India
Photo Credit: Shaka Surf Club
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Name: Ishita Malaviya
Location: Manipal, India
Age: 22
Unique thing about her: She became India’s first female surfer after taking lessons at a surf ashram.
We found her! India’s first female surfer! Her name is Ishita, a 22-year old journalism student turned surfer. Ishita actually moved from Mumbai to Manipal, India a few years back to pursue higher education. She became involved with a surfing ashram down there (yes, you heard it right!) where she became their first female Indian student. Little did she know that surfing would change her entire life.
Her story is pretty extraordinary, actually. For years she shared one board between her and her other stoked surfing friend. They were so committed to surfing that they eventually sold off everything they could to buy another surfboard to hit the waves. Today, Ishita runs her own surf school. In addition to being a trailblazer, role model, entrepreneur and athlete, Ishita works to teach the local community swimming, surfing, and water safety. Ishita also educates them on environmental issues such as learning to take care and clean up their local ecosystem. She is an example of the important role the surfer girl is playing as a local changemaker in her community.
Location: Manipal, India
Age: 22
Unique thing about her: She became India’s first female surfer after taking lessons at a surf ashram.
We found her! India’s first female surfer! Her name is Ishita, a 22-year old journalism student turned surfer. Ishita actually moved from Mumbai to Manipal, India a few years back to pursue higher education. She became involved with a surfing ashram down there (yes, you heard it right!) where she became their first female Indian student. Little did she know that surfing would change her entire life.
Her story is pretty extraordinary, actually. For years she shared one board between her and her other stoked surfing friend. They were so committed to surfing that they eventually sold off everything they could to buy another surfboard to hit the waves. Today, Ishita runs her own surf school. In addition to being a trailblazer, role model, entrepreneur and athlete, Ishita works to teach the local community swimming, surfing, and water safety. Ishita also educates them on environmental issues such as learning to take care and clean up their local ecosystem. She is an example of the important role the surfer girl is playing as a local changemaker in her community.
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Ishita says, “For us, surfing goes hand-in-hand with social
awareness." In fact, we are waiting for the monsoons to be over
to organize a beach cleanup with the locals.” Stay tuned as Brown Girl Surf TM journeys with our friends and
fellow researchers to the motherland to find out more about this extraordinary
changemaker, what she has to share with us, and what Brown Girl Surf TM can do to help
her be even more effective as a trailblazer in her country.
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SKYPE INTERVIEWS WITH SOUTH ASIA'S FIRST SURFER GIRLS from Storytellers For Good on Vimeo. Check out Brown Girl Surf's Skype interviews with South Asia's first female surfers.
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Bangladesh
Could it be her???
Photo Credit: jaimalyogis.com
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Name: Unknown
Location: Cox Bazar, Bangladesh
Age: Unknown
Unique thing about her: Well, once we find her, we will let you know! But read below for a unique story!
Finding the first female surfer in Bangladesh will be a bit tricky. But we know who to start with. His name is Jafar Alam and he is the first documented surfer in Bangladesh. Jafar first witnessed surfing in his home town of Cox Bazar when an Aussie tourist happened to be surfing the waves there. Fascinated by the Aussie’s ability to “walk on water” he convinced the tourist to sell him the board for US $20. Jafar then spent the next 11 years trying to teach himself to surf with no wax and no leash. It wasn’t until a group of Western men showed up years later with their own boards, wax, and willingness to give him a few pointers, that he was set on the right track on surfing. Years later Jafar started teaching surfing to others in his community, including females!
Location: Cox Bazar, Bangladesh
Age: Unknown
Unique thing about her: Well, once we find her, we will let you know! But read below for a unique story!
Finding the first female surfer in Bangladesh will be a bit tricky. But we know who to start with. His name is Jafar Alam and he is the first documented surfer in Bangladesh. Jafar first witnessed surfing in his home town of Cox Bazar when an Aussie tourist happened to be surfing the waves there. Fascinated by the Aussie’s ability to “walk on water” he convinced the tourist to sell him the board for US $20. Jafar then spent the next 11 years trying to teach himself to surf with no wax and no leash. It wasn’t until a group of Western men showed up years later with their own boards, wax, and willingness to give him a few pointers, that he was set on the right track on surfing. Years later Jafar started teaching surfing to others in his community, including females!
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_ So, the first female surfer there had to have been one of
Jafar’s students. It is unfortunate
though that some of them dropped out because some families say surfing goes
against religious and social values. But
there has to be a girl that persevered and made it through and that has adopted
surfing as her way of life.
We’ll be journeying over to Bangladesh's emerging surfing community to investigate and explore how the sport of surfing is impacting the lives of women and girls in this South Asian nation! Stay tuned! |
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