“When I look back at my academic life, I feel that being a student is not just a journey to earn a degree, but a process of understanding life, getting closer to society, and realizing one’s own responsibilities. The most important chapter of this journey has been at MDC College (Mass Media and Communication) affiliated with Gujarat University.”
From Classroom to Field
Two Years of Learning Journalism
When I began my Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication, I imagined journalism as fast-paced, exciting, and all about breaking news. Two years later, after classrooms, news desks, digital platforms, and rural fieldwork, I realized it is much more than it is a responsibility toward truth, society, and the people whose stories are often unheard. Learning Beyond the Basics, Academic courses taught me that journalism doesn’t exist in isolation. It is shaped by politics, economics, and society. Discussions on media ethics, sensationalism, and misinformation made me see the power and responsibility that come with being a journalist.
Writing as a Discipline
Practical assignments in news writing, reporting, and editing showed me that writing is more than expression, it is a disciplined, structured process. Working in Gujarati and English helped me understand that language shapes meaning and audience understanding. Journalism is about serving the reader, not the writer.
Media, Power, and Digital Challenges
Learning about media influence, ownership patterns, and digital platforms highlighted how news shapes public opinion. Understanding digital media, social media ethics, and misinformation taught me the importance of credibility and caution as both a journalist and a reader.
As I reflect on my journey through MDC, I realized how deeply my experiences shaped the way I now see and capture heritage around me. Every moment in the past connects to the stories I tell through my lens today.”
You can say Ravivari Bazaar, or Gujari Bazaar, is a 600-year-old historic Sunday flea market in Ahmedabad, established around 1414 by Sultan Ahmed Shah. Originally known as ‘Shukravari’ (Friday market) near Bhadra Fort, it moved over centuries before settling at the Sabarmati Riverfront in 1954. It offers affordable, varied, second-hand, and antique goods.
Origin: Founded in 1414 as “Khaas bazaar” or “Shukravari” (Friday Market) near Teen Darwaza.
Significance: It was a “poor man’s mall” where, according to local legend, even Sultan Ahmed Shah visited.
Relocations: Moved from Bhadra/Teen Darwaza, to near Siddi Saiyyed Mosque, then the old civil court, and finally the Sabarmati Riverfront (East bank) in August 1954.
Renaming: It transitioned from a Friday market to a Sunday market, becoming “Ravivari” (Sunday).
Modern Day: Formally inaugurated at the new Sabarmati Riverfront location in 2014 by Narendra Modi. It remains a thriving, culturally significant, and affordable market, often selling second-hand or “Gujri” (departed/used) goods.
Ravivari Bazaar : Culture, Representation & Heritage.
Ravivari Bazaar is not just a marketplace; it is a cultural space that represents the lived traditions, values, and everyday life of Ahmedabad. Through its people, practices, and objects, the bazaar preserves and reflects the city’s social heritage.
Cultural Representation :
Ravivari Bazaar represents the culture of simplicity and survival. Unlike modern commercial spaces, it reflects A culture of reuse and sustainability Face-to-face human interaction
Community-based economic activity The way vendors sit on the ground, arrange goods informally, and communicate directly with buyers shows a traditional lifestyle rooted in practicality rather than luxury.
How Ravivari Bazaar work and help to the Circular Economy –
What Is a Circular Economy? A circular economy is a system where Products are reused, repaired, resold, Waste is reduced
Materials stay in use for as long as possible
Instead of: Use → Throw → Replace
It follows: Use → Reuse → Repair → Recycle
Ravivari Bazaar is a real-life example of a circular economy in action without using the term formally.
Most items sold in Ravivari Bazaar are Second-hand books
Used utensils Old tools, furniture, and accessories
These items still have functional value Are reused instead of being discarded. This extends the life cycle of products, which is the core idea of a circular economy.
Informal Recycling Network Unsold or damaged items often
Get dismantled Are sold as parts Enter recycling chains This informal system supports Scrap collectors Small recyclers
Thus, nothing is wasted completely.
Why Ravivari Bazaar Is Important for Society –
Ravivari Bazaar shows that sustainability does not need technology alone. Traditional markets already practice eco-friendly models. Circular economy can exist at the grassroots level For journalism students, this market is a story of sustainable living, cultural wisdom, and economic resilience.
Ravivari Bazaar functions as a living circular economy system, where objects, value, and utility continuously circulate. It proves that traditional markets contribute significantly to sustainability by reusing resources, reducing waste, and supporting livelihoods—long before the term “circular economy” became popular.
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Ravivari Bazaar comes alive long before the city fully wakes up. Our journey began early in the morning, when the streets were calm and the air felt fresh. As students of Mass Media and Communication, this visit was not just a field trip, it was an opportunity to observe life closely through the lens of journalism and photography.
As we entered the bazaar, we witnessed people working together in quiet coordination. Vendors arrived with their goods, spread cloths on the ground, arranged items carefully, and helped one another set up their spaces. There was a strong sense of togetherness, hard work mixed with laughter, conversation, and familiarity. It felt less like a marketplace and more like a living community.
Walking through the bazaar, we saw everyday objects such as books, clothes, decorative items, and many things we use in our daily lives. Observing how these items were sold, reused, and given new value offered a deeper understanding of the market’s role in supporting livelihoods and promoting sustainability. The bazaar reflected simplicity, survival, and creativity all at once.
The market offered a wide range of authentic items from earrings and kurtis to old telephones, drama posters, and objects from earlier times. Though simple, many of these items carried cultural and emotional value. They reminded us how second-hand goods remain relevant and meaningful in a fast-changing world.
Interacting with the vendors became one of the most insightful parts of the visit. Conversations flowed naturally. Observing how sellers communicated, explained the worth of their products, and built trust with customers revealed how effective communication works at the grassroots level. These interactions taught me valuable lessons about approaching people, conveying ideas, and understanding the human side of selling.
As part of our photography assignment, I began capturing moments from the market. The people there were grounding and welcoming. Many did not hesitate in front of the camera instead, they embraced conversation. Photography here was not just about aesthetics, it was about human connection.
One particular experience stayed with me. I clicked a photograph of an aunty sitting at her stall. She noticed and smiled, then kindly offered me a cup of chai. As we spoke, she asked about the kind of moments I liked to capture. When I showed her the photograph I had taken, she looked at it with happiness and pride. She then requested me to take a family photograph. Capturing those simple, heartfelt moments made me realize how trust transforms photography into storytelling.
Later, we reached a section where our sir was standing near a book-selling vendor. He encouraged us to observe closely and interact. He spoke about books, shared basic knowledge, and highlighted the importance of second-hand books in keeping knowledge alive and accessible.
By the end of the visit, Ravivari Bazaar felt like more than just a market. It became an open classroom where culture, communication, and everyday life came together. This experience taught me that journalism is not only about reporting events, but about observing people, listening to their stories, and finding meaning in ordinary spaces.
Ravivari Bazaar reminded me that real stories exist where life is lived honestly and all we need is the willingness to look, listen, and feel.
Conclusion – As a student of Mass Media and Communication, this journey helped me connect theory with reality. Ravivari Bazaar showed me how journalism and photography can preserve culture, highlight human stories, and give voice to everyday lives. It reminded me that real learning happens when we step out, observe closely, and approach the world with curiosity and empathy.
