Silly pig 2 + akhada

Okay, too much photo-blogging happening I know, but couldn’t resist another silly pig. This is from that fitness story I mentioned earlier (it’s out in City Limits magazine now, with the new issue of Outlook). The photographer couldn’t persuade me to don a loincloth and climb into the mud-pit, but he did get this shot. (The “Ignore this person” T-shirt was pure chance.)


On a more serious note, I enjoyed my trip to the Akhada for other reasons – it was quite an eye-opener to see how these wrestlers live, practice and work together in their mini-village just off the Ring Road. (Many of them have been around the world for international competitions but the lack of government patronage for their sport means they’re always struggling for opportunities - a painfully familiar story for anyone who follows the tribulations of sportsmen/athletes other than cricketers.) Their life here is a remarkable model of community living, very disciplined and rigorous (which doesn’t prevent them from having television sets and even CD players inside most of their huts!). Will blog about it in detail later.

[Photo: Rajesh Thakur for Outlook]