The Akhada
I could use this approach in my Community Photo Essay by photographing normal routines and objects instead of only the most obvious activities in my community. Small details like where people work, the things they use, or how they interact could help an outsider understand what being part of the community actually feels like.
Unlike your stereotypical teenage girls, said Siksha, the students don’t spend much time on boys or fashion. “No point doing that when all we wear are T-shirts and shorts.” They all sport matching crew cuts, given to them when they arrive.
An outsider might initially see their similar clothing and haircuts without understanding why they look alike. The writing gives those details more meaning because they become signs of belonging to the academy and show how the girls share a lifestyle that is centered around wrestling.
Unlike your stereotypical teenage girls, said Siksha, the students don’t spend much time on boys or fashion. “No point doing that when all we wear are T-shirts and shorts.” They all sport matching crew cuts, given to them when they arrive.
An outsider might initially see their similar clothing and haircuts without understanding why they look alike. The writing gives those details more meaning because they become signs of belonging to the academy and show how the girls share a lifestyle that is centered around wrestling.
neha Sharma, 16, persuaded her parents to send her to the academy because she missed her older sister, who was training to be a wrestler. “I felt lost without her,” she said.
This part changes the story from being mostly about wrestling and training to being about relationships and belonging. It helps show that the academy is more than a place where they practice a sport because the girls have also created a community and support system.
“There are no friends on the mat,”
I thought this was interesting because an outsider might assume that competing against each other would hurt their friendships. Instead, the girls understand that competition on the mat is separate from their relationships outside of it. This seems like an unwritten rule that members of their community understand.
After the warm-up, their training varies. Cardio days can mean a cross-country run or stair climbing. On sports days, they play handball or basketball. Strength-building days are the most demanding of all: The girls must drag blocks of wood across the field or pull themselves up several meters of gnarly ropes.
This photo shows how disciplined and structured their daily routine is. Having the girls running together instead of focusing on one person also makes them look like a team and shows that training is something they experience as a community.