wanting to get their portrait done, others their photos developed. Some inquire about cameras. Maharani Gayatri…
City Landmark – Ambedkar’s House, 26, Alipur Road
The withdrawn address. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Note down the address: 26, Alipur Road. Get off at the Civil Lines Metro station. Walk past the Oberoi Maidens Hotel. The house is on the left. The gates are…
City Landmark – Radhey Shyam’s Ironing Service, Nizamuddin East
A family tradition. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is the iron man of Nizamuddin East. Actually there are six of them in this central Delhi neighourbood. Radhey Shyam lords over C Block, which is home to writers,…
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