Johan goes unnoticed most of the time though his studio is literally central to the needs of the public and students, in particular, in terms of passport photos, exam paper photocopies and binding research work and theses. I often visit his Cheval Blanc Studio, a legendary service provider since the days of his paternal grandfather, a Chinese-born respected patriarch, Mr Marcel. The studio, opened in the early 60s, has been the ‘theatre’, to say of thousands of young couples, is not an exaggeration. The customers wishing to have romantic pictures would pose like Indian stars, in black and white. I remember old Mr Marcel took soft Chinese paint brush, applied it to wet rose ‘papier muslin’ and painted the faces of the couples in red or rose thus producing colour pics of the time.

Rodolphe, the elder son, inherited Cheval Blanc Studio and on his passing, his son Johan took over the business. Since then, the young man has diversified the activities to respond to present-day demands. Apart from photocopying he prints your name or dedicated personalized message on mugs often tagged with names of English soccer teams. The visitor is often attracted by old pictures and frames that suggest you could be served in minutes. The space at his counter would be crowded if there were some 5 or 6 clients but the familiarity as between villagers ease Johan’s job. No one pressurizes him nor his assistant knowing breaking the queue is anti-social. The people hail from various social classes with a common aim all respecting the social decencies: no shouting, no misplaced vocabulary and no way for any self-promotion. That would not have any impact on Johan. He would smilingly make a soft remark.

True, Johan is a child of a double ancestry from the two far east subcontinents. He has inherited from the wisdom of century old selfdefence practices from his father Rodolphe a recognized master in karate. Johan lives up to the philosophy of this millennium martial art. My brief incursion in the karate literature knowledge has confirmed my observation as to the balance between being soft and relaxed he incarnates at all times of the day. In fact, he tells me he applies the same principle to all areas of his life, his job, and training that make his body, mind and spirit develop simultaneously as spelled by the great Master Funakoshi. Johan is a 4-Dan karate trainer who is on further training himself to continue improve his performance. “Nou aprann toultan, nou bizin humb ek doue pou ameliore’’.We need to always learn and be dedicated in order to improve.

Johan keeps the torch of the Tigers Karate Club burning. The Club founded by Rodolphe in 1969 has an ‘alumni’ of several generations of ‘pupils’ having trained over the years. He has built the confidence to manage the Club through the advice, guidance and counselling of a renowned master, Georges Li Yin Ping, who founded the first karate dojo in Mauritius. Johan considers George as his spiritual father and holds high the reputation of the All-Mauritius Karate Federation in his capacity as executive member.

Cheval Blanc Studio has, even before we realise the fact, gone down in the history of the district of Savanne. Life goes on like a long quiet river along Barracks Road the images of which have navigated oceans and continents. Many are those from the diaspora who drop for a picture they themselves shoot and go to their homes overseas with a tint of nostalgia.