Mayank Austen Soofi is a writer-snapper trying to capture Delhi by heart.
Articles by Mayank Austen Soofi
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
Delhiwale: To Mirza with mangoes
Ghalib's love for mangoes revealed in stories from his life, emphasizing his passion for the fruit. A must-read for all mango enthusiasts!
Updated on Jul 08, 2024 05:10 AM IST
Delhiwale: Sabz Burj scoop
Sabz Burj, overlooked Mughal monument near Humayun's Tomb, believed to be tomb of Humayun's mother. Recent findings suggest royal origins.
Updated on Jul 05, 2024 06:44 AM IST
Delhiwale: Monuments of Deer Park
Bagh-I-Alam ka Gumbad in Deer Park, Delhi, teems with wildlife and history. Monuments, graves, and graffiti adorn the ancient structures.
Updated on Jul 04, 2024 06:02 AM IST
Delhiwale: Of silence and song
Ramjas Path in Daryaganj, a serene lane with pilkhan trees and unique street vendors, anticipates the return of students to the nearby school after summer break.
Updated on Jul 02, 2024 04:58 PM IST
Delhiwale: This way to Hindi Park
In Hindi Park, men lounging on concrete tracks reveal a mix of stories in Old Delhi's tranquil corner near Ansari Road. The park is a refuge for retirees and the homeless.
Updated on Jun 29, 2024 06:22 AM IST
Delhiwale: A life in Connaught Place
Rani, a widow who lost her husband and son to Covid, now sells jhumke in Connaught Place to support her family, finding solace in her work despite personal tragedies.
Updated on Jun 27, 2024 05:28 AM IST
Delhiwale: A road with a view
Bhairon Marg in Delhi showcases the stark contrast between the new Bharat Mandapam and the old Purana Qila, highlighting the city's history and evolution.
Updated on Jun 25, 2024 06:02 AM IST
Delhiwale: Dilli darshan, in extreme heat
Early morning in Delhi is a peaceful time, from bustling streets to serene tombs. The city awakens with chai stalls, temples, and vendors bustling with life.
Updated on Jun 20, 2024 04:29 PM IST
Delhiwale: Into a newsstand wale’s soul
Delhiwale Zaheeruddin runs a disappearing newsstand, opens at 6.30 am, closes at 10.30 pm, loves family holidays, mourns mother's death, admires daughter.
Updated on Jun 20, 2024 04:25 PM IST
Delhiwale: Heatwave pulped and cooled
Sip on refreshing bel juice before monsoon arrives in Gurugram's Sadar Bazar. Vendors prepare the traditional drink with care, using hand-operated mixers.
Updated on Jun 18, 2024 06:28 AM IST
Delhiwale: Print edition ambassadors
In Delhi, newspaper distributors start the day at 5am distributing papers to various neighborhoods, a tradition dating back to Partition.
Updated on Jun 17, 2024 06:06 AM IST
Delhiwale: A Joyce walla
Can fiction save a life? It did for a young “jumna paar” poet and music student in east Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase 3
Published on Jun 13, 2024 07:42 AM IST
Delhiwale: An old-fashioned food court
Gurugram's unique food court features Kebab plaza, Biscuit point, Chai adda, Bread Pakora corner, and pickle lane, all outside a mall in the old town.
Updated on Jun 12, 2024 05:48 AM IST
Delhiwale: ‘I loved you more than everyone’
Gravestones at Delhi's Christian Cemetery hold poignant inscriptions commemorating loved ones lost, expressing deep sadness and longing.
Updated on Jun 11, 2024 12:33 PM IST
Delhiwale: The latest from Khan Market
Khan Market, once a humble neighborhood with 154 shops and 75 flats, now a posh destination with luxury brands, has seen its original character fade away.
Updated on Jun 06, 2024 05:10 AM IST
Delhiwale: Her poem on heatwave
Poet Jonaki Ray navigates her first summer without her father, finding solace in writing amid the heatwave of Delhi, reflecting on grief and the state of the world.
Updated on Jun 03, 2024 05:14 AM IST
Delhiwale: An ordinary boy
Akram Ansari, a law student at Jamia, reflects on his college life in Delhi, finding joy in exploring the city's mundane aspects.
Updated on May 31, 2024 05:50 AM IST
Delhiwale: Citizen Vinod in peak heat
Delhi heatwave: Vinod Kumar sells sattu ghol on scorching streets for ₹10 per glass, providing instant energy to laborers and locals.
Updated on May 30, 2024 05:28 AM IST
Delhiwale: A door in Bulbuli Khana
A dilapidated Old Delhi doorway rich in artistic details leads to a room where two young labourers work. Despite the heat, life thrives within.
Updated on May 29, 2024 06:08 AM IST
Delhiwale: Seeing the Rashomon way
Charles Correa's Jeevan Bharti office complex in Connaught Place offers unique perspectives from different angles, revolutionizing the shopping district's landscape.
Updated on May 28, 2024 07:04 AM IST
Delhiwale: Working in extreme heat
Delhi's auto rickshaw drivers combat the scorching summer heat with creative solutions like wet cloths and cardboard roofs, taking breaks to escape the sun.
Updated on May 27, 2024 06:32 AM IST
Delhiwale: Into a bookseller’s soul
Delhi's Paharganj once had many bookstores, now only Jacksons Books remains with a rich selection of books in various languages. Deepak Dialani shares his preferences and experiences.
Updated on May 24, 2024 07:34 AM IST
Delhiwale: This way to Pahari Imli
In the heart of Pahari Imli, the legacy of Muhammed Rafi lives on through tailors at Bhai Majid's karkhana. Naseem Mirza's rich history is now carried by his descendants.
Updated on May 23, 2024 04:20 PM IST
Delhiwale: Voices from 40 plus degrees
Despite the scorching heatwave, many citizens continue working outdoors, finding ways to cope, from drinking sherbet to seeking shade.
Updated on May 23, 2024 04:12 PM IST