Highlighting Heroes

“I like to think of the ocean as the Womb of Mother Earth, in which all life on this planet was born. So being in the sea always gives me the feeling of coming home.” 

Meet Ishita Malaviya, she is India’s first professional female surfer. Ishita began surfing in 2007 in Manipal after being introduced to the sport by an acquaintance. She soon began taking weekly surf lessons and in 2011 was given the prestigious title of ‘India’s First Professional Female Surfer.’ In 2007, she and her partner Tushar Pathiyan established The Shaka Surf Club in Kodi Bengre, to contribute to popularising surfing in India. Ishita also has a degree in journalism from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.