Two friends trying to find their purpose in life by traversing the streets of Delhi.
The word mushaira is derived from the Arabic root word Sh-`A-Ra which as a noun means ‘something that is felt’ and as a verb means ‘to feel’. Mushairas and poets played an essential role in Delhi’s religio-cultural landscape. Verses were recited in the qahwa khanas (coffee houses) of Chandni Chowk, at various urs and at … Continue reading The Firang Shayar
Sandwiched between the Lok Nayak Hospital and the bustling locality of Chandni Chowk lies Asaf Ali Marg, an old and dingy road that houses a number of banks, shops, and bookstores. To the east of this street lies the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, whereas the Lal Quila is just a few miles to the north. … Continue reading Hotel Broadway
The twentieth century flooded Indian history with major transformations. In the initial decades of the twentieth century, one of the major changes was the shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. While the city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi enjoyed an important position from the late 17th century onwards, the shifting of the British capital … Continue reading Rooh-Afza: A Spirit for the Soul
“Please come, come in,'' says Tahir, a short guy clad in a shabby teal kurta-pyjama whose eyes gleam as he looks at us. His shop is right across the street from the Jama Masjid, a street which is never silent; the sound of all sorts of vehicles and numerous people emerge from the street on … Continue reading An Artist lost in time
The customary winter drafts blew through the crowded streets of this part of Old Delhi, bringing with it the aroma of spiced meat being cooked and the smoky smell of coal being burnt in the tandoors. Behind us the minarets at the centuries' old mosque blared the Azaan, the name of God reverberating around us, … Continue reading Shahjahanabad
Dastaan-E-Dilli 