Articles by Mayank Austen Soofi
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.
![(Photos: Sanchit Khanna / HT) (Photos: Sanchit Khanna / HT)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/19/150x84/-Photos--Sanchit-Khanna---HT--Keith-Hunter-_1721399731643.jpg)
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".
![Cinema hall staffers Mukti Ram, Manoranjan Kumar, Ravi Bauri, Ashish Chaurasiya, Rahul Bauri, Gopal Yadav. (HT Photo) Cinema hall staffers Mukti Ram, Manoranjan Kumar, Ravi Bauri, Ashish Chaurasiya, Rahul Bauri, Gopal Yadav. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/18/150x84/Cinema-hall-staffers-Mukti-Ram--Manoranjan-Kumar--_1721327204278.jpg)
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.
![Ali sits under an amaltas tree on a Mathura Road pavement. Ali sits under an amaltas tree on a Mathura Road pavement.](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/17/150x84/Ali-sits-under-an-amaltas-tree-on-a-Mathura-Road-p_1721237000226.jpg)
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.
![Writer Qurratulain Hyder’s material remains preserved at Jamia Millia Islamia University. (HT Photo) Writer Qurratulain Hyder’s material remains preserved at Jamia Millia Islamia University. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/16/150x84/Writer-Qurratulain-Hyder-s-material-remains-preser_1721153212238.jpg)
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.
![A young man plays a guitar in a Connaught Place corridor. (HT Photo) A young man plays a guitar in a Connaught Place corridor. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/15/150x84/A-young-man-plays-a-guitar-in-a-Connaught-Place-co_1721068254072.jpg)
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.
![The most legendary among the classic pakoda-and-rain places in Delhi is the Khandani Pakodawala (since 1962) at Ring Road Market in Sarojini Nagar. (HT Photo) The most legendary among the classic pakoda-and-rain places in Delhi is the Khandani Pakodawala (since 1962) at Ring Road Market in Sarojini Nagar. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/11/150x84/The-most-legendary-among-the-classic-pakoda-and-ra_1720719627977.jpg)
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.
![A dairy had its taak claimed by two glasses. (HT Photo) A dairy had its taak claimed by two glasses. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/10/150x84/A-dairy-had-its-taak-claimed-by-two-glasses---HT-P_1720632100608.jpg)
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.
![Manoj has been commissioned by an art academy to paint the entire stretch of the outer wall of an underpass near Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan with Delhi’s Unesco world heritage monuments. (HT Photo) Manoj has been commissioned by an art academy to paint the entire stretch of the outer wall of an underpass near Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan with Delhi’s Unesco world heritage monuments. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/09/150x84/Manoj-has-been-commissioned-by-an-art-academy-to-p_1720543484409.jpg)
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!
![The library of Ghalib Academy, next to the poet’s mazar in central Delhi. (HT Photo) The library of Ghalib Academy, next to the poet’s mazar in central Delhi. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/07/150x84/The-library-of-Ghalib-Academy--next-to-the-poet-s-_1720373830636.jpg)
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.
![The Sabz Burj. (HT Photo) The Sabz Burj. (HT Photo)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2024/07/04/150x84/The-Sabz-Burj---HT-Photo-_1720118242947.jpg)
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.
![People stroll past the 16th century Bagh-I-Alam ka Gumbad and the Kali Gumti monument. (HT Photo) People stroll past the 16th century Bagh-I-Alam ka Gumbad and the Kali Gumti monument. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/07/03/150x84/People-stroll-past-the-16th-century-Bagh-I-Alam-ka_1720029049258.jpg)
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.
![Scores of rickshaws are parked on both sides of the lane. (HT Photo) Scores of rickshaws are parked on both sides of the lane. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/07/02/150x84/Scores-of-rickshaws-are-parked-on-both-sides-of-th_1719919690830.png)
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.
![The resident cat of the park. (HT Photo) The resident cat of the park. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/28/150x84/The-resident-cat-of-the-park---HT-Photo-_1719599285039.jpg)
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.
![Rani with her wares in N Block, Outer Circle, Connaught Place. (HT Photo) Rani with her wares in N Block, Outer Circle, Connaught Place. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/26/150x84/Rani-with-her-wares-in-N-Block--Outer-Circle--Conn_1719424459514.jpg)
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.
![Two people sit outside the Bharat Mandapam’s entry gate. (HT Photo) Two people sit outside the Bharat Mandapam’s entry gate. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/24/150x84/Two-people-sit-outside-the-Bharat-Mandapam-s-entry_1719252831900.png)
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.
![In early morning Delhi, just before the summertime sun of mid-June flames brightly, the sleepy city lies snuggled in relative coolness. (HT Photo) In early morning Delhi, just before the summertime sun of mid-June flames brightly, the sleepy city lies snuggled in relative coolness. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/20/150x84/In-early-morning-Delhi--just-before-the-summertime_1718881120641.jpg)
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.
![Zaheeruddin opens his central Delhi stall every morning at 6.30, and closes it at 10.30 in the night. (HT Photo) Zaheeruddin opens his central Delhi stall every morning at 6.30, and closes it at 10.30 in the night. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/20/150x84/Zaheeruddin-opens-his-central-Delhi-stall-every-mo_1718880880638.jpg)
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.
![Delhiwale: Heatwave pulped and cooled Delhiwale: Heatwave pulped and cooled](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/17/150x84/-p-Delhiwale--Heatwave-pulped-and-cooled--p-_1718649531990.jpg)
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.
![Delhiwale: Print edition ambassadors Delhiwale: Print edition ambassadors](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/16/150x84/-p-Delhiwale--Print-edition-ambassadors--p-_1718563309434.jpg)
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
![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) 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)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/13/148x111/Mukul-is-one-of-those-rare-Delhiwale-who-have-read_1718244631895_1718244713579.jpg)
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.
![Nashrr Ahmad Khan’s biscuit cart. (HT Photo) Nashrr Ahmad Khan’s biscuit cart. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/11/150x84/Nashrr-Ahmad-Khan-s-biscuit-cart---HT-Photo-_1718130830322.png)
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.
![At the Christian Cemetery on Prithviraj Road. (HT Photo) At the Christian Cemetery on Prithviraj Road. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/11/150x84/At-the-Christian-Cemetery-on-Prithviraj-Road---HT-_1718089359053.png)
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.
![Khan Market started in 1951 with 154 shops and 75 flats. Only five of those flats exist in 2024. (HT Photo) Khan Market started in 1951 with 154 shops and 75 flats. Only five of those flats exist in 2024. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/05/150x84/Khan-Market-started-in-1951-with-154-shops-and-75-_1717610317874.jpg)
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.
![Jonaki Ray in Delhi. (HT Photo) Jonaki Ray in Delhi. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/06/02/150x84/Jonaki-Ray-in-Delhi---HT-Photo-_1717350952045.jpg)
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.
![Akram Ansari arrived in Delhi in 2019 as a law student at Jamia. (HT Photo) Akram Ansari arrived in Delhi in 2019 as a law student at Jamia. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/05/30/150x84/Akram-Ansari-arrived-in-Delhi-in-2019-as-a-law-stu_1717093543198.jpg)
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.
![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) 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)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/05/29/150x84/This-is-Vinod-Kumar-s-first-stint-as-a-sattu-ghol-_1717004526757.jpg)
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.
![The dilapidated Old Delhi doorway is unusually rich in artistic details. (HT Photo) The dilapidated Old Delhi doorway is unusually rich in artistic details. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/05/28/150x84/The-dilapidated-Old-Delhi-doorway-is-unusually-ric_1716921319584.png)
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.
![The crowded Regal Cinema arcade. (HT photo) The crowded Regal Cinema arcade. (HT photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/05/27/150x84/The-crowded-Regal-Cinema-arcade---HT-photo-_1716836822227.jpg)
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.
![Shiv Kumar halts his autorickshaw to drink water. (HT Photo) Shiv Kumar halts his autorickshaw to drink water. (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/05/26/150x84/Shiv-Kumar-halts-his-autorickshaw-to-drink-water--_1716750150238.jpg)
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.
![Deepak Dialani, who founded the Jacksons Books shop in Paharga in 1996 (HT Photo) Deepak Dialani, who founded the Jacksons Books shop in Paharga in 1996 (HT Photo)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/05/23/150x84/Deepak-Dialani--who-founded-the-Jacksons-Books-sho_1716490828851.png)
Updated on May 24, 2024 07:34 AM IST