The intriguing tale of Begum Samru and her haveli
How did an impoverished fourteen-year-old girl in a brothel go on to reign over a wealthy Indian kingdom for more than five decades, during a phase when the mightiest of empires crumbled? It is a story that…
Naughara: A hidden gem in the alleys of Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is Delhi’s most bustling market place. But early on a Sunday morning, immediately after the lockdown, it seems deserted and quiet. Most shops are shut and an ugly knot of criss-crossing electric wires seem to…
Ahaan: A world uncomplicated by guile
In a world which is so complex and contorted by ambitions, goals and guile, 25-year-old Ahaan comes across as refreshingly simple and uncomplicated. His dream in life is: “I want my money. I want to buy my…
Love under the bloody gateway
I see a black dusty blanket, full of holes, placed in one of the recesses of the monument, as I cross the Khooni Darwaza one morning. The Khooni Darwaza or Bloody Doorway is a huge gateway which…
A surprise at my door
I am in a hurry as it is already ten minutes over my scheduled time to start for work. I quickly stuff my lunch box into my backpack, and also an umbrella as some showers are forecast.…
Buried in the sand
“I was admitted in the hospital with an oxygen mask on my face when my seven-year old video-called me,” he said. “All five members of my family had been detected positive for COVID, and except for my…
Callousness in a crisis
It begins drizzling just as I step into the campus gate. The raindrops come as such a relief in this heat, that I don’t bother to hasten my pace. Soaking in the pleasure of the raindrops falling…
Let sleeping dogs lie
It is hot as I walk to work, and I know it will be hotter by the time I get back. The month of May is like that. The lane between the hospital wards and my lab…
Photo-Prem: How do you want to be remembered?
My own mother was extremely fond of the camera. And those were the days when cameras reels came with a limited option of 36 clicks. She would dress up and pose, and then would enjoy the display…
The clean and the unclean
My mobile phone rings while I’m in the middle of work. It is the delivery man from Amazon. I had ordered some computer peripherals which were slightly expensive. Since my landlady’s house was out of bounds due…
