Mayank Austen Soofi is a writer-snapper trying to capture Delhi by heart.
Articles by Mayank Austen Soofi
Delhiwale: This way to Gali Lal Darwaza
Explore Gali Lal Darwaza in Old Delhi, featuring vibrant doorways, traditional and modern elements, and a popular paan stall run by Anil, inherited from his father.
Updated on Aug 24, 2024 05:12 AM IST
Delhiwale: Bazar’s tea pot chai
Lalchand’s tea stall in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazar has thrived since 1974 despite many closures around it, offering a stable spot for diverse patrons amidst a changing cityscape.
Updated on Aug 23, 2024 05:26 AM IST
Delhiwale: Sarmad and Azad
Maulana Azad and Sarmad Shahid's nearby tombs outside Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid reflect India's history; Azad admired Sarmad’s mystic, inclusive philosophy.
Updated on Aug 22, 2024 05:24 AM IST
Delhiwale: The constant urban companion
Old Delhi cherishes pigeons, while suburban Ghaziabad sees them as nuisances, offering protective jaalis. Yet, pigeons thrive in both areas, often fed by locals.
Updated on Aug 21, 2024 06:14 AM IST
Delhiwale: Man of time
Javed Khan sells and repairs secondhand watches in Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. He values honesty, deep friendships, and dreams of living in a bungalow. His motto: Respect time.
Updated on Aug 20, 2024 05:56 AM IST
Delhiwale: Future’s bookstore
Lakshmi Book Store in Connaught Place, specializing in occult sciences, limits customer visits to 15 minutes, a rule from Covid times. Founded in 1951, it thrives under Ashim's stewardship.
Updated on Aug 19, 2024 06:08 AM IST
Delhiwale: This way to Gali Haveli Kallu Khawas
Gali Haveli Kallu Khawas in Old Delhi is an unassuming lane with historic charm, lively businesses, and a mix of old and new, ending in pink doorways.
Updated on Aug 16, 2024 10:39 PM IST
Delhiwale: Beyond Mama’s Tea Stall
Mama Tea Stall in Gurugram's Sector 14 opened late yesterday due to Independence Day celebrations. Other notable chai stalls include ‘Jai Maa Sheetla’ in Sector 12, an unnamed stall on New Railway Road, one in Jyoti Market, another in Apna Bazar, and a small stall in Ashok Vihar Phase II.
Updated on Aug 15, 2024 10:35 PM IST
Delhiwale: Azadi planner
On August 15, suburban communities follow a routine celebration, while Old Delhi transforms into a vibrant carnival with markets, music, kite flying, and fireworks.
Updated on Aug 14, 2024 06:00 AM IST
Delhiwale: Book Bazar spoils
Delhi’s Sunday Book Bazar at Mahila Haat on Asaf Ali Road offers used books containing items like receipts, letters, photos, and tickets, preserving past lives.
Updated on Aug 13, 2024 06:20 AM IST
Delhiwale: Now showing in Mandi House
A new art installation, Natya Shastra by Nehmat Mongia, now stands at Delhi's Mandi House roundabout, adding to the art district's vibrant cultural scene.
Updated on Aug 12, 2024 05:42 AM IST
Delhiwale: This way to SN Marg (GB Road)
GB Road in Old Delhi has colonial landmarks, sex workers, and diverse shops. It’s near New Delhi railway station and Connaught Place, with historic Ajmeri Gate.
Updated on Aug 09, 2024 10:41 PM IST
Delhiwale: Man on the wall
A barefoot man lies on a pavement wall in Delhi, pondering life's struggles. Abdul Ghaffar, a dish washer, moved from Bihar seeking work, but faces theft, tension, and uncertainty.
Updated on Aug 09, 2024 05:21 PM IST
Delhiwale: The other river
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to Hindon Air Force Station amid news of events in Bangladesh. The lesser-known Hindon River has historical significance and flows through Ghaziabad.
Updated on Aug 09, 2024 05:18 PM IST
Delhiwale: His black umbrella
Pavement barber Rameshwar Thakur, near Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, gets a new umbrella for his shaving stall from Seeta Ram Bazar to shield customers from the rain.
Updated on Aug 07, 2024 06:03 AM IST
Delhiwale: Old Delhi’s rose-tinted cakes
“Beauty’s rose might never die; roses have thorns… I have seen roses damask’d, but no roses see I in her cheeks
Updated on Aug 05, 2024 05:36 AM IST
Delhiwale: Five civil steps
Gurugram trended due to heavy rains, highlighting the city's vulnerability. Explore Civil Lines, a peaceful area with historical sites and local eateries.
Updated on Aug 01, 2024 10:57 PM IST
Delhiwale: Into an electrician’s heart
Amir Bhai, known for his family's button shop, runs a repair business in Old Delhi. He dreams of flying above the city and cherishes time with his wife.
Updated on Jul 30, 2024 05:42 AM IST
Delhiwale: Kamala and Kamala and Kamalas
Delhi's place names have deep roots, like Kamala Market named after Kamala Nehru. Kamala Harris might want to visit if she becomes US president.
Updated on Jul 29, 2024 06:18 AM IST
Delhiwale: His precious punkah
Auto rickshaw driver Kuldeep Prasad uses his son's handwritten cardboard sheet as a punkah to beat the heat while waiting for customers, reflecting on his children's future aspirations.
Updated on Jul 26, 2024 06:02 AM IST
Delhiwale: Changed, unchanged
A nostalgic look at a changing Delhi lane: Barber stall gone, tea stall remains. Bougainvilleas bloom, Sonia the dog stays. Life's constants amidst change.
Updated on Jul 25, 2024 05:48 AM IST
Delhiwale: ‘Off with his head’
Hauz Khas in Delhi is haunted by headless ghosts due to its gruesome past. Monuments like Munda Gumbad and Chor Minar are dedicated to the lack of head.
Updated on Jul 23, 2024 02:29 PM IST
Tales from the crypt: An exclusive preview of Delhi’s new Mughal museum
A dagger, a throne, a chhatri and more: Take a tour of the Humayun Museum, which opens next month, through 10 of its most stunning artefacts.
Updated on Jul 19, 2024 08:22 PM IST
Delhiwale: 70 years of Delight
Delhi's oldest surviving cinema theatre, Delite, celebrated its 70th anniversary this year. With historic charm, huge hall, and famous "Maha Samosa".
Updated on Jul 19, 2024 06:00 AM IST
Delhiwale: Never let me go
Amaltas trees in Gurugram refuse to shed their golden yellow blossoms, defying the usual bloom cycle. The city is witnessing an unusual and lush display in July.
Updated on Jul 17, 2024 10:54 PM IST
Delhiwale: A room of her own
Qurratulain Hyder, a renowned writer in the subcontinent, left behind a vast collection of books and personal items, preserved in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University after her death in 2007.
Updated on Jul 17, 2024 05:50 AM IST
Delhiwale: Killing us softly with their songs
Live music in Connaught Place is a long-standing tradition, from jazz in the 1960s to Bollywood and Sufi nights today. Performers captivate crowds and carry on the legacy.
Updated on Jul 16, 2024 06:26 AM IST
Delhiwale: Monsoon frying
Delhi's monsoon charm fades with extreme weather, but pakodas remain a beloved snack. From Minto Road to Gurugram station, the love for pakodas in the rain is a classic experience.
Updated on Jul 12, 2024 05:06 AM IST
Delhiwale: In search of taaks past
Taaks, traditional household alcoves, are still found in Delhi, holding sacred items or everyday knick-knacks. They are disappearing but remain in old localities.
Updated on Jul 10, 2024 10:52 PM IST
Delhiwale: Portrait of a painter
Manoj is painting Delhi's Lal Qila on a roadside wall, part of a project to showcase UNESCO world heritage sites. He aims to finish in a few days.
Updated on Jul 09, 2024 10:15 PM IST