VIVEK SHUKLA
The writer is a Delhi-based senior journalist and author of two books ‘Gandhi's Delhi: April 12, 1915-January 30, 1948 and Beyond’ and ‘Dilli Ka Pehla Pyar - Connaught Place’
Posts by: VIVEK SHUKLA
Middle East crisis: As LPG runs short, memories of 1971 return
A shortage of LPG cylinders linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis has disrupted small eateries and daily routines in parts of Delhi, prompting comparisons with the shortages seen during the 1971 war, when residents faced long queues and limited access to essential supplies
From 200 cars to crores on Delhi’s roads
The Economic Survey of Delhi 2025–26, tabled in the Assembly recently, shows the capital adding over 6.4 lakh vehicles in a year, taking the total to 8.76 million — prompting a look back at how Delhi became India’s vehicle capital
From Karol Bagh to Tis Hazari, marking Good Friday
From neighbourhood processions to services in historic churches, Delhi marks Good Friday through prayer, fasting, and reflection, as communities across the capital come together to observe the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and carry forward traditions shaped by faith, history, and local practice
Before Jewar, a journey that began at Safdarjung
With Noida International Airport at Jewar set to open, it is an opportune moment to look back at nearly a century of aviation in Delhi-NCR — from Safdarjung’s early airfield to Palam and IGI — and how the region’s skies have steadily expanded
Food, faith and equality: the story of bhandaras in Delhi
Across Delhi-NCR, especially during Navratras and Ramzan, bhandaras, which trace their roots to a Punjabi Dilliwala, have become a common sight, bringing together people from different backgrounds through shared meals and reflecting the culture of community service, participation, and informal support networks
Delhi’s government colonies face the twilight
Lodhi Colony, the DIZ Area and Sadiq Nagar—three long-standing Central government housing colonies—are set for redevelopment as the Centre plans modern high-rise complexes. As demolition approaches, residents and former occupants recall decades of history, community life and memories tied to these once-quiet neighbourhoods
Lutyens out, time to honour city’s faceless makers
After the removal of Edwin Lutyens’ bust from Rashtrapati Bhavan, voices grow louder for honouring the thousands of labourers and contractors who built the capital between 1911 and 1931, arguing that true independence lies in recognising their sweat, skill and sacrifice
After Lutyens, a changing colonial landscape
With Edwin Lutyens’s statue now removed from Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi’s evolving relationship with its imperial past comes into sharper focus. As colonial symbols are relocated or replaced, questions arise about memory, legacy and the spaces they once defined