Ronak Sawant is an artist engaged in performing, literary and visual arts. He is a life explorer and a free soul who uses his art, wisdom and life's journey to inspire people and make a positive change in the world.

December 08, 2016

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"ज़िंदगी एक ही बार मिलती है" (Zindagi Ek Hi Baar Milti Hai) - Poem by Ronak Sawant

ज़िंदगी एक ही बार मिलती है,
दिल से जी ले,
खुल कर जी ले।

दोबारा नहीं मिलेगी ये ज़िंदगी,
वक़्त होने से पहले कर ले इससे दोस्ती,
वक़्त होने से पहले कर ले सारी मस्ती।


रोनक सावंत

~~~

"Zindagi Ek Hi Baar Milti Hai"


Zindagi ek hi baar milti hai,
Dil se jee le,
Khul kar jee le.

Dobara nahin milegi yeh zindagi,
Waqt hone se pehle karle isse dosti,
Waqt hone se pehle karle saari masti.


- Ronak Sawant

November 14, 2016

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Cover Photo: A Child Forever - Ronak Sawant

Childhood is the root of our lives; the root which grows into a plant (young age) and then later into a tree (old age), as the time passes. I am 22 now, and I am into the plant stage. The plant stage is the most significant stage of life. Because most of the people fail in this stage due to some reasons, and this is the stage which fades away the root stage of our lives, childhood!

But like a plant, I too feel my roots (the child in me) every day. I love to meet that child because this child is the one who taught me how to live a free life without stress and worries. This child is the one who made me realise the real meaning of happiness that it exists in the little things of day-to-day life. Even though being a plant (young) now, I don’t find joy in huge things. This child is the one who made it so clear to me that love is the ultimate cure. The more love you give, the more you will receive. Even though tomorrow when I will turn into a tree, I will forever keep a child in me alive. And I will always try my best to meet my root (the child in me) every single day.

So here’s the one who is writing this blog, not as a young Ronak Sawant but as a child Ronak Sawant. And here’s to everyone who likes to meet and have kept the child in them alive, Happy Children’s Day!

Ronak Sawant's childhood photo
That's me when I was almost five years old.
So many good memories of me when I was a child!

A child forever!

October 21, 2016

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Cover Photo: Journey of Life - Song by Ronak Sawant

[Verse 1]

Life is a blessing and beautiful

Life is a gift and graceful

There's so much to do

There's so much to learn

So many places to go

This life is only the one

Stop chasing money

Just do what you love

Cause life's journey is not forever

It has an end, and death can occur whenever

Life is all about living

So live before you die

 

[Chorus]

Yeah

I'm gonna walk

this journey of life

I'm gonna live

this journey of life

And I'm gonna breathe

O-O-O-O, O-O-O-O, O-O-O-O, O

this journey of

this journey of

this journey of

this journey of life

 

[Verse 2]

Life is a mystery and magical

Life is precious and practical

Everything happens here for a reason

Love, happiness and peace is a mission

Listen to the voice coming from inside

Follow your heart and enjoy the ride

Take that one step of your life

And don't be afraid to be alive

Life is all about the journey

So don't worry about where you will arrive

Just live in the moment

Have fun and make it count

 

[Chorus]

Yeah

I'm gonna walk

this journey of life

I'm gonna live

this journey of life

And I'm gonna breathe

O-O-O-O, O-O-O-O, O-O-O-O, O

this journey of

this journey of

this journey of

this journey of life

 

[Bridge] (x2)

Come

Let's go on the journey

Let's enjoy this journey

Let's live this journey

Let's breathe in this journey of life

 

[Chorus] (x2)

Yeah

I'm gonna walk

this journey of life

I'm gonna live

this journey of life

And I'm gonna breathe

O-O-O-O, O-O-O-O, O-O-O-O, O

this journey of

this journey of

this journey of

this journey of life

 

 

Song by Ronak Sawant

October 11, 2016

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"मंज़िल यहीं है" (Manzil Yahin Hai) - Poem by Ronak Sawant

रास्ता कठिन है,
लेकिन नामुमकिन नहीं।

भटकना तो तय है,
लेकिन घूम जाना नहीं।

दुःख तो हर पल है,
लेकिन दिल कमजोर नहीं।

ज़िंदगी पैसों में समाई है,
लेकिन ख़ुशी नहीं।

डरता क्यों है मुसाफिर,
मंज़िल यहीं है।


- रोनक सावंत

~~~

"Manzil Yahin Hai"


Raasta kathin hai,
Lekin namumkin nahi.

Bhatakna toh tay hai,
Lekin ghoom jana nahi.

Dukh toh har pal hai,
Lekin dil kamzor nahi.

Zindagi paiso mein samaayi hai,
Lekin khushi nahi.

Darta kyun hai musafir,
Manzil yahin hai.


- Ronak Sawant

August 07, 2016

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Cover Photo: Street Photography in India - Ronak Sawant

"Street Photography is not about taking photos on the street;
it’s about capturing the soul of the street."
– Ronak Sawant

I am Ronak Sawant, and I love doing Street Photography the most above all the photography styles. I believe that Street Photography is not just an art, but it’s a way of life. After spending almost 1 and half years capturing photographs on the street (well that’s my journey so far as a Photographer), I think it’s my responsibility as a Street Photographer that this Street Photography art goes out to people in a right way. I mean the people should know what exactly Street Photography is all about and how to represent this beautiful art. It’s like if one person can’t take that one necessary step to bring that change; to educate or to showcase the real art then the scene will remain the same as it is. As I truly believe that one person can make a difference, so this is why I am writing the blog sharing my experiences, moments and perspective on Street Photography in India.

In India, people are not very much aware as in they don’t know that Street Photography is an art and it’s a type of photography style that exists. Even today, if you carry a DSLR camera, go outside and capture photographs on the street, 99% of people will consider you a ‘पत्रकार’ (a Reporter or a Cameraman). The incident which has happened to me many times and it still happens!

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.

Only a few people in India know about Street Photography, just very few. Here in India, people only know three types of Photography very well, and that’s Fashion, Wedding and Wildlife Photography. But when asked about Street Photography, it’s a great doubt! According to mentality here, Street Photography is just about capturing the beggars on the street. You know, it feels sad when the Photographers themselves give an incorrect knowledge or information about the art which they are practising. So how can you expect the same from non-photography people? It’s not possible right!

What is Street Photography?


Cover Photo: Street Photography Quote - Ronak Sawant

According to me, Street Photography is about capturing the moments and collecting the soul of the street. This type of photography is very different from all the other styles. Here you don’t have any model from magazine cover to pose for you. You don’t have any lighting set-up, the only light you have is nature. You don’t have a studio set-up, no make-up, nothing. You have to make use of whatever present on the street. That's what makes street photography different as well as exciting. You don’t know what will happen, what moments you will witness. It is unpredictable just as life. It’s all about you being present in the moment with your camera, vision and wander in search of the perfect street shot. Be it a tea stall, vegetable market, a man walking, a girl reading, etc. any place or any situation. Everything is just real here, not like a studio. Everything is natural, not planned or posed shots. Here the entire street is your photography studio, and you become its part to capture it all.

My Experiences:


While doing Street Photography, there are people who count me in as a Tourist who according to them is probably seeing the city for the first time. That's a good sign essentially! If you make them feel this, then you are doing a good job. And then there are those who consider me as a Cameraman, the mentality I tell you!

There’s also one incident that I had with the Police Officers in Mumbai. I was exploring the streets of my hometown Bandra in April 2014, having hands-on my friend’s Nikon SLR Camera. That is when a Police saw me with a Camera and called me. For a moment I got scared as I thought, “Why he is calling, will he take off my camera or what?” You know, my Mom and Dad always told me to be safe while doing whatever I am doing with a camera outside. They also advised me saying to stay away from Police and don’t hand a camera to them if a situation comes. Remembering these words of my parents, I walked confidently toward the Police. He asked directly, "What are you doing with a Camera in this alley (street)?" I just said, "I am capturing Photographs". (It was a silent street by the way). He then called another Police Officer who was standing some distance away from us and told him all the matter. The second Police Officer asked me to show my camera right away. This time I got very much aware, and I showed him all the photographs that I had captured, holding a camera in my hand. And just for the sake, I even told him "if you feel that I am doing something wrong, then I will delete all the pictures if you want". Just when I whispered any other word, he was amazed at my Photography. He just said, “हे खूप छान फोटो आहेत, परंतु आता विधानसभा निवडणुकीची तयारी चालू आहे, म्हणून फोटोग्राफीला इथे परवानगी नाही” (These are great photos, but now it's assembly election preparations going on, so photography is not allowed here). That is when I realised that its election preparations going on (though the elections were three weeks away) and the Police Officers are just doing their duty. Then they both said with care to switch off my camera and walk away from the alley as quickly as possible and do Photography somewhere else, not here. I said, Thank you in return and left. This was certainly a good experience! A big up to Mumbai Police for always taking care of the city!

अगर अच्छा करोगे, तो अच्छा पाओगे। (If you do well, then the good will happen to you.)

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.

My Moments:


I remember every photograph that I capture, and it’s behind the picture story too. Here is the image that I captured near Khar, Mumbai a few months back while I was doing a Photo Walk there.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.

These two gentlemen’s in this picture were in their world, and so was I with my camera. As you can see, the Person 2 was giving a leg massage at a bus stop to Person 1. I observed this and captured it right away. You can see the expression of Person 1 doing a gesture, “Who is he? Why he is taking a photo?” When this kind of situation arises while shooting, I hate it because I had to explain to them what I am doing and what Street Photography is! I have done this many times, wasted my Photo Walk time and did an explanation. It is necessary sometimes because there are people who are not at all photo-friendly.

Here is another image I captured back in 2015 while I was exploring the streets of Dadar, Mumbai. I viewed this beautiful old woman, sitting by a roadside and I don’t know why but I wanted to capture her. So just when I focussed my lens towards her, she just did this 'Namaste' pose! It is one awesome moment!

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.

Here are some of my favourite Street Photographs that I captured exploring the streets of India:


Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Delhi, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Delhi, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Goa, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Goa, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Amritsar, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Amritsar, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Vaibhavwadi, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Vaibhavwadi, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Nagpur, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Nagpur, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Ooty, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Ooty, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.

Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.
Street Photography by Ronak Sawant - Mumbai, India.

"If you haven’t captured any photograph on the street,
then you surely don’t know what real photography is all about."
– Ronak Sawant

July 30, 2016

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Cover Photo: Pahaadon Se Pyaar - Ronak Sawant

पता नहीं क्या हुआ है मुझे आजकल,

पहाड़ों में अपने आप को देख रहा हूँ,

पहाड़ों में अपने दिल को महसूस कर रहा हूँ,

पहाड़ों में जैसे शायद खुद ही को ढूंढ रहा हूँ

अभी तो यहीं हूँ मैं, पर दिल है कहीं पहाडों में

ये पहाड़ों से प्यार है मेरा या कुछ और!

~~~


Pahaadon Se Pyaar



Pata nahi kya hua hai mujhe aaj-kal,

Pahaadon mein apne aap ko dekh raha hoon,

Pahaadon mein apne dil ko mehsoos kar raha hoon,

Pahaadon mein jaise shayad khud hi ko dhoondh raha hoon.

Abhi toh yahin hoon main, par dil hai kahin pahaadon mein.

Yeh pahaadon se pyaar hai mera yaa kuch aur!

July 20, 2016

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"अभी तो बहुत कुछ है बाकी" (Abhi Toh Bahut Kuch Hai Baaki) - Poem by Ronak Sawant

दिन आता है,
दिन जाता है,
रुकता नहीं है यह कभी,
बस यूँ ही चलते रहता है।

ज़िंदगी का दस्तूर भी कुछ ऐसा ही होता है,
जो किस्मत में लिखा है शायद वही मिलता है।
वक़्त तो बहुत है हमारे पास यहाँ,
लेकिन उसकी चाबी अपने हाथों में कहाँ।

हर पल यहाँ कुछ कुछ होते रहता है,
दिन बस ऐसे ही ढलते जाता है।
कभी है ख़ुशी तो कभी है ग़म,
कभी चेहरे पे हसी तो कभी आँखें है नम।

कुछ सीख ले इस दिन से यारा,
आएंगे ना ऐसे लम्हें दोबारा।
रुकना मत इतने दूर आकर,
अभी तो बहुत कुछ है बाकी मेरे हमसफ़र।


रोनक सावंत

~~~

"Abhi Toh Bahut Kuch Hai Baaki"


Din aata hai,
Din jaata hai,
Rukhta nahi hai yeh kabhi,
Bas yunhi chalte rehta hai.

Zindagi ka dastoor bhi kuch aisa hi hota hai,
Jo kismat mein likha hain shayad wahi milta hai.
Waqt toh bahut hain humaare paas yahan,
Lekin uski chaabee apne haathon mein kahan.

Har pal yahan kuch na kuch hote rehta hai,
Din bas aise hi dhalte jaata hai.
Kabhi hai khushi toh kabhi hai gham,
Kabhi chehre pe hassi toh kabhi aankhein hai nam.

Kuch seekhle iss din se yaara,
Aayenge na aise lamhein dobara.
Rukhna mat itne dur aakar,
Abhi toh bahut kuch hai baaki mere humsafar.


- Ronak Sawant

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"Ronak Sawant is Ronak Sawant because Ronak Sawant is a Krishna bhakta."

– Ronak Sawant