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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: Trees of Connaught Place

Connaught Place's charm lies in its iconic columns and lush trees, including unique hybrids and massive specimens that enhance its historic atmosphere.

The architectural essence of Connaught Place lies in its hundreds of sturdy white columns that gracefully support the colonial-era colonnades of inner and outer circle. The other significant but overlooked aspect of CP’s essence is its innumerable trees. (HT)
Updated on Nov 08, 2024 05:40 AM IST

Delhiwale: In Chitli Qabar, the Amsterdam-returned

Zubair Ul Hasan reflects on his contrasting life in Old Delhi and Amsterdam, as he prepares for marriage while adjusting to a new job abroad.

This pulsating world of Old Delhi’s Chitli Qabar Chowk virtually courses through Zubair Ul Hasan’s bloodstream. (HT)
Updated on Nov 05, 2024 05:18 AM IST

Delhiwale: Ramchander’s Diwali

On Diwali, barber Ramchander lit diyas and shared insights on life, happiness, and family, reflecting on his village roots and daily struggles.

Ramchander, a pavement barber, lit up two diyas and two candles on the exact spot of the darkened tree-lined Central Delhi pave where he daily operates his stall. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 04, 2024 05:26 AM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Mahila Haat

Mahila Haat, initially a failed artisan market, has transformed into Delhi's vibrant Sunday Book Bazar, attracting thousands and preserving its literary roots.

Photographer Dayanita Singh. (HT Photo)
Updated on Nov 02, 2024 05:16 AM IST

Delhiwale: The return of Morena wale

Morena, known for its dacoit legacy and rich gajak tradition, sees stalls pop up in winter, offering a variety of flavors from authentic local recipes.

Last week, a stall surfaced in Old Delhi’s Sir Syed Road, opposite the Durga Mandir. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 29, 2024 05:02 AM IST

Delhiwale: Chai by the Qutub

Manikchand's Om Sai Ram Tea Stall in Mehrauli, near Qutub Minar, tells a tale of resilience after quitting a job, serving chai daily at just 10 rupees.

A roadside chai stall near the Qutub Minar. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 24, 2024 10:55 PM IST

Delhiwale: Graves of Mehrauli

Mehrauli, rich in history, features royal and sacred graves, including Emperor Iltutmish and Sufi mystic Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.

Mehrauli is a graveyard of various epochs of Delhi’s overlong history. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 24, 2024 05:18 AM IST

Delhiwale: A corner in the chaos

In central Delhi, a sleek skywalk offers a serene refuge amid chaos, where citizens share meals and find peace, contrasting the busy city life.

In a megapolis of millions, here’s a table for two. It is actually a bench, and this afternoon two citizens sitting on it are sharing a meal from the same plate. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 23, 2024 06:28 AM IST

Delhiwale: Winter’s tasty essence

Daulat ki chaat, a winter dessert of whipped buffalo milk and cream, debuts in Old Delhi, blending tradition and seasonal flavors.

The season’s first sighting of the frothy-white daulat ki chaat took place this Friday, close to the remnants of the Walled City’s stone walls, near Ansari Road, outside the Hindi Park. (HT Photo)
Published on Oct 21, 2024 10:55 PM IST

Delhiwale: An ode to this time of the year

Delhi's pollution looms as a young writer reflects on a suffocating city in his poem, expressing a deep, tender rage against time and existence.

The extreme pollution that strangles the capital at this time of the year is threatening to return. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 21, 2024 06:10 AM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Cotton Market

Old Delhi's Cotton Market, known for its cotton goods, connects Urdu Bazar and Chandni Chowk, featuring vibrant shops and bustling food stalls.

A parked car decked up with carpets. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 19, 2024 05:38 AM IST

Delhiwale: Rembrandt’s Dilli

As the sun sets over Charles Correa's Jeevan Bharti in Connaught Place, the building transforms into a breathtaking spectacle of light and shadow.

That’s a Charles Correa. The Connaught Place edifice, Jeevan Bharti, is gigantic, and the front facade looks like a dizzying complex network of grids. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 17, 2024 09:33 PM IST

Delhiwale: His baba’s son

Aezaan Sahil aspires to be a film actor, inspired by his father's unfulfilled writing dreams. He balances work, study, and his passion for acting.

Aezaan Sahil at Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s sufi shrine. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 16, 2024 05:42 AM IST

Delhiwale: An evening with the ironing man

Rajesh, a Delhi ironer, shares his life struggles, emphasizing work, family, and dreams for his children's education in a heartfelt interview.

Rajesh at his ironing stall. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 15, 2024 05:12 AM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Gali Salim Mohd Shah

In Old Delhi's Gali Salim Mohd Shah, sparrows thrive amidst malti vines, offering a rare moment of peace in the bustling Walled City.

A woman in black walks straight to Nawab Sahib’s gate. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 12, 2024 05:30 AM IST

Delhiwale: Khan Market’s truly moveable feast

In the 1970s, Banda Hasan, known as Khan Chacha, popularized street food in Khan Market, now a pricey area with hidden affordable eats.

The short walk-friendly stretch between the Khan Market metro station and the Market. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 11, 2024 05:32 AM IST

Delhiwale: Their bhajan circle

During Navratri, a 20-member bhajan group in Ghaziabad sings devotional songs at their temple, blending tradition and friendship in sacred music.

Seen in the photo, from left—Pushpa, Mithilesh, Rukmani, Anita , (second) Pushpa , Preeti, Ranjana, Madhu, Rekha , Upasna, Seeta , Priya (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 09, 2024 05:05 PM IST

Delhiwale: Dialogues with a young poet

As it happens, Swapnil did end up writing a poem on his immediate world, although in French, which he learned only this year.

Swapnil Mayank does most of his writing in a library in Lodhi Estate as well as in his room in Karol Bagh. (HT Photo)
Published on Oct 07, 2024 02:18 PM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Ramlila Maidan

Ramlila Maidan in Delhi hosts annual Ramlila performances, a cultural tradition reflecting history, community, and the lives of its diverse audience.

The Ramlila at Ramlila Maidan in 2023. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 04, 2024 10:31 PM IST

Delhiwale: 23 years after Stein

This Sunday marks the 23rd anniversary of architect Joseph Stein's death, celebrating his legacy through 23 key contributions to Delhi's architecture.

Joseph Stein’s modernistic designs took cues from India’s past, each consisting of a bunch of buildings fused with trees, gardens, pools. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 04, 2024 05:34 AM IST

Delhiwale: Kashmere Gate blues

Kashmere Gate’s colonnade gets a fresh blue coat, but the area’s charm is fading, overshadowed by modern businesses and memories of its past.

Kashmere Gate’s Bara Bazar is a sprawling enterprise filled with a variety of businesses. The blue is limited to its handsome colonnade that overlooks the historic St James Church. (HT Photo)
Updated on Oct 03, 2024 05:06 AM IST

Delhiwale: This way to Haveli Anwar Ali

Haveli Anwar Ali in Old Delhi blends residences and shops, with a historic gateway. Intekhab Ali reflects on change and his family's legacy amid modernity.

Intekhab Ali administers a long-time stall at the doorway. (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 28, 2024 05:40 AM IST

Delhiwale: First sighting

Saptaparnis are blooming in Delhi, notably in Connaught Place, with their fragrant flowers set to peak from mid-October to December.

Saptaparnis at B Block in Connaught Place’s Inner Circle. (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 26, 2024 10:30 PM IST

Delhiwale: Elegances taken for granted

The sandstone darwaza of Sri Digambar Jain Mandir in Old Delhi captivates despite nearby clutter, showcasing the city's rich, often overlooked doorway artistry.

The sandstone entrance of Sri Digambar Jain Mandir. (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 26, 2024 02:07 PM IST

Delhiwale: ‘Wah wah, ati sundar!’

Every second Saturday, Ghalib Academy in Delhi hosts a poetry recital with free chai and samosas, welcoming poets from diverse backgrounds.

On a longtime monthly tradition. (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 25, 2024 05:54 AM IST

Delhiwale: 5 ways of looking at Lodhi Garden

Lodhi Garden in Delhi features 12 gates, each offering unique perspectives and experiences, from picturesque views to serene spots for relaxation.

Bagheera, a Lodhi Garden resident, is enjoying the view, along with a few visitors. (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 24, 2024 06:26 AM IST

Delhiwale: The Main Bazar door

A historic stone doorway in Paharganj contrasts with modern life, echoing memories of a former school, yet remains a fragile architectural gem.

Just beside the doorway stands the 50-year-old showroom Ram Babu & Brothers, which specialises in “all school uniforms.” (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 23, 2024 05:08 AM IST

Delhiwale: The world from Kamran’s roof

Kamran reflects on his family's traditional home in the Walled City, feeling a deep calm on the roof, soon to be replaced by modern construction.

In contrast to the modern concrete blocks standing on the side, the young man’s old-fashioned house in the Walled City is a mishmash of many floors, linked by a phalanx of long and short staircases. (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 19, 2024 05:22 AM IST

Delhiwale: A mysterious CP showroom

Discover a mysterious, nearly century-old showroom in Connaught Place that sells nothing, yet holds deep historical significance and unique charm.

An excellently preserved Godrej tijori at the showroom. (HT Photo)
Updated on Sep 18, 2024 07:52 AM IST

Delhiwale: Notes from a park

Masjid Udyan in Gurugram, once bare, now features trees and a diverse crowd, from laborers to hawkers, reflecting both hope and hardship.

Facing the Jama Masjid in Gurugram’s Sadar Bazar, the public park used to be bare, forever exposed to the grey sky, but now it is crisscrossed with young shade-giving trees. (HT)
Updated on Sep 17, 2024 05:30 AM IST
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