City Moment – Birthday Woman and Marcel Proust, Nizmauddin East

The beautiful Delhi instant. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] One evening The Delhi Walla was sitting at the drawing room of a society hostess in Nizamuddin East when a young woman entered the house. She was wearing a…

Delhi Metro - JLN Stadium Station, Near Lodhi Road

Ghost of the games. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is 10 years since Delhi Metro Rail Corp. (DMRC) ran its first train. Most Delhiwallas have grown to think of Metro stations as places to push each other…

The Friday Times Review – On Nobody Can Love You More

Life in a red light district. [By Raza Rumi] Raza Rumi discussed Nobody Can Love You More: Life in Delhi’s Red Light District, a book by The Delhi Walla in the Lahore-based weekly The Friday Times. Click here to read…

City Moment – The Bougainvillea Eater, Lodhi Road

The beautiful Delhi instant. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] One evening The Delhi Walla saw bougainvillea vines on Lodhi Road. The pink flowers were falling down on the pavement. Underneath, a man was performing his prayers. His coloured…

City List - Mughal Kings, First to Last

Delhi by list. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] The Mughal dynasty gave 19 rulers to Hindustan. It was the fifth, Shah Jahan, who established his capital in Delhi. The Delhi Walla gives you the entire list of Mughal rulers, from Babur,…

City Books - Red Light Chat on YouTube, Chennai

Discussing the book on GB Road. [By Mayank Austen Soofi] In February 2013, as part of the The Hindu Lit for Life literature festival, The Delhi Walla was invited to Chennai to talk about his book Nobody Can Love You…

Mission Delhi - Achhuta Nandan, Prithviraj Marg

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is sitting still. The Delhi Walla sees him on Prithviraj Marg, an avenue in the central part of the city, which is lined on…

Photo Essay – The Delhi Beards, Around Town

The hairy portraits. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Delhi Walla is a keen devotee of the beards of Delhiwallas. Some men, thanks to their long flowing beards, look like spiritual brothers of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. A…

The Financial Express Review - On Nobody Can Love You More

Life in a red light district. [By Sukalp Sharma] Sukalp Sharma discussed Nobody Can Love You More: Life in Delhi’s Red Light District, a book by The Delhi Walla in The Financial Express. Click here to read it on the…

City Food – Julia Child Makes Tomato Pappu in Dwarka

The great chef’s life in Delhi. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] Meet the Julia Child of Dwarka, an expansive settlement of residential apartments, bleak-looking malls and many many metro stations. In her 30s, Ruchira Hoon lives with her…