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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: 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.

Rani with her wares in N Block, Outer Circle, Connaught Place. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on Jun 27, 2024 05:28 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Two people sit outside the Bharat Mandapam’s entry gate. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on Jun 25, 2024 06:02 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Delhi

Updated on Jun 20, 2024 04:29 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Delhi

Updated on Jun 20, 2024 04:25 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Delhi

Updated on Jun 18, 2024 06:28 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Print edition ambassadors

In Delhi, newspaper distributors start the day at 5am distributing papers to various neighborhoods, a tradition dating back to Partition.

Delhi

Updated on Jun 17, 2024 06:06 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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

Mukul is one of those rare Delhiwale who have read “cover-to-cover” a book universally acknowledged to be among literature’s most difficult novels—James Joyce’s Ulysses. (HT photo)

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.

Nashrr Ahmad Khan’s biscuit cart. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on Jun 12, 2024 05:48 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

At the Christian Cemetery on Prithviraj Road. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on Jun 11, 2024 12:33 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Khan Market started in 1951 with 154 shops and 75 flats. Only five of those flats exist in 2024. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on Jun 06, 2024 05:10 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Delhi

Updated on Jun 03, 2024 05:14 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Delhi

Updated on May 31, 2024 05:50 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

This is Vinod Kumar’s first stint as a sattu ghol hawker in his street vending career. Outside the summer months, he sells boiled eggs. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 30, 2024 05:28 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Delhi

Updated on May 29, 2024 06:08 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

The crowded Regal Cinema arcade. (HT photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 28, 2024 07:04 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Shiv Kumar halts his autorickshaw to drink water. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 27, 2024 06:32 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

Deepak Dialani, who founded the Jacksons Books shop in Paharga in 1996 (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 24, 2024 07:34 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

The serpentine walkways of Pahari Imli, the tamarind hill, occasionally punctuates with brief flights of staircases, chipped and broken in places. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 23, 2024 04:20 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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.

A street vendor and his customer converse during the punishing heat. (HT photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 23, 2024 04:12 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Maximum Millennium City

Nobel prize winner Alice Munro's words on complexity apply to Gurugram, where old structures like "makaan" and "bangla" reveal layers of history and modernity.

The derelict house in Sadar Bazar area is so damaged that today it is but an assortment of fragments (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 23, 2024 03:58 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Ice, in long form

Artistic souls find beauty in ordinary experiences. Delhi's shikanji vendors turn a simple drink into an art form with their ice-cold concoctions.

Delhi

Updated on May 23, 2024 06:50 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Ruskin Bond’s unchanging Dilli

Celebrating Ruskin Bond's 90th birthday! From his childhood in Delhi to his beloved hill station, his life is a tapestry of memories and stories.

Ruskin Bond at his home in Landour in Mussoorie. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 21, 2024 05:44 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: The unseen side of Sunday Book Bazar

Delhi's Sunday Book Bazar is a treasure trove for booklovers. Bookseller Manish Kapoor's home is filled with valuable first editions, cared for by the whole family.

Manish Kapoor with Rashmi, and daughter Nandini, a school student. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 17, 2024 05:44 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Man with the accordion

Accordion man statue in South Extension I plaza attracts thoughtful citizens amidst lazy dogs and discarded items. Guard complains of vandalism. Other statues from G20 Summit missing.

Tulsi Ram next to the accordion man in South Extension I. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 16, 2024 06:06 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: The Kalan Mahal saudade

The Kalan Mahal in Old Delhi holds hidden beauty in its derelict balconies, evoking a sense of saudade. A poignant reminder of a bygone era.

A balcony fenced with a metal jaali in Chandni Chowk. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 15, 2024 05:58 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Two peepal

In central Delhi, amidst a jungle of 252 tree species, two peepal trees stand regal, serving as a bus terminus and a refuge for city dwellers and travelers alike.

An upcoming hospital building is seen through foliage of two roadside peepal trees on Asaf Ali Marg. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 14, 2024 05:36 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: Rajpur Road and environs

A dilapidated bungalow on Rajpur Road in North Delhi's Civil Lines stands uninhabited, surrounded by affluent serenity and curious glimpses of local life.

Rajpur Road and its nearby avenues are swathed in affluent serenity. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 13, 2024 04:10 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: This way to Netaji Subhas Marg

Netaji Subhas Marg, from Dilli Gate to Lothian Road, is a historic road in Delhi with eateries like Moti Mahal and Mehta’s known for their iconic dishes.

Netaji Subhas Marg is named after freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 13, 2024 04:07 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: ‘Room boy’ and his world

Sunny Guest House in Connaught Place, a lasting institution, has Murari Lal as its longtime "room boy" since 1985. It continues to survive amid changing times.

The Sunny Guest House is more than fifty years old. The upper-floor lodge is a lesser-known but lasting CP institution. (HT Photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 13, 2024 04:04 PM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

Delhiwale: The zila Ghaziabad Amaltas

Zila Ghaziabad holds a rare oasis with two trees, including an amaltas in bloom. The empty lot faces real estate development, symbolizing disappearing green spaces in Delhi.

Zila Ghaziabad is no desert. It is full of trees and a river. (HT photo)

Delhi

Updated on May 09, 2024 06:40 AM IST

ByMayank Austen Soofi

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Mayank Austen Soofi

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sip on refreshing bel juice before monsoon arrives in Gurugram's Sadar Bazar. Vendors prepare the traditional drink with care, using hand-operated mixers.

In Delhi, newspaper distributors start the day at 5am distributing papers to various neighborhoods, a tradition dating back to Partition.

Can fiction save a life? It did for a young “jumna paar” poet and music student in east Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase 3

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.

Gravestones at Delhi's Christian Cemetery hold poignant inscriptions commemorating loved ones lost, expressing deep sadness and longing.

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.

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.

Akram Ansari, a law student at Jamia, reflects on his college life in Delhi, finding joy in exploring the city's mundane aspects.

Delhi heatwave: Vinod Kumar sells sattu ghol on scorching streets for ₹10 per glass, providing instant energy to laborers and locals.

A dilapidated Old Delhi doorway rich in artistic details leads to a room where two young labourers work. Despite the heat, life thrives within.

Charles Correa's Jeevan Bharti office complex in Connaught Place offers unique perspectives from different angles, revolutionizing the shopping district's landscape.

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.

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.

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.

Despite the scorching heatwave, many citizens continue working outdoors, finding ways to cope, from drinking sherbet to seeking shade.

Nobel prize winner Alice Munro's words on complexity apply to Gurugram, where old structures like "makaan" and "bangla" reveal layers of history and modernity.

Artistic souls find beauty in ordinary experiences. Delhi's shikanji vendors turn a simple drink into an art form with their ice-cold concoctions.

Celebrating Ruskin Bond's 90th birthday! From his childhood in Delhi to his beloved hill station, his life is a tapestry of memories and stories.

Delhi's Sunday Book Bazar is a treasure trove for booklovers. Bookseller Manish Kapoor's home is filled with valuable first editions, cared for by the whole family.

Accordion man statue in South Extension I plaza attracts thoughtful citizens amidst lazy dogs and discarded items. Guard complains of vandalism. Other statues from G20 Summit missing.

The Kalan Mahal in Old Delhi holds hidden beauty in its derelict balconies, evoking a sense of saudade. A poignant reminder of a bygone era.

In central Delhi, amidst a jungle of 252 tree species, two peepal trees stand regal, serving as a bus terminus and a refuge for city dwellers and travelers alike.

A dilapidated bungalow on Rajpur Road in North Delhi's Civil Lines stands uninhabited, surrounded by affluent serenity and curious glimpses of local life.

Netaji Subhas Marg, from Dilli Gate to Lothian Road, is a historic road in Delhi with eateries like Moti Mahal and Mehta’s known for their iconic dishes.

Sunny Guest House in Connaught Place, a lasting institution, has Murari Lal as its longtime "room boy" since 1985. It continues to survive amid changing times.

Zila Ghaziabad holds a rare oasis with two trees, including an amaltas in bloom. The empty lot faces real estate development, symbolizing disappearing green spaces in Delhi.

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