Up against the tide

It takes a lot of courage and determination to pursue a passion when you are the first among 1.25 billion people. Ishita Malaviya, the first Indian female surfer who dubs surfing as way of life, recalls her love for the sea and more

Ishita’s tryst with surfing, as she says, happened through sheer coincidence. “I have moved to Manipal from hometown in Mumbai to pursue degree in journalism. It was in Mumbai, I met a German exchange student through my boy friend Tushar Pathiyan, who told me about an ashram of surfers - an hour’s drive from our place. After a small conversation with the California-based surfers, I had my hands on surfing board and was on sea,” she recalls her first steps into the ocean.

The 26-year-old surfer admits that nurturing her passion – surfing is a costly affair. “My parents haven’t received well the fact that I want to pursue surfing as a career. In summer of 2007, I and my boyfriend saved enough money, sold what we don’t need to buy our first surfing board. It changed my life. However, we had to share a surfing board for two years, until we pooled enough money to buy another one,” she adds.

Dubbing surfing as natural progression from swimming, Ishita says that stepping into the ocean has changed her life. “I find myself drawing parallels between surfing and life. I now chase my dreams with the same vigour and passion as I charge into the waves, even if it means wiping-out and facing defeat every once in a while; because I know there’s always going to be another wave coming,” she beams.

Recalling her early days at surfing, “When I first googled ‘Surfing in India’ back in 2007, I couldn’t get even one result. Training was expensive, so, I learnt whatever I did mostly online and taking tips from surfers, who visited the coastal town of Manipal,” she recounts.

Commenting on the surfing scenario in India, she says that people are catching up with the sport. She adds that people from cities are pursuing the activity as a weekend sport / hobby but she has found patrons in villages. “In villages, ocean is looked upon as a man’s territory and women are confined to houses. Moreover, with the tendency to equate fair skin to being beautiful; surfing where it is inevitable to get tanned is a strict ‘no’ for women.

All the more reason, I am surprised to see the number of women coming from villages, particularly near our surfing club – The Shaka Surf Club, Kodi Bengre, Udipi. Women are stepping out from their confines. It is heartening to see that even a 65-year-old woman has taken to surfing. She has been very active from past two months. Tushar and I have taught many girls how to surf. Our regular crew includes three young surfer girls from the fishing village we surf in. I have a lot of hope for the future of women’s surfing in India,” she adds.

“I have never paid attention to what people said about tanning. I have often heard random people saying, “Oh, Ishita you are tanned!” and even had some of my friends asking, “Are you working in a charcoal mine?” I have never paid attention to these comments. For a long time I was the only female surfer, but now the numbers have increased,” she says.

She was featured in a documentary ‘Beyond the Surface’ directed by US-based surfer Crystal Thornburg-Homcy and Ishita travelled along with the team on the southern Indian coastline, which she dubs as a great experience. An ambassador for surfing brand Roxy, Ishita is one of the judges for the National Geographic Channel’s ‘Mission Explorer’. Commenting on being the judge on the show, “I am honoured to be a part of jury. The programme gives a platform for people. It helps them to come out of their shell,” she adds.

By:Aditya Parankusam