#c4nindia

IN CONVERSATION WITH: MICHAEL STEVERSON, AN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AND TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER

Michael Steverson, an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province. Introduced to the wonder called camera from a very young age, he could never stay away from it. According to him, ‘The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun.’ He loves meeting people and captures their stories. He has a deep connection with India and Indian people. We, the photography enthusiasts follow his work and learn something new every day. Here, Michael talks about his family, work and his affection toward India…

Let’s hear him:

Tell us something about yourself:

I’m an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province, where I’ve lived and worked for the past 13 years. Most of my work focuses on people in their everyday environment. While I do photograph landscapes and iconic architecture when I travel, and I also love street photography, I seem to gravitate toward people. For me, it’s the people who make a place appealing or special. I love the interaction, the connection, and I want to tell those stories.

Tell us something about your family:

I’m married to the most remarkable woman, Lily. She’s Chinese and the primary reason I’ve stayed in China all these years. We have four adult children spread out across the globe and we’re very proud of them. They’re each remarkable. We’re also blessed to have two lovely granddaughters in California. Oh, and there’s our little dog, Elvis.

How did your journey as a photographer start?

I was a very small boy when I first picked up my dad’s Rolleiflex TLR. I must have been 8 or 9. I played around with it for a few years but never anything more than snapshots around my grandparents’ house on the Kentucky River, where we lived at the time. I do remember loving the way the camera felt in my hands, the heft. I was intrigued by all the dials and settings and tried to read and understand the manual, but of course it was a struggle at that age. I did figure out how to load the film. I would shoot anything and everything and most of the results were absolute rubbish. My dad was a career soldier and had used the camera wherever his assignments took him. He was killed in Vietnam in 1967 and the camera remained a connection to father. My infatuation with photography wore off after a while. I was told we couldn’t afford the film and processing. As we all do as kids, I moved on to something else. I was hooked though. To this day I still “see” a lot of shots in square format! I wish I knew what happened to that camera.

How much Street Photography does take place in your routine?

Well, I do love street photography, but I’m not really a street photographer per se. As I said earlier, I’m typically more interested in meeting and talking with people as opposed to being strictly candid. Still, I do love it and I hope I have managed to catch some decent street images over the years. It’s without a doubt the most difficult genre of photography to do well. It’s evolving for sure.

Interesting! Let’s talk more about it:

How was the response you received to Street Photography in the early years and how has it changed with time?

I think early on, a lot of people didn’t really “get” some street photography, surely myself included. At first glance, it can be easy to miss the details, or to not see the connections that form a story. I mentioned before the evolution of street photography. These days it seems everyone is chasing juxtaposition or layers or something “extra”. At times it feels to me almost gimmicky now. The problem is, only a few people can actually “see” those shots. Guys like Vineet Vohra, Siegfried Hansen and Tavepong Pratoomwong come to mind. These are all special photographers with unique vision and talent. They’re freaking unicorns and most of us will have a difficult time trying to reproduce their styles. I’d encourage folks to forge their own path. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take lessons or study great photographers or their images and I don’t mean we shouldn’t strive to get better via workshops and the like. I’m nearly 62 and I learn stuff every day and I’m still attending workshops! I just mean that at some point we all need to be true to our own creative vision.

Street Photography is challenging. Please share the critical situations you had to face during your photo-walks:

It can be challenging, yes. I have to say I’ve had very few “critical” situations arise on the street. We are all going to get those people who say no, and some folks are certainly more aggressive than others. I find that 98% of the time; a smile and a nod will go a long way to defuse those situations. I’m pretty open with folks and will even approach them after they’ve said no, hoping to perhaps break the ice. When that doesn’t happen, I simply walk away. I’ve rarely been afraid on the street. That said, there was this one night in Bangkok (song reference). I was out very late by myself; I was just exploring and not really aware of my surroundings. I turned a corner into an alley and suddenly found myself surrounded by a group of about 7 or 8 young men. It was instantly uncomfortable and they were definitely thinking about taking my camera. I quickly brushed by a couple of them and made it back to the corner where there was some foot traffic and got out of there. It was foolish. I admit I was scared at the time but didn’t panic. I’m a fairly big guy and they were all smaller guys and they hesitated just long enough for me to move. Still, they were a group. From that day I’ve become acutely aware of my surroundings and I’m no longer foolhardy in the pursuit of the shot. Be confident in your posture but yeah, be aware. Again, 98% of the time you’re going to be fine.

In how many countries do you work?

Wow. Too many. I’ve been just about everywhere in Asia now. 75% of what I do is China-based and more than half of that is produced specifically for the Chinese market. I’ve also developed a strong relationship with India over the last 6 years or so.

Please share your photography experience in India with us:

The India connection actually began with my affiliation with the Vohra brothers and APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine. I’d met Vineet on 500px and we just kind of hit it off. Soon afterwards, I met Rohit via Facebook and when they began their Facebook street photography group, I joined their admin team. Through that group, I met thousands of Indian photographers and soon enough made my way to Delhi and Varanasi. Since then I’ve made another return to Delhi, been to Agra and have been back to Varanasi twice more. My wife has joined me in India twice now and our daughter was able to make the last trip with us, where we got to experience the magic of Kumbh at Allahabad. Then there is Kolkata.

Lily and I have developed a special affinity for The City of Joy. I’ve been there four times now and have been treated like family every time I’ve visited.

I have to single out Sabya and Lopa Talukdar, as they’ve been instrumental in introducing us to the Kolkata photography community. There is something so special about India. It’s beautiful to be sure but it’s developing so rapidly that the infrastructure is hard-pressed to keep pace and that, of course, creates some unique problems. It’s the people though, who make India unique. There is something genteel about Indians, something genuine in their concern for their fellow man. I’ve never been treated with more kindness than when I’m in India.

Tell us something about APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine and your role in it:

It’s funny. APF has, in some ways, become something of a runaway train. I don’t think any of us, when we started that FB street group years ago, foresaw how big or influential it would become, especially in Asia. The magazine continues to produce quality work and the FB street group is still going strong. Officially, I’m a Senior Contributing Editor at the magazine and I’m still an admin in the FB group, but man, it’s so large now that it is truly difficult to keep up. We (the admins) all have our own photo careers to maintain and let’s face it, Vineet and Rohit have become authentically famous in the street photography world. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I know I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of APF.

How do you see the future of Indian Photography according to your experience?

The future is bright. India has so many great young photographers and there are so many strong photographers to serve as mentors and stewards for the next generation. Honestly, there are kids doing things today with smartphones that I can’t even approach. So, yeah I think the future is in good hands, and not just with street photography. I discover amazing young Indian photographers on Instagram every day.

And about Indian Street Photography…

As for street photography, in particular, India is producing a hugely talented pool of young photographers. I’d name some of them off, but inevitably I’d leave someone out. India has to have the highest level of photography talent per capita, than anywhere else in the world. One unique thing to India, at least in my experience, is that people on the street are fairly amenable to having their photo taken. It’s much more so than in most other places and I hope that doesn’t change anytime soon.

What would be your advice to the young photo enthusiasts?

Over the years I’ve been asked for advice, especially from younger photographers, on just about everything you could imagine. The obvious things come up, like exposure settings, composition, what equipment I use, how I process my work, how I get published. Then there are the esoteric questions like, “What were you feeling when you took this shot?” Man, I’m 61. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast. I do my best to answer thoughtfully in ways that are relevant and helpful, but honestly, I’m not sure how effective or useful it is. I think all too often we let ourselves get bogged down in the details, the minutia, looking for shortcuts or magic bullets. Too much thinking, too much analysis, can be paralyzing. There is no substitute for just getting out there and shooting and remembering why you picked up a camera in the first place. You picked it up because it was fun.

The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun. Follow your own creativity, your own creative vision, your own passion and desire to create. Trust yourself. As long as you love what you’re doing, everything else will come with time.

What are your future plans ( Do they include India   )?

I’m slowing down some, but I still have things I want to do. I’ve got two long-term projects from here in China that will be published this summer, both of them more than a decade in the making. I just this week began a new relationship with arguably one of the best photo tour companies in the world, Photo Workshop Adventures. I’ll lead three or four photo tours a year for them. It’s a quality outfit and I’m really looking forward to it. Personally, I’ve kind of been thinking about visiting every Province in China and documenting the journey. Certainly its ambitious but I’d still like to try. I want to explore more video work and I definitely want to buy a drone. I also want to stay married, so the drone may take some work. As for India, I have a dream to somehow do something to give back to the people that have given me so much. It will involve another long-term project and the details are still being sorted out but I’m very excited about the possibilities. It would involve a move to India for an extended period, perhaps twice over the next few years.

Oh, did I mention I want a drone?

[Photographs By: Michael Steverson]

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IN CONVERSATION WITH: MICHAEL STEVERSON, AN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AND TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER

Michael Steverson, an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province. Introduced to the wonder called camera from a very young age, he could never stay away from it. According to him, ‘The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun.’ He loves meeting people and captures their stories. He has a deep connection with India and Indian people. We, the photography enthusiasts follow his work and learn something new every day. Here, Michael talks about his family, work and his affection toward India…

Let’s hear him:

Tell us something about yourself:

I’m an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province, where I’ve lived and worked for the past 13 years. Most of my work focuses on people in their everyday environment. While I do photograph landscapes and iconic architecture when I travel, and I also love street photography, I seem to gravitate toward people. For me, it’s the people who make a place appealing or special. I love the interaction, the connection, and I want to tell those stories.

Tell us something about your family:

I’m married to the most remarkable woman, Lily. She’s Chinese and the primary reason I’ve stayed in China all these years. We have four adult children spread out across the globe and we’re very proud of them. They’re each remarkable. We’re also blessed to have two lovely granddaughters in California. Oh, and there’s our little dog, Elvis.

How did your journey as a photographer start?

I was a very small boy when I first picked up my dad’s Rolleiflex TLR. I must have been 8 or 9. I played around with it for a few years but never anything more than snapshots around my grandparents’ house on the Kentucky River, where we lived at the time. I do remember loving the way the camera felt in my hands, the heft. I was intrigued by all the dials and settings and tried to read and understand the manual, but of course it was a struggle at that age. I did figure out how to load the film. I would shoot anything and everything and most of the results were absolute rubbish. My dad was a career soldier and had used the camera wherever his assignments took him. He was killed in Vietnam in 1967 and the camera remained a connection to father. My infatuation with photography wore off after a while. I was told we couldn’t afford the film and processing. As we all do as kids, I moved on to something else. I was hooked though. To this day I still “see” a lot of shots in square format! I wish I knew what happened to that camera.

How much Street Photography does take place in your routine?

Well, I do love street photography, but I’m not really a street photographer per se. As I said earlier, I’m typically more interested in meeting and talking with people as opposed to being strictly candid. Still, I do love it and I hope I have managed to catch some decent street images over the years. It’s without a doubt the most difficult genre of photography to do well. It’s evolving for sure.

Interesting! Let’s talk more about it:

How was the response you received to Street Photography in the early years and how has it changed with time?

I think early on, a lot of people didn’t really “get” some street photography, surely myself included. At first glance, it can be easy to miss the details, or to not see the connections that form a story. I mentioned before the evolution of street photography. These days it seems everyone is chasing juxtaposition or layers or something “extra”. At times it feels to me almost gimmicky now. The problem is, only a few people can actually “see” those shots. Guys like Vineet Vohra, Siegfried Hansen and Tavepong Pratoomwong come to mind. These are all special photographers with unique vision and talent. They’re freaking unicorns and most of us will have a difficult time trying to reproduce their styles. I’d encourage folks to forge their own path. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take lessons or study great photographers or their images and I don’t mean we shouldn’t strive to get better via workshops and the like. I’m nearly 62 and I learn stuff every day and I’m still attending workshops! I just mean that at some point we all need to be true to our own creative vision.

Street Photography is challenging. Please share the critical situations you had to face during your photo-walks:

It can be challenging, yes. I have to say I’ve had very few “critical” situations arise on the street. We are all going to get those people who say no, and some folks are certainly more aggressive than others. I find that 98% of the time; a smile and a nod will go a long way to defuse those situations. I’m pretty open with folks and will even approach them after they’ve said no, hoping to perhaps break the ice. When that doesn’t happen, I simply walk away. I’ve rarely been afraid on the street. That said, there was this one night in Bangkok (song reference). I was out very late by myself; I was just exploring and not really aware of my surroundings. I turned a corner into an alley and suddenly found myself surrounded by a group of about 7 or 8 young men. It was instantly uncomfortable and they were definitely thinking about taking my camera. I quickly brushed by a couple of them and made it back to the corner where there was some foot traffic and got out of there. It was foolish. I admit I was scared at the time but didn’t panic. I’m a fairly big guy and they were all smaller guys and they hesitated just long enough for me to move. Still, they were a group. From that day I’ve become acutely aware of my surroundings and I’m no longer foolhardy in the pursuit of the shot. Be confident in your posture but yeah, be aware. Again, 98% of the time you’re going to be fine.

In how many countries do you work?

Wow. Too many. I’ve been just about everywhere in Asia now. 75% of what I do is China-based and more than half of that is produced specifically for the Chinese market. I’ve also developed a strong relationship with India over the last 6 years or so.

Please share your photography experience in India with us:

The India connection actually began with my affiliation with the Vohra brothers and APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine. I’d met Vineet on 500px and we just kind of hit it off. Soon afterwards, I met Rohit via Facebook and when they began their Facebook street photography group, I joined their admin team. Through that group, I met thousands of Indian photographers and soon enough made my way to Delhi and Varanasi. Since then I’ve made another return to Delhi, been to Agra and have been back to Varanasi twice more. My wife has joined me in India twice now and our daughter was able to make the last trip with us, where we got to experience the magic of Kumbh at Allahabad. Then there is Kolkata.

Lily and I have developed a special affinity for The City of Joy. I’ve been there four times now and have been treated like family every time I’ve visited.

I have to single out Sabya and Lopa Talukdar, as they’ve been instrumental in introducing us to the Kolkata photography community. There is something so special about India. It’s beautiful to be sure but it’s developing so rapidly that the infrastructure is hard-pressed to keep pace and that, of course, creates some unique problems. It’s the people though, who make India unique. There is something genteel about Indians, something genuine in their concern for their fellow man. I’ve never been treated with more kindness than when I’m in India.

Tell us something about APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine and your role in it:

It’s funny. APF has, in some ways, become something of a runaway train. I don’t think any of us, when we started that FB street group years ago, foresaw how big or influential it would become, especially in Asia. The magazine continues to produce quality work and the FB street group is still going strong. Officially, I’m a Senior Contributing Editor at the magazine and I’m still an admin in the FB group, but man, it’s so large now that it is truly difficult to keep up. We (the admins) all have our own photo careers to maintain and let’s face it, Vineet and Rohit have become authentically famous in the street photography world. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I know I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of APF.

How do you see the future of Indian Photography according to your experience?

The future is bright. India has so many great young photographers and there are so many strong photographers to serve as mentors and stewards for the next generation. Honestly, there are kids doing things today with smartphones that I can’t even approach. So, yeah I think the future is in good hands, and not just with street photography. I discover amazing young Indian photographers on Instagram every day.

And about Indian Street Photography…

As for street photography, in particular, India is producing a hugely talented pool of young photographers. I’d name some of them off, but inevitably I’d leave someone out. India has to have the highest level of photography talent per capita, than anywhere else in the world. One unique thing to India, at least in my experience, is that people on the street are fairly amenable to having their photo taken. It’s much more so than in most other places and I hope that doesn’t change anytime soon.

What would be your advice to the young photo enthusiasts?

Over the years I’ve been asked for advice, especially from younger photographers, on just about everything you could imagine. The obvious things come up, like exposure settings, composition, what equipment I use, how I process my work, how I get published. Then there are the esoteric questions like, “What were you feeling when you took this shot?” Man, I’m 61. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast. I do my best to answer thoughtfully in ways that are relevant and helpful, but honestly, I’m not sure how effective or useful it is. I think all too often we let ourselves get bogged down in the details, the minutia, looking for shortcuts or magic bullets. Too much thinking, too much analysis, can be paralyzing. There is no substitute for just getting out there and shooting and remembering why you picked up a camera in the first place. You picked it up because it was fun.

The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun. Follow your own creativity, your own creative vision, your own passion and desire to create. Trust yourself. As long as you love what you’re doing, everything else will come with time.

What are your future plans ( Do they include India   )?

I’m slowing down some, but I still have things I want to do. I’ve got two long-term projects from here in China that will be published this summer, both of them more than a decade in the making. I just this week began a new relationship with arguably one of the best photo tour companies in the world, Photo Workshop Adventures. I’ll lead three or four photo tours a year for them. It’s a quality outfit and I’m really looking forward to it. Personally, I’ve kind of been thinking about visiting every Province in China and documenting the journey. Certainly its ambitious but I’d still like to try. I want to explore more video work and I definitely want to buy a drone. I also want to stay married, so the drone may take some work. As for India, I have a dream to somehow do something to give back to the people that have given me so much. It will involve another long-term project and the details are still being sorted out but I’m very excited about the possibilities. It would involve a move to India for an extended period, perhaps twice over the next few years.

Oh, did I mention I want a drone?

[Photographs By: Michael Steverson]

[Keep yourself updated at]

C4N India’s Facebook Page

www.c4n.in

[You can also share your story on]

[email protected]

Rammohan Paranjape: the first and only surf-photographer of India

“I didn’t want to simply end up graduating, finding a job, getting settled and working a desk job for somebody.” – Rammohan Paranjape

How do you see your life at the age of 16? Where do you think of your life would head?

We might not know what the life has in offerings for us, but lucky are those who know what they don’t want for sure. Rammohan Paranjape is one of those lucky ones. At the age of 16, this college dropout was all set to lead his life how he had seen. Dismissing the stereotypical methods provided by the society, he chose his subjects to carve his life, his career for him. He chose a sport like surfing and a passion for photography. Today, Rammohan is the first and only surf-photographer who has captured world’s best surfers in his camera. He has surfed across many oceans of the world and made adventure and travelling his lifestyle. What we say- Like a boss!

Let’s here Rammohan’s story in his own words:

Who is Ram?

Haha! Good question. This is a question which I ask myself from time to time. I truly believe that we are all on a path of self-discovery in our lives where we evolve as a person with our goals, aspirations, personalities, relationships and so on. The idea is how well or positively we can do that and how we can make this world a better place to be in. Hence, Who is Ram is a thought I deeply engage in from time to time to be better at what I do.

Tell us about your earlier life:

My earlier life was that of a student until I dropped out of college at the age of 16. My student life was very much like any other normal teenager. I was good at both academics and sports and truly enjoyed the time I spent in high school.

‘India’s first and only Surf Photographer’ – where did this journey begin? How did you become the surfer first of all?

After finishing my high school and securing distinction in my 10th grade, I took up science in my pre-university. But somewhere between all that, I was able to see where things were going and what was in store for me. I didn’t want to simply end up graduating, finding a job, getting settled and end up working a desk job for somebody. Around the same time, some of my childhood friends had just started surfing and were one of the first generation surfers in India which got me interested in surfing, apart from that, I was also very inclined towards spirituality. I basically followed my instincts from there onwards.

How did you combine photography and surfing?

Surfing & Photography kinda happened at the same time. These were the two things I was introduced to when I dropped out of my college. Surfing was something very exciting and new and photography was to fulfil my creative longing. I pursued both with a lot of passion and interest and tried to learn as much as I could and still do. Surfing has provided me with an opportunity to carve a career and business interests in India as the sports grows. Surf photography has got me immense recognition and appreciation in what I do. What do you say about Indian Surf Destinations?

India has plenty of good surfing spots or destinations one can experience from beginners to advanced level. It will never be like Bali, Hawaii or Australia but I believe that surfing being a huge lifestyle sport, many of these surf towns will play a major role as surfing hubs and make surfing more popular.

Which is your favourite surf destination in India?

My favourite will always be my home break which is Mulki, 30 km north of Mangalore. That’s where I learnt to surf and is considered as the home of surfing in India.

Why do you think we don’t have many celebrated surfers in India?

Since surfing is still a new sport, it is yet to catch the imagination of many Indians but there are a few surfers who are doing well in terms of recognition and popularity.

Which was the longest surf trip you have had?

I have had few long trips but I think my first ever surf trip to Andamans was quite long and painful in the sense we camped in the middle of nowhere in some remote island for 2 weeks where we surfed, carried water for 2 miles every day, cooked our own food and had to survive the summer heat with mosquitoes and sand fleas. At the end of it, we were completely exhausted, mentally and physically.

Please share one of your most memorable experiences till now in surfing:

A couple of years ago I was in Fiji at Cloudbreak, one of the most dangerous waves on the planet and watched some of the best surfers in action. I didn’t surf but took plenty of photos. The experience of watching the action from a boat in the middle of Pacific Ocean was quite a memorable experience.

Which is your most favourite surf trip and photograph you have clicked till now?

One of my favourite trips was about 6 years back when I did a surf trip with Craig Anderson to Lakshadweep Islands, that trip had some of the most amazing surfers and big names. Some images of Craig Anderson surfing are of my favourites.

You swam with Rajan, the elephant. Please share your experience with us.

Ahh… Swimming with Rajan is something which I will always cherish in my life. One of the greatest experiences of my life I would say. It happened on a trip with Godrej Cinthol to Andamans. I think I had won their blogging contest and we had gone to Havelock Island where Rajan was. We were lucky on that particular day; he came out to swim and spent about 30 minutes gently swimming in the sea. I, fortunately, had all my camera gears and was ready to capture some photos. Mind you, it’s very expensive and the caretakers don’t force him to swim if he doesn’t want to swim, we were lucky that day!

Tell us more about your love for adventure and travel:

I love adventures and growing up as a kid, I only used to read books of various travellers and their adventures which always left a huge impact on me. Today I am so fortunate that I am able to live that dream of travelling and having many adventures around the world. I feel I still have lots to do, see and experience but I know I will be chasing adventures for the rest of my life.

About your Surf Photography Exhibition:

When did you arrange it?

Having my own solo photo exhibition had always been my dream but I never took the step of organizing one until my good friend Mr Arun Vasu, CMD of TT Group in Chennai actually organized this photo exhibition for me; the venue, invitees, PR etc….. All I had to do was just choose my photos and get them printed.

How was the response you received?

The response was incredible! We had Gautam Menon, an acclaimed movie director in South film industry open the exhibition. We had lots of media and press who covered the 2-day exhibit. This was for the first time most of my surf photos were printed that big and were displayed. People really appreciated the effort taken behind these photos. I sold quite a few prints as well. Overall, it was a big success and I plan to take it to Bangalore and Mumbai later this year. Tell us about your future plans and projects:

I am going to keep working on promoting and developing the sport of surfing in India. I have always enjoyed working on new things and the challenges which come with it. I am also in the process of making a surf movie – a travel documentary series which I am in talks with a few production houses. It’s an ambitious venture but I am quite determined. Otherwise, we are also working on opening a surf camp in Andamans in the hospitality industry. Let’s see how it goes

You can see Rammohan’s work here as well: Facebook Profile Instagram Handle

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In Conversation with Niren Bhatt: "Find your stories. Tell them with passion"

"Find your own stories. Tell them with passion. Break the norms; try to create something that will mesmerize people."

When a person dares to listen to his instinct and follow his heart, he can achieve what he has been dreaming of. Mr Niren Bhatt, the writer of ‘Bey Yaar’ and ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma’ had a different life back then. But with each step, the writer in him had always walked along like a shadow. A sharpened writer with years of experience of writing for theatre, Mr Bhatt talks about his journey from a corporate employee to the successful writer:

Your early life when you were dreaming to become a writer:

"As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster. To me, being a gangster was better than being President of the United States”

– Nicholas Pileggi, Goodfellas (1990)

These are the opening lines of Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Like the character of Henry Hill, who always wanted to be a Gangster, I always wanted to be a writer. And most part of my life, I was one. I started writing very early in my life. I wrote songs, plays, essays in school and college, whenever I got the opportunity. The problem was, I never knew exactly how I could convert it into a career. So I kept on doing theatre along with my studies, I did M.E. and MBA and ended up in a corporate job.

I had a cushy corporate job but I started realizing that this is not a life I meant to live because even then, I was only interested in cinema, theatre and music. Even while working as a Business Consultant I was writing constantly and doing plays. I had a growing fear of turning into a cynical person. But the risk was high, I was living in Mumbai and I hardly knew anyone there, so the opportunity cost was also high. I already had a monthly salary of a few lakhs plus an increment per year. For a writer starting out in media, the money was not high... but...

…I had a background in theatre, and I was exposed to a lot of existential plays in my theatre life. THEATER OF ABSURD was my thing. I read and re-read plays of Samuel Beckett, Ionesco, Albert Camus etc. So philosophically I thought, this life is a Theatre of absurd and we all are Vhaldimirs and Estragons from “Waiting for Godot”. We are waiting for GODOT (dead god), who is never going to come. We are not born with a great purpose in life. But we need to find our great purpose. Each one of us has to. Your passion is your own purpose in life, for it gives you the meaning. It gives meaning to your existence. For me, it was writing, and I realised that if I waste my life doing something else, I will lose my meaning. And my life would be as futile as Sisyphus trying to push the boulder on top of the mountain.

Do you remember the moment when you decided to leave your corporate job and pursue your dream as a writer?

It was not a moment, it was always there. I would say ‘part of the plan’. Every moment of my corporate life I thought of leaving the job and becoming a writer. But the thing is- you don’t always have the courage to leave what is easy, let go of your worldly comforts and start a new career with a sea of uncertainties. Slowly but surely, you gather courage and then you take the big step.

Building a career as writer demands patience; what did keep you going?

Writing itself requires patience. And building a career in writing requires more patience. It damages your ego to no end. You have to be prepared for that. You have to be prepared for all the rejections, insults and criticism that will come your way. At the same time, you need to believe in yourself and keep at it. But, ultimately at the end of the day, what keeps you going is the burning desire to write, to create something and the immense joy it brings you. That’s worth all the trouble.

How were your family’s response and support?

The family was always supportive. My wife Palak is a practising artist, so she supported me at all steps of my career. My parents always supported me since my childhood for all these co-curricular activities, which became my hobbies and ultimately became my passion and career.

You have written for Television and Cinema. Which has helped you more to grow as a writer?

Each medium comes with its own challenges and changes something in you. Television made me appreciate the value of building the great characters, regardless of story, plot or any other thing because, in Television, people come back to those characters, not to the story or the plot. Cinema is a different beast altogether, it teaches you the value of structure, story and scene construction and doing everything within a very strict time frame. So yes, I have grown as a writer with both the mediums.

You have written for many Gujarati films. How was your first experience writing in your mother tongue?

My first experience of writing for a movie in Gujarati was "BEY YAAR". As they say, ‘a writer’s purest expression is always in his mother tongue’. I started realizing it as I started writing. The flair of the language, colloquial words, and vernacular slang gave a whole new perspective to the narrative. The title ‘Bey yaar’ itself is a quintessential slang of Ahmadabad. Colloquially, it’s a short form of ‘Abey Yaar’, and literally, it means ‘2 friends’.

Almost all the characters came from our real lives. They spoke our language; they had dialects, they had our sensibilities. I guess that’s why it worked.

After writing for theatre for years, how was your first experience of writing for a movie? What is its impact on a writer’s creativity?

I think theatre is a base for acting and writing both. It helps a lot if you have written for theatre before you write films. It’s like you have already done most of the hard parts. You know the story construction, scene construction, flow of the dialogues etc. You just need to learn how to write for a visual medium, for a film is not a story told through dialogues but a story told through visuals.

Writing lyrics demands a far different craft. How do you balance that?

It’s a natural thing. I don’t think it can be taught or learnt. It comes from your deep-rooted love for poetry and appreciating/reading poetry in all forms for your entire life. Writing lyrics is a specific task. Not all poets can be lyricists and vice versa. You need to understand the script, the characters, the tone of the movie, sound etc; in short a lot of things apart from the poetry part of it. My being a screenwriter helps me a lot as a lyricist. I can use my poetic license and express the feelings of the characters through songs, which they wouldn’t be able to express in the script.

Is there any film in Hindi or Gujarati which you wish you had written?

Many Many films, not only in Gujarati and Hindi.. but all the languages. But fantasies are fantasies. You appreciate the greats, learn from them and try to do something as great as they have done. That’s writing, that’s life!

Is there any other language would you like to explore as a writer or a storyteller?

I only know Hindi, Gujarati and English. So, I can write in only these 3 languages. But stories need no language, visuals need no language. I can write the screenplay for any film, regardless of the language. I am already planning to write a story and screenplay for a Tamil film.

Is there a dream story you would like to tell the world in future?

I am dying to tell a story about the evolution of Indian film music, I hope I will be able to write it soon.

Your message to the budding writers:

First I would like to quote Baz Luhrmann –

"Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.

"Advice is a form of nostalgia….dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth."

So dear budding writers – don’t take my advice. Do your own thing. Find your voice. Find your own stories. Tell them with passion. Break the norms; try to create something that will mesmerize people. Don’t think how you can be better than others, just try to be different, because you are different, rest will fall into place. Be fearless, be creative and work hard. Wishing you all the luck you’ll need if you are to succeed as a professional writer.

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CHAPTER 2: PROJECTS OF MYVETS

In the earlier episode of MYVETS, we had the introduction of MYVETS CHARITABLE TRUST & RESEARCH CENTRE, the founders, its origin and initial phase. Dr Madhurita Gupta, Wildlife veterinarian and President of “Myvets Charitable Trust & Research Centre” talked about their journey, difficulties & turning points, strength & support, climate change & the awareness about it. Also, she had shared their best experience and talked about the volunteers.

Their extraordinary skills and determinant passion is inspirational & their philanthropic journey is beyond academics, profession or even personal goals evolved with time & hard work in spite of all criticism, challenges & sacrifices and today they are standing with a mission to conserve wilds of INDIA though Myvets Charitable Trust.

Together they have sailed the boat against all the tidal waves to break the traditional practices in wildlife conservation and have made the Wildlife innovations acceptable worldwide with the technological revolution in wildlife conservation.

In this episode, they talk about the states and countries their projects are undergoing, plus the various sectors they work in. The details of the projects are also talked in detail here.   

In how many cities and countries do you work?

Our conservation and wildlife projects are undergoing in various states in India from Jammu to Kerala wherein we have made self-sustainable eco-friendly India’s biggest Aviary for Exotics species in 2 Acres for E3 THEME PARK for birds in foothills of Wayanad, Kerala for exotics birds conservation, protection and proliferation in the natural environment.

In Maharashtra alone, we have given 3 patented wildlife technologies like 1. Wildlife Rescue bike for Tigers at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Wildlife Rescue Bike for Leopard – Human Conflicts Mitigation at Thane forest and most importantly “Wildlife Rescue Ambulance for Leopard – Human Conflicts Mitigation at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in association with esteemed organization TATA TRUSTS.

We have been extending our research and innovation under outreach in various countries like USA, UK, Netherlands and various other countries where our wildlife conservation projects and inventions have got great applaud, scholarships and recognition.

Our work in Wildlife Conservation # Reptile Conservation & Tiger – Leopard – Human Conflicts Mitigation is widely covered in reputed International Media like BBC and we have been instrumental in bringing the Wildlife Technologies to International platforms and Making India Proud at the global level with the social innovations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05fzdsb

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03k95sh

In how many and which sectors do you work?

MYVETS INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD – START-UP COMPANY into zoo consultancy, Zoo designing & Wildlife Technology Development.

MYVETS CHARITABLE TRUST & RESEARCH CENTRE – A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION – Social Innovations, Wildlife Technology Development, Rural Empowerment, Sustainable Livelihood Programmes for Tribal Community Development , Species Conservation, Marine Mammals Conservation , Tiger & Leopard – Human Conflicts Mitigation in National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries , Gynaecological Health Awareness, Paediatric Care in Forests for Tribals.

MYVETS REHAB & RESCUE CENTRE – This set up is established under the direction of Hon’ble Bombay High Court and is supported by the State Forest Department of Maharashtra. It works closely with Forest Department & Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB ) Western Region for keeping the wildlife & Exotics Species captured & saved from illegal trafficking for the successful rehabilitation & veterinary care. So far the centre has successfully rehabilitated hundreds of Star Tortoises to their natural habitat in Bannerghatta National Park in the association of WCCB.

SHELTER FOR STRAYS – DEVGAD – This project is working for Rabies Control, Animal Birth Control Programme and to provide immediate emergency veterinary care, In-Patient Care and Ambulatory Services for injured & distressed stray animals and birds in the Sindhudurg.

List of our projects and wildlife conservation work: 

PEACOCK HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT

Peacock conservation project was initiated by “Shri CH Vidyasagar Rao”, Honourable Governor of Maharashtra. This project is financed by TATA TRUSTS and implementing organisation is MYVETS CHARITABLE TRUST & RESEARCH CENTRE for the National Bird Protection Programme under “Species Conservation Project” at RAJ BHAVAN, Mumbai.

SEMI – WILD ENVIRONMENT – OPEN

OPEN AVIARY: The fencing is increased to 12 feet. Thus, the area is protected against the mongoose, reptiles and rodents.

SAND BATH PITS: The small white sand bath pits are developed for the peacocks for taking the sand bath.

ARTIFICIAL FEEDERS: The artificial feeders are designed in such a way that the mongoose and other rodents will not reach the top and compete for peacock feed.

ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL NESTS: The nests are provided in the semi-protected area so that the peahen can complete the incubation of the eggs successfully without disturbance from rodents.

WATER BODY: Waterbody is provided so that peacocks can get the clean water for drinking as well for grooming.

ISOLATION & TREATMENT WARD: The isolation and treatment ward is provided so that the peacocks can be kept in this isolation & treatment ward during the treatment, till they recover from illness or injuries.

KITCHEN & STORAGE ROOM: The kitchen and storage room is created for storing the grains, and other feeds for the peacocks. The incubator is also provided so that eggs which are abandoned by the peahens can be incubated in the artificial incubator.

MYVETS TRUST WORK AT SANJAY GANDHI NATIONAL PARK, BORIVALI, MUMBAI

ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT OF EXHIBTS

Myvets Trust was officially taken on board in Sanjay Gandhi National Park to provide consultancy for the well being of the Man Eater Rescued Leopards and to provide proper veterinary healthcare management to them.

PROBLEMS

Captive Man Eater Leopards were obese

They Had In- Grown nails due to the lack of physical activity and lack of any kind of enrichment in the captivity.

Exhibiting Stereotypic behaviour

SOLUTIONS

Surgical removal of In – Grown Nails

Enrichment was provided to prevent any kind of stereotypic behaviour in them.

“Two new wildlife technology coming up in For Forest & Ranthambore for Lion & Tiger conservation by Myvetd Trust which is going to be revolutionary.”

WILDLIFE VETERINARIANS IN ACTION

MYVETS TRUST has worked with dedication & saved many endangered species during emergencies and provided the best wildlife care and management. 

SNAKE CONSERVATION TRUST

OBJECTIVES

Conservation of Asian Reptiles of India

REPTILE RESCUE BIKE Prototype – R & D

King Cobra Conservation Breeding Programme

Women Reptile Conservation Unit

Reduce response time during reptile rescues

INDIA’S FIRST GLASS SNAKE PARK

Under the Myvets Trust, we have designed and conceptualized the India’ss first Glass Snake Park and got the approval for Master Layout Plan from Central Government to keep this old Reptile Park.

LOCATION: KOLHAPUR

OBJECTIVES

To develop State – Of – Art REPTILE PARK IN INDIA

Education & Awareness on Reptile Conservation

King cobra conservation breeding

Rescue & Rehab for snakes of India

DOCUMENTARY ON LEOPARD – HUMAN CONFLICTS MITIGATION IN INDIA

(WATCH IN www.c4n.in)

Read  CHAPTER 1 here.

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Dr Ghanshyam Patel is spreading awareness against abortion of a female foetus

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यते रमन्ते तत्र देवता |

Everything was going well. I liked my name, “Prince”. One day my father along with my grandma took me to a small nursing home. After some time, I could feel strange waves hitting me. It was not painful. I did not feel pain even when doctor told, “It’s a baby girl”

My mother still loved me. She changed my name to Princess. I liked that name also. But since that day, none else in my family spoke to me. There was tension in the house. The quality of food given to my mother was degrading… every day. She used to get tired now but never let me be hungry… I knew she was feeding me her blood. Once she consumed a liquid – I guessed some medicine for me –my dear father bought from the city. She did not like the taste but she took it… just for me, my father told her,

“You must take it… the baby will be born healthier…”

After consuming the liquid, my mother felt tremendous pain in her abdomen. It was sucking her life out. The warmth and comfortable liquid of the womb started boiling. I was bit confused. I remembered there was still seven more months to leave the womb. Or it might be that my family wanted to see me sooner. But, it became unbearable for my mother. She tried hard not to hurt me. She tried to stop rivulet of blood coming out of her… it was me… even in extreme pain, she cried for me and persuaded last time to my family,

“Please take me to doctor… she can still be saved…"

None moved…

We reached our destination.

…and I was born. 4th girl child of the family.

My family wanted a prince instead but, I fulfilled their wishes. I got all my elder sisters married, taking my entire family on holidays, sometimes abroad. Now, they are happy and are proud of me.

For decades women in India who have had to endure abort a healthy baby simply because it's a girl have suffered in silence. But now their horrific stories are being told thanks to an unlikely champion. Dr Ghanshyam N. Patel.

I made PowerPoint presentations when computers were not so common in our country and I too had limited skills. I learnt how to make a presentation and I went around the places spreading awareness among people about female foeticide. Many doctors have cried seeing my presentations and have taken an oath to stop abortions. My work was appreciated by Gujarat government and they made it their official presentation for awareness, Punjab state requested a copy of my presentations in Hindi and other southern states too asked for regional copies.

Through this, I would like you all to abort vigorous operation "disappearing daughters" from the earth.

In Association with: Faces of Rajkot

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Tanvi Sinha writes about social Issues that people hesitate to talk about

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Tanvi Sinha is a young writer and a Chartered Accountant by profession. She focuses on Social Issues and Gender Equality, that people hesitate to talk about.

“I do believe that I can influence society and their mindset with my writing. At the least, I can make an effort towards achieving that. It is better to try than to not try at all.”

– Tanvi

Let’s hear Tanvi’s journey as a writer in her words,

Since when did you start writing?

I have been writing ever since I was in school. My first poem got published when I was in sixth grade. As I grew up, I became busy with studies and work. I had been writing but did not send anything for publishing. In August 2015, I started writing articles for online publications.

What is writing for you?

Writing is what makes me happy. It is fulfilling. Even therapeutic. I feel writing and sharing help ease pain and heal as well.

Is writing your first love?

It is my only love!

Tell us about the genre of your writing:

I write about societal issues in India, that people hesitate to talk about. I also feel that gender equality has a long way to go. I write poems and short stories as well but all of them have an underlying message.

What inspires you to write on social issues and gender equality?

I believe that sharing helps healing. And in order to share, it is important to have people around us who are sensitive, and less judgmental. People would become sensitive again when they hear stories that touch them.

Do you believe that your articles can influence the society and mindset?

Yes, I do believe that I can influence society and their mindset with my writing. At the least, I can make an effort towards achieving that. It is better to try than to not try at all.

Which has been your strongest article till now according to you?

It is about a daughter who is very beloved to her parents. But once she is about to get married, she is taught values contrary to what she has been imbibed all her life. She is taught that her parents single-handedly spending lavishly on her wedding Why I will not teach my daughter to be the good daughter in law”. Compromising on her self-respect and dignity is alright because it is all necessary to sustain a marriage.

What is the best compliment or reward that you have received till now?

Every comment, every like and every personal message that I receive is very rewarding. Nothing makes me happier.

How has been the response you have received?

I have got a very good response, thankfully. People have been able to relate to most of my articles / stories. People connect with me personally to share their response, and how the articles have touched a chord with them.

Have you faced any difficulties to establish yourself as a writer?

It is not easy to reach out to people through writing on social media. Writing through established websites such as ‘Women’s web’ has helped me connect with a wider range of readers. I have started my own website recently too – www.whynotsayit.com. It is a challenge sometimes to compel people to take time off their busy schedules to read something, especially a serious write-up.

How has writing changed Tanvi?

Writing has given me a purpose in life. It is soul searching for me. I am also trying to become a more thoughtful person by trying to understand why people think or behave a certain way, and if it is possible to change that.

Have you ever experienced ‘Writer’s block’?

Yes, sometimes I do run out of ideas or I end up writing on the same subject (which is fine because nobody writes about such topics in India, so even if there are a number of articles on the same topic, it is essentially helping).

What do you do to get out of that?

On my website and Facebook page, I ask people to share story ideas and topics that they would like to be discussed. People always come up with suggestions, and it helps me widen my horizons and think and write beyond my block.

What would you advise the emerging writers to overcome this?

Keep meeting people, understanding their issues and keep reading. We have to keep growing intellectually if we want to become writers. Another important thing is to understand the other person’s point of view as well. Meeting like-minded people is as important as meeting people with completely different views.

Is there any issue on which you are willing to write? (A dream project!)

I would like to grow my website in a way that it creates a platform where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences, like a support group.

How do you choose topics? (By experiences or live examples or something you saw or heard)

Most of my articles are based on my personal experiences. Some current events compel me to write. Some issues bother me more than others, things that are detrimental to our happiness but compliant with society.

Which authors do you always love to read?

I think Jodi Picoult’s books are very touching. The reader connects with her instantly. I also admire Jean Sasson’s books which have created awareness and sensitivity about women in a certain part of the world.

Tell us about your future plans.

I would like to grow my website and reach a wider range of people. I think more people should write about the issues that I write about and more frequently. Then only things would change. I also would like to write a book someday.

Your message to the world:

Life is too short. Live it your way and not to please the society. And living with self-respect, dignity and principles is more important. Lastly, I would like to share this quote that I have read:

‘At any given moment, you have the power to say that this is not how the story is going to end!”

Writer’s website – www.whynotsayit.com

Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/TanviSinhaWriter/

C4N India believes that,

‘We, as society, really needs a change and for that Words can be a powerful tool to begin Actions’

We really appreciate Tanvi’s efforts. Way to go girl!

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He tries to save animals so that the future generation can see them!

He is Abhishek Jadwani, a wildlife biologist and an animal rescuer. And this is his story:

Life is all about doing something you love.

A heart beats in animals the same as in us. Being a wildlife biologist and an animal rescuer, I will always love and protect animals.

Many times during odd hours I get calls to rescue any birds or snakes and I rush without any hesitations.

When I see dinosaurs in movies or photos, how I wish I could see them alive. Similarly, I try to save animals so our future generations can see them alive.

I work day and night on India's killer kite festival when hundreds of birds get slaughtered with glass coated strings. It pains me the same. How would you feel if you get a single cut on your body? Last Uttarayan it was a joyous occasion when spirits soared as thousands climbed onto rooftops to fly kites that dotted the sky. But as the revelry ended, I was still left counting the dead and tending to the wounded.

When you hurt or kill animals, you are actually revealing the real animal in you. Being it for anything, stray dogs and cats for fun, elephants for tusks, rhinos for horns, peacocks for feathers, tigers and lions for nails and bones animals have souls: in nature, they have a role so please let them stay free and happy.

When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul. Please try to stare in their eyes once and let me know your response. I like to shoot animals too but, only with my camera.

In association with Faces Of Rajkot

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