City Hangout – Library of Newspapers, Daryaganj
Celebrating the print edition. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This place may not match any preconceived ideas about public libraries. But that’s exactly what it is. No shelves, no books. Just tonnes of newspapers, all piled up in…
City Hangout – Bihar News Agency, Lakshmi Nagar
The world of Hindi books. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Sad but true. This is a ‘kadva satya’. Our Hindi-speaking metropolis is a wasteland for book lovers reading in Hindi. You’ll be searching high and low for the…
City Hangout – Prime Minister Shastri’s Home, 1, Motilal Nehru Palace
A homage to simple living. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Imagine spotting an earthen chulha (stove) in a modern kitchen, atop a gleaming counter, in the home of a former prime minister. This is 1, Motilal Nehru Palace…
City Hangout – Watching Shadow Leaves, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
Pure hypnotism. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This is a free exhibition sponsored by Mother Nature and it can immediately calm the ruffled minds, if you have the time. And it’s conveniently located on Kasturba Gandhi Road in…
City Hangout – The Mostly Empty Cafeteria, National Gallery of Modern Art
A midsummer’s day cafeteria. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It stands to reason that some Delhiwallas seek out safe havens in Nainital and New York during those blistering April/May/June days when temperatures rise to inhumane levels. Many may…
City Hangout – The Hill of Pahari Imli, Old Delhi
Trekking in the neighborhood. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Nowadays almost no one except some pedantic historian would describe Old Delhi as “hilly”. The vagaries of modern architecture mostly mask the natural hills (paharis), but exceptions happily remain….
City Hangout – Salim Tea House, Matia Mahal Bazaar
The pleasures of a hyperlocal lounge. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Students of human behavior could do worse than turning up at the Salim Tea House where all manner of men can be scrutinized. This morning two gentlemen…
City Hangout – ‘Harijan Camp’, Right Behind Meharchand Market
The hidden world. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Hardly surprising, is it, that the Smart Set has a soft spot for Meharchand Market. Who wouldn’t be tempted by those captivating silver bracelets and handcrafted artifacts, adding a little…
City Hangout – Best Stalls, Daryaganj’s Sunday Book Bazaar
Bibliophile’s paradise. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Imagine Agra without the Taj. Well, a similar horror was recently experienced by Delhi’s booklovers for whom their city’s most cherished landmark is arguably the secondhand book bazaar held every Sunday…
City Hangouts – The Pied Piper of Sector 18 Market, Noida
One man’s music. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Sector 18 Market in Noida lives up to its uninspiring name with a motley mêlée of almost everything, from fast food joints to stressed shoppers. The Delhi Walla was…
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