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Mayank Austen Soofi

Mayank Austen Soofi is a writer-snapper trying to capture Delhi by heart.

Articles by Mayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Oh Rangila re!

Rangila, a lesser-known Mughal emperor, ruled Delhi from 1719-48, known for his colorful lifestyle and cultural resurgence, now rests in a neglected tomb.

Dargah pilgrims outside the grave chamber’s arched entrance are walking to-and-fro with no regard for Rangila (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 27, 2024 06:22 AM IST

Delhiwale: A citizen in Chawri Bazar

Anand, a 65-year-old labourer from UP, shares his struggles with aging, income, and the impact of the Ghagra river on his farming life.

Anand, 64, a farmer from Bahraich who works as a labourer in Chawri Bazar. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 25, 2024 10:04 PM IST

Delhiwale: Paradise regained

Sheeren Bhawan in Old Delhi offers a rare white gajar halwa, made from sunheri gajar, showcasing rich tradition and craftsmanship in winter.

The rare dessert is in fact sighted only at this pre-partition mithai shop in Old Delhi’s Chitli Qabar Chowk. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 24, 2024 05:04 AM IST

Delhiwale: ‘Dukan’ fit to print

Akhbar ki Dukaan in Ghaziabad, run by Kaptan Singh, offers a nostalgic newspaper experience amidst digital news dominance, reflecting on the value of print.

The roadside shop is crammed with all the English and Hindi dailies that pour into Delhi afresh every morning. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 22, 2024 09:30 PM IST

Delhiwale: The morpankhi wala

Taxi driver Digvijay Nath Shukla uses a peacock feather for good vibes, values family, and shares insights on life, culture, and hard work.

Digvijay Nath Shukla has been in Delhi since 1987. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 17, 2024 05:14 AM IST

Delhiwale: Good gur guide

In Delhi's Pahari Imli, stall owner Aqeel shifts from jaggery sherbet to diapers in winter, as fresh gur varieties flood local markets.

It is during the brief Delhi winter when scores of groceries in the two Sadar Bazars of Delhi and Gurugram (in photo) start to stock many kinds of sweet-tasting jaggery. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 16, 2024 05:34 AM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Gali Sheesh Mahal

In Gali Sheesh Mahal, sunlight reveals a quaint lane with a historic residence, community dogs, and locals sharing stories, embodying a vibrant neighborhood life.

A dog in Gali Sheesh Mahal. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 13, 2024 10:26 PM IST

Delhiwale: The CP twins

Identical twins Anshul and Ankur share a deep bond despite their separate lives, reflecting on their unique connection and familial experiences.

Anshul (left) and Ankur (right) in the outer circle of Connaught Place. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 13, 2024 05:00 AM IST

Delhiwale: This season of sweetness

Raju, a beloved shakarkandi vendor in Old Delhi's Tiraha Behram Khan, continues a 30-year tradition, offering sweet potatoes as winter sets in.

Raju with his shakarkandi. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 10, 2024 05:30 AM IST

Delhiwale: The changing life of a chef

Ranjeet Chaudhary, once a chef at Delhi's popular Gunpowder, now works as a housekeeper in an Airbnb, hoping to return to restaurant kitchens.

Ranjeet Chaudhary. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 09, 2024 05:04 AM IST

Delhiwale: Raju’s biskut machine

In a bustling Delhi bazaar, hawker Raju sells fresh nankhatai biscuits from his elaborate cart, a mobile bakery attracting locals during winter.

Raju’s nankhatai cart has a large wood-fired stove/oven he calls ‘biskut machine’. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 06, 2024 05:04 AM IST

The Dilli Gate vendor

Nizam, a street snack seller in Delhi, copes with severe winter pollution affecting his health, yet continues to thrive in the bustling city despite challenges.

Nizam, a young street snack seller. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 04, 2024 05:20 PM IST

Delhiwale: A road divider

As winter arrives, Delhi's homeless shift from sleeping on the road divider to a temporary night shelter, seeking warmth from the cold.

The road divider on Asaf Ali Road. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 05, 2024 05:42 AM IST

Delhiwale: Ali’s Amaltas

As winter arrives, an Amaltas tree on Mathura Road stands bare, reflecting Delhi's cycle of bloom and decay, while kiosk worker Ali notes, “No change” in his life.

It was purely by accident that Ali’s shirt happened to be of the same colour as the flowers. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 03, 2024 05:52 AM IST

Dehliwale: Saraswati from Spain

Victoria, a 70s Spanish woman living in India, embraces Hinduism and shares her life views over lunch, valuing freedom, empathy, and happiness.

Victoria grew up in Andalusia in Spain. (HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 02, 2024 06:11 AM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Gali Good Luck

Kucha Chelan in Old Delhi, once a site of massacre, now features Good Luck businesses and serene spots, reflecting a rich yet tumultuous history.

The street has Good Luck Tailors, Good Luck Tea Stall and Good Luck Hair Salon. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 30, 2024 05:40 AM IST

Delhiwale: Monuments to the blue

In this season of pollution, to look for any blue in the sky is a wasted pastime

Nili Masjid in Hauz Khaz enclave
Updated on Nov 29, 2024 12:18 PM IST

Delhiwale: The brief bio of ‘Albela ji’

Akash "Albela," a farmer from Bihar, turned to poetry after heartbreak. Now in Delhi, he shares his story and sings about lost love, finding joy in family.

Having a new person in life helped Akash ‘Albela’ recover from the melancholy. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 28, 2024 05:58 AM IST

Delhiwale: Mirdard’s carrom players

In Khwaja Mirdard Basti, a small carrom club offers a cozy escape for locals, including musicians, amid a congested, daylight-deprived neighborhood.

The table is just wide enough to accommodate a carrom board. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 27, 2024 06:52 AM IST

Delhiwale: Lenin’s tomb

The Russian House library in Delhi offers a rich collection of Russian literature, including rare Soviet-era books, evoking a unique cultural experience.

The library at Russian House, a Russian government enterprise, is in Delhi’s heart. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 25, 2024 05:08 AM IST

Delhiwale: Portrait of a mahila

Yasmeen Begum, the sole woman bookseller at Mahila Haat, shares her hard work ethic, life challenges, and values in a candid interview.

Yasmeen Begum. (HT Photo)
Published on Nov 21, 2024 10:37 PM IST

Delhiwale: Culling poetry out of commutes

Jasbir Chatterjee, a busy Delhi citizen, finds inspiration in her daily commute, reflecting on life and loneliness in her poignant poem.

Citizen Abhay Kumar who feeds stray dogs every night in his central Delhi locality. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 21, 2024 03:46 PM IST

Delhiwale: To Tolstoy with love

On Tolstoy's 114th death anniversary, his influence on Gandhi and India's cultural ties to Russia are celebrated at Delhi's Russian studies center.

Delhiwale: To Tolstoy with love
Updated on Nov 20, 2024 05:20 AM IST

Delhiwale: Ode to Dilli ka Khana writers

Madhur Jaffrey's cookbook on Delhi cuisine was named one of the 25 most influential cookbooks by The New York Times, celebrating its cultural impact.

Photo shows Sadia Dehlvi in her kitchen, snapped around the time she published her book. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 18, 2024 10:02 PM IST

Delhiwale: A subway soul

Elderly subway guard Noor and his cat are missing. New guard Akbar takes care of the cat, who now roams freely, while Noor is hospitalized.

Akbar is the new guard at the subway. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 18, 2024 06:14 AM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Kucha Pati Ram

Kucha Pati Ram in Old Delhi preserves its architectural heritage amidst decay, featuring a temple and renowned sweet shop, reflecting the area's rich history.

Kucha traditionally referred to any lane where the dwellers exercised the same occupation. And Pati Ram… well, neither shoe repairer Sonu, nor nankhatai seller Heera Lal, or chai stall owner Praveen, could tell anything precise about the man who gave his name to the street. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 15, 2024 10:49 PM IST

Delhiwale: CP soulful

The revamped terrace garden above Palika Bazar in Connaught Place offers a blend of urban life and serenity, inviting diverse visitors to enjoy its new charm.

The garden above the underground Palika Bazar—sometimes called Palika Bazar terrace, as well as terrace garden. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 15, 2024 05:52 AM IST

Delhiwale: Paharganj’s chai world

Paharganj's vibrant tea culture features iconic stalls like Shailain’s and Bhola Tea, offering unique brews and experiences in a lively hotel district.

There’s a 30-year-old tea establishment with no fixed address. The elderly Tony hawks all day long, walking to-and-fro the Main Bazar street, carrying two chai flasks and a bag filled with paper cups. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 14, 2024 02:16 PM IST

Delhiwale: Portrait of a storyteller

Faizan, a young storyteller from Delhi, shares his journey of friendship and writing, blending Hinglish to engage youth, with a story on smoking's impact.

Hookup se Mohabbat, a story that Faizan is reading aloud from his mobile to Asad and Hammad. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 11, 2024 10:17 PM IST

Delhiwale: Kalu, Rambo, Bambi, Pogo and Poonam

Poonam feeds four dogs daily at Delhi's Tibetan Market, finding joy in the routine despite her busy life as a businesswoman.

Feeding the four Janpath dogs is Poonam’s daily routine for eight years. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 11, 2024 05:20 AM IST
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