Hari Bhagirath's Blog: 2015

The Unanimous Decision: Govind Singh at SFL 39

Govind Singh at BodyForce MMA Fight Night

"Bahout Bharosa Kiya Hai Alan Sir Nei, Mujhe Consider Karke" (Alan Sir has put a lot of faith in me by considering me for this fight). When Govind completed his sentence, the room was silent and every heart in that room sunk a little with disappointment. Everyone in the gym was sure that Govind will not be able to train for a month. But Govind's words resonated with hope that convinced everyone in the gym that he had already switched his gear and he won't back down.
Govind Singh is one of India's finest flyweight Mixed Martial Arts Fighters hailing from Uttrakhand. Trained by none other than Alan "The Bull" Fenandes, Govind Singh is one among the promising MMA talent from India riding a three win streak at the moment. Govind was scheduled to fight at the Super Fight League 43, against the veteran Anoop "Gujjar Tank" Kumar. It was then the disaster struck. The sheer focus and dedication of Govind had to face the ultimate test, may be the toughest he had faced so far. Govind had broken his shoulder ligament and was rendered unable to train while advised not to fight.

Govinds injury highlighted in the X Ray

Healing in such a short span of time was a race uphill. But the "Machine Fist" from The Garage Gym, Nasik was not the one who will ever slow down. His fight had just began. Slowly and steadily with the aid and assistance of the Coach of Indian MMA Team - Alan Fenandes, his team at The Garage Gym and his colleagues - Mohd Farhad and Dhruv Chaudhary, the unimaginable happened. Not only did Govind recover but he also caught up roughly 4 days of his training once he got the go ahead from the doctors. According to him it was his grit and determination, to make his mentor proud that had driven him to fight the biggest fight of his life.

Govind Singh at SFL 39, BodyPower India 2015

"It is a pleasure and an honor to work with someone with such high determination and focus. It make everyone who believe in Team India proud because it wasn't about winning and losing, it was about making your mentor proud, fighting for the dreams of everyone who put their faith in an athlete... it is a rare quality these days.", while completing these words Coach of Team India - Alan Fenandes was running out of words. Now what lays ahead of Govind was the ultimate challenge of facing "The Gujjar Tank" Anup Kumar. Anup is a veteran fighter who came from an overwhelming TKO victory representing Team India against Pakistan at Super Fight League 38, Dubai.

The bell rang and the match went back and forth. For many, the fact that Govind did not back down and faced the ultimate test, itself was a victory. Anup dominated the fight. There were moments that convinced everyone that Govind was at the losing end. But Govind was not convinced nor he was ready to accept defeat. It was one of the finest MMA bouts of the year when Govind came back as an unstoppable force. Raining punches and take downs, he surprised Anup. Govind was so fierce and focused that he took the battle to Anup all the way. The words of Rabindranath Tagore found its soul at the heat of the battle. Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.The bout was over and the decision was unanimous and the winner was none other than Govind Singh. It was not his victory alone, Govind led his team, mentor and colleagues towards victory and ushered a new chapter in the history of Indian Mixed Martial Arts.

Govind Singh with his Coach Alan Fenandes

Note

Special thanks to - Pushkar Shinde, Owner The Garage Fitness Center

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, by Hari Bhagirath

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A Walk Along the Jew Street

Jew Street

Jew Street in Mattancherry is the legendary enclave that is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. It took a while from Fort Kochi to reach the stone paved street. It was quite a walk among the old buildings that thrived on spice trade for decades. The time was 06:30 AM and the roads were empty. After meandering the narrow roads sidelined by the body of water that divided the city from the old town, we slipped into narrow streets one after the other. Some buildings are like wine, they enchant as they turn older and older. Finally we reached the street we were looking for - Jew Street in Mattancherry. It turned out to be well preserved and distinct from those one may come across in Kerala. The buildings in that street were at least a couple of centuries old. And they were inhabited.

Paradesi Synagogue, Fort Kochi

Jew street, as it is called is a 200 meter long walk down the memory lane. Lined with pastel colored houses and shops that sell antiques, jewelry, art, furniture and sculptures. It was great to find out that a few of the inhabitants of the street were indeed the descendants of a fast dwindling population of Jews who settled down in Cochin in AD 52. The street has got a thousand stories to share for the ones who are keen enough to listen. We met many tourists from Israel who visited the synagogue. Our host was Yaheh Hallegua, who was in charge of the Paradesi Synagogue, handling entrance fees and monitoring attire. The synagogue was built in 1568. The Paradesi Synagogue is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Jewish Cemetery, Mattancherry

The Paradesi Synagogue has its treasure of memories to share with every passerby. From the Scrolls of the Law to several gold crowns the rich tradition is preserved intact. As we walked by the Belgian glass chandeliers we slipped into a different time and perspective. The floor of the synagogue is composed of hundreds of beautiful Chinese porcelain tiles. A hand-knotted oriental rug which was a gift from Haile Selassie, the last Ethiopian emperor, still greets the visitors. The synagogue has an 18th century clock tower, which is still functional. The clock tower was restored in 1998 under the direction of the World Monuments Fund.

Cochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews and Yuda Mappila, are the oldest group of Jews in India, with roots claimed to date to the time of King Solomon 950 BC, though historically attested migration dates from the fall of Jerusalem. From then Cochin became a safe heaven for Jews who were subjected to religious persecution around the world. They shared a favorable relationship with the ruling class and indulged to enrich trade and commerce of that region. Moreover Jewish Community became the only community of foreigners who had not waged a war against any of the Indian monarchies and princely states. Once one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, but now many of the inhabitants have moved to Israel and the once bustling Jewish community has now immigrated or have merged with the general population. The nearby Market Road still bustles with spice trade that tells the legacy of an era gone by. Though the official timings are from 10 AM, I felt that it is best to visit this place by sunrise to avoid the crowd and to strike friendly conversations with its inhabitants.

At Mattancherry Jew Street

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, by Hari Bhagirath

Photography

Photography: Surviving the Digital Age

We are privileged to be living in an age of visuals and communication. The power of visual communication have grown exponentially and social media is brimming with content to captivate the target audience. One profession that got transformed the most due to the intervention of the digital age is that of a photographer. Technology enabled users to takeover the role of a photographer instantly with few swipes of a finger. Powerful communication tools equipped with cameras and editing software changed the way photographs were composed and circulated. The traditional business model of a professional photographer have faced severe challenges due to the change in technology. Owning a camera may not ensure an individual their livelihood anymore. So did digital age and technology decimate a profession or made it even more professional? In my opinion, photography had never been through better times.

Let me open my argument with a simple statement. Technology cannot replace creativity. From time to time inventions have replaced existing technology, however the human element behind the technology was hardly replaced. The industry have not changed but accessibility and the mode of operations did change to a great extent. Demand for quality photographs have increased manifolds resulting in opportunities for the specialized professionals. At the moment an individual can compose an image with a few flicks of their fingertips, however to compose an image that will captivate the minds of the audience and drive in a message that will make certain change still requires creativity and a set of specialized skills. That means, the role of a photographer have changed from that of a bystander with a camera to that of a problem solver. A successful photographer is the one who shoots the right perspective at the right moment while communicating the intended message to the right target audience.

In the digital age, to survive as a photographer one is required to be an artist, promoter of ideas and a student - all at the same time. To retain the artistic perspective while communicating sensibly and right to the point have redefined the power of visuals. The trend is organic which keeps evolving from time to time and from message to message. Unless a photographer is willing to learn constantly and evolve, one cannot ride into the future with the same unbridled passion they started their career with. Keeping up is tough and many who started clicking a decade ago have changed their interests or have adjusted to the changing trends. At the very moment a photographer can succeed financially only if they can provide creative perspectives to enchant the audience and achieve the goals of communication, while reducing the costs to an extent of saving even taxes and legal liabilities while adding value to the perspective of business.

In other words a professional photographer must go beyond clicking a photograph for their client. One must understand why the client needs the image and try to provide a professional solution that is viable, appealing and can yield results. A certain business acumen is required to manage multiple aspects of the business of photography while keeping the art alive. The message is simple, one can either change the world or be changed by the world.

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, by Hari Bhagirath

Articles

To Dear Unknown

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, by Hari Bhagirath

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Imperfect

The Perfect Frame

From time unknown, it is in our blood to chase our dreams. Some dreams redefine our life and some are mere illusions projected by our psyche. An illusion of perfection or to attain the impossible was inculcated as the pinnacle of success and immortality. This notion is injected into the very DNA of our social framework. While a cat finds a comfortable night's sleep in midst of a cozy rag, human beings keep pondering about an even better solution for the next night's sleep. A thin line separates ambition from greed. And the seeds of greed are scattered in every act performed.

May it be a simple act of capturing an image. I tried various angles to click the image so that I get the subject with a perfect rectangular backdrop. I clicked over and over again. I did not realize until I inspected the subject, that the problem was not with the angle but the window that was not a perfect frame. The shape was distorted by age and weather. I kept my camera aside and stared at the window savoring freshly poured wine that slowed my thoughts. I realized that my obsession was about the frame than the entirety of the image. I could not see the world beyond the window and tiny flakes of snow that hit the glass. The carelessly placed vase facing the vastness of wildness overlooking the great Himalayas did not catch my attention. I chased perfection and then I missed out on those imperfections that perfectly blend to the existence of each other element that we call - life.

The world around us is never perfect or ever the same. Every moment is a scenario. If your perspective is shallow as to see the imperfections and threats. There will never be a moment to embark on an adventure or to capture the right moment. The only choice is to see the view that lies beyond the imperfections and chase for the ultimate stage that exists beyond the scenarios that distract your thoughts. Because once you can sit back and view the bigger picture, the one you got will always be far better than one you failed to capture. Imperfection and risks break the monotony of a copy of a copy of success. Let there be not perfection, but empty spaces for our souls to reinvent and readjust. Hard fought battles are sweeter to savor. Let there be emptiness to dream beyond the horizons in our viewfinder. Let there be tears and solitude so that one day we will learn to value the power of a smile.