Delhiwale: Rags of stories, bundled in CP
2 years, 10 months ago

Delhiwale: Rags of stories, bundled in CP

Hindustan Times  

He is sitting outside a showroom in Connaught Place. Right now, he is immersed in a particular thought that, which he says, comes to him often — “For how long will I be without a roof?” In his 40s, Sanjay has been making his living by collecting garbage in this central Delhi district since his childhood. “I do not make much money but I’m able to feed myself well.” He has “no wife, no girlfriend…but I do not feel lonely.” Sharing the routines of his day, he says he wakes up every morning at 4 and walks straight to the nearby Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. After which, he says, “I spend ₹30 to buy biscuits for the street dogs.” Soon afterwards, he starts the first of his many rounds in Connaught Place, collecting discarded bottles, chips’ packets, empty pastry boxes, etc., from the market colonnades. “The dinner is priced at ₹60, and is enough for one man.” Finally, Sanjay walks back to Connaught Place, and settles down on the footpath beside his elderly friend who raised him.

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History of this topic

Delhiwale: A good read served with pickle
2 years, 8 months ago

Delhiwale: A good read served with pickle

Hindustan Times  

The pungent aroma is heady. The shop was founded “20 years before the freedom” by Ramavtar’s father, Lala Devi Sahai. “Very popular with women,” remarks Ramavtar, though these monthlies are rarely sighted anywhere else. “Earlier, we kept more magazines… Shama, Khatoon Mashriq, Mashriqia Aanchal, Sushma, Stardust, Filmfare, Mayapuri… some of these are no longer published.” A box by the counter …

Delhiwale: The key to survival
2 years, 10 months ago

Delhiwale: The key to survival

Hindustan Times  

You might not easily spot this graceful gent amid the hubbub of the traffic intersection. “Because I’m now old and I cannot walk along the streets as easily as I used to do.” In his 60s, Mr Singh’s rough-edged voice is cracking with friendliness. “But they used to make hathyaar, such as swords, during the age of our Sikh Gurus.” …

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