Delhi. People, places and passion

I arrived in New Delhi late last Tuesday and no sooner had I arrived in the hotel, Anuj (l) and Arun (centre) came to my room with a large bag of kebabs and onions, and a good supply of cold beer. That's friendship. Both are booksellers and publishers.

Wednesday morning I had breakfast with Jagan Chapagain (right) who is Director of Asia and Pacific for the IFRC. Over breakfast Veronica Pedrosa (ex CNN and now Al Jazeera) waltzed up to Jagan and I, and there followed a long conversation. She had come to the launch of the IFRC funded World Disasters Report. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Delhi has lots of colourful characters who carry on the city's culture and traditions. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Early on Thursday morning I walked to India Gate to watch the sunrise. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Khan market ( above) and Sarojini Nagar Bazaar where  I did most of my shopping after work.. Photo: Bob McKerrow

The government buildings near Rastrapathi Bhavan. Photo: Bob McKerrow

I always go to C Block Market in Vasant Vihar as it was my local market for 6 years when I lived in Delhi. I went to see my friends in Batra Pharmacy, Raj Store and Murli, who used to do a lot of electrical work for me. . Photo: Bob McKerrow






The bookseller/publishers shop in Khan market. Photo: Bob McKerrow



Bahrisons bookstore is special, is the feeling one gets from entering the book store. The bookshop begins in post-partition India - out of the struggle of one man, who - though destined to be a teacher, makes new beginnings in a new country … by opening his small bookstore in New Delhi's Khan Market, India.
Today, fifty years after its inception, the group is headed by Balraj Bahri and Anuj Bahri Malhotra who are assisted by an efficient and professional staff - running the most sought after bookshop in the country. Balraj has given 50 years and Anuj - a long 23 years experience to the Indian Book Industry. It is a privilege to know both and count them as close and valued friends. 



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Anuj Bahri hard at work. Mobile in one hand talking, laying out a book on computer screen and keeping an eye on the shop from his private perch.





What is it that grabs me about Delhi ? It was my home for six years, and my last son Mahdi was born here. I published two books in Delhi and from here coordinated various Red Cross operation in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives for six years. Delhi drips with history from Alexander the Great, Timur, Chenghis Khan, Asok, Babur, Akbar and of course, more recently, the British.

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It was here I met Indira Gandhi in 1975, and her daughter-in-law Sonya in 2005, and Priyanka in 2008.. Sonya on the left, and a clean-shaven Bob on the right. Look at her amazing book collection in the background.  Photo: Simon Missiri










Another joy is taking in the contrasting styles of architecture from the old Moghul style to Lutyen;s modern New Delhi. Delhi has lost none of its charm, character, colours and smells. The Commonwealth Games  brought a fantastic metro system, new fly overs, improved roads and superb sporting facilities.

A canon outside Rastrapathi Bhawan. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Global launch of World Disasters Report in New Delhi - 22 September 2011

Had an unplanned breakfast with Jagan Chapagain, Director of Asia and Pacific Zone for IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) in New Delhi this morning and after an hour, we met by chance also taking breakfast, Veronica Pedrosa, the former CNN and Al Jazeera front woman who is here in Delhi for the World Disasters report global launch tomorrow which focuses on hunger and malnutrition. Veronica and I have met in many disaster and war zones, the most recent West Sumatra earthquake so it was a pleasure to catch up again. Jagan and I spoke to her about the importance of the theme of hunger and malnutrition and highlighted how disasters and conflicts get all the coverage, but insidious situations such as the 925 million people who do not have enough to eat, while 1.5 billion people world wide, including myself, are classified as obese.. These are huge challenges facing us.

Veronica Pedrosa and Jagan Chapagain, in New Delhi for the global launch of the World Disasters report. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Earlier this morning, I was up at 6 a.m and walked down to Khan Market and watched the flower seller making up bouquets, then to Parsi and Christian cemeteries, walked down Shah Jahan Road past the Complaints Appellant Tribunal, Indian Naval establishment looking like a 5 star hotel, past the Union State Services Commission premises topped with Mogul turrets. Then down Man Singh Road to look at all those magnificent Lutyen’s era buildings reminding me of a bygone era. I love Delhi with oozing with millenniums of history, culture and architecture. And, I am really excited that with the launch of the WDR tomorrow, we can draw attention to the 15% of the world's population that go to bed hungry every night.