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In the spirit of adventure



When I was in the Andamans, learning to dive, I learnt a very remark-worthy figure. Of the hundreds of people who learn to dive there every season, only 1 per cent are Indians.

I couldn’t fathom it. What could possibly be keeping us away from enjoying a thrilling activity like scuba diving. Not the cost. Because it’s paltry compared to what a large per cent of us tend to spend on holidays. Are we just not into water sports? Have we lost our spirit of adventure?

We have one of the most beautiful and longest coastlines in the world. Yet there’s almost no sign of the water sports like snorkelling, surfing and diving that are enjoyed all over the world. Perhaps we just don’t see the sea as a source of adventure and fun.

Also, the tendency to take unnecessary risks has always been frowned upon. I learnt that the hard way when a friend had an accident while paragliding. His family was upset with all of his friends for not dissuading him from taking up such a reckless activity.

Is it reckless? I don’t think so. When you prepare yourself, get training and take all necessary precautions, an adventure activity is as dangerous as crossing the road. Shit can happen anywhere. At least in the former, you’re doing something that makes you happy and alive.

But attitudes are changing.

Indians have more disposable income now than ever before, and are beginning to get over the save, save, save attitude. They’re eager to explore their potential; after all, you can never know what you’re capable of until you push yourself to your limits and discover lands beyond them.

For a people waking up to the possibilities of adventure sport and travel, can there be any better place to be than in India? Our vast nation offers a more diverse landscape than most other countries. And while we may not have the infrastructure at present, the right equipment is slowly becoming available.

Which brings me to something new that we’ve started in the paper today, something that I’m very excited about. It’s a new section that’s dedicated to fitness and adventure sports, meant to cater to this new breed of Indians.

I’m hoping that through this page we’ll be able to explore the variety of adventure opportunities available in the length and breadth of India and offer a map to any traveller wanting to set out on this journey.

Let’s see how it works out.

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Posted by Neha Dara on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 6:39 pm 
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  • madhusudan

    I think the new section you propose is an excellent idea. The inputs will help change the idea of people that holiday is only meant to visit the Mal Road on a hill station. Shopping and eating.
    The new generation needs these inputs and support.
    On the lighter side-I agree that India offers the best avenues for adventure and it is understandable that only 1% of Indians were diving in Andamans. My reason- adventure is in our day to day life- see how we travel to office during the monsoons- we wade through water, push the car, fall into open gutters. Do we have much energy left for diving!!!

    [Reply]

    neha Reply:
    August 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    Ha! You have such a valid point. Our lives are definitely quite adventurous on a daily basis :)

    [Reply]

    neha Reply:
    August 1st, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    Bingo!

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  • Sana

    Hey!Looking forward to the new introduction!:) Thanks fr the lovely post!

    [Reply]

    neha Reply:
    August 1st, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    Sana, hope you’ve been following the new section. If not, log on to http://www.hindustantimes.com/rush

    [Reply]

  • http:/gypsyfeettravels.wordpress.com Kanchuki

    I think there is something about water that scares us all. We have been taught from child-hood to be wary of it – not to go too near the edge or we will fall in. Water = scary, our brains think.

    I realised this the tough way when I learnt to swim at the age of 22 – I found I was afraid of going into the deep – am even to this day even though I am a decent swimmer.

    I remember snorkelling in Hawaii – and really loving the underwater scene. But the sense of fear never left me even when I was swimming next to a sea turtle near a wonderful coral reef.

    [Reply]

    neha Reply:
    August 1st, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    Wow. Learning to swim at 22 is an accomplishment. Hope you lose the fear soon!

    [Reply]

  • Amit Nigam

    HI, may i know the name of the column and the edition which carries it???? And is it in main paper or some supplement????? would wait for ur reply……

    Thanks and regards

    [Reply]

    neha Reply:
    July 25th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    Hi Amit
    The adventure page is published on every Sunday. it’s called Rush and is the second page of the sports section. The page also prints on Saturday, and looks at fitness sports on that day.

    [Reply]

  • Maninder Singh

    The most important aspect you might have overlooked is that the local (indian) tourists are outnumbered by foreign tourists. Andaman is a costly destination to approach to, most of indian tourists are on LTC and would refrain from luxuries of costly water sports. Otherwise there is no reason that an indian tourist would lag behind in any adventure sports.

    [Reply]

    neha Reply:
    August 1st, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    Maninder
    While what you say might be true to of A&N to an extent, how can it explain the same trend in a place like Goa?

    [Reply]

  • John

    I think the problem is more basic – most Indians dont know how to swim. Indian cities generally dont have adequate facilities to learn swimming. If your parents are members of a club or if you go to a school that has a pool, you might learn but generally opportunities to learn swimming are few (unless you are really interested and make the effort).

    And while it difficult to find a place to learn swimming as an kid, it harder as an adult. Cant really do water sports unless you can keep from sinking…..

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  • kedar

    i completely agree with your blog .most of us live in too much protected environment and hence are scared to take risks and few are so busy with their work that they have forgot that thers a life beyond desktops . Also adventure sports is extremly neglected by out tourism dept apart from sikkim ,madhya pradesh and himachal others states are doing nothing towards it .In my state “Maharashtra” there are more than 600 hill forts and sahaydris are called as trekkers paradise but most of these forts are neglected and still unexplored

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  • Sriram

    Well written.. The people who wanted to be distinguished themselves owning a hatch will go for this. Impressive mileage and rocking specifications.. I am planning for this..

    [Reply]

  • http://www.national-autotransport.com/ HughHaley@ Auto Transport

    This car is definitely a cool car! I like mini cars so I guess this will pass also seeing the photos you have done it gives me a better view in an out of it which is such a fantastic way of doing a review. You are definitely doing a great job with your articles.

    [Reply]

  • Ram

    Right on sir!! Well written logical article. It is the political administration that creates the progress in any state, not the size. Gujrat is not a small state, Bihar did not change its size but the leadership changed from Lalu to Nitish and one can visibily see the difference in the progress. Stone statues do not create wealth, center funds, tax payer’s money that goes in the politician’s pocket does not help poor people or creates the infrastructures.

    Maya government can help the people of U.P. by allowing some other party to come in the power. BSP – you had your chnace and do not make excuses now and blame the center. Delhi is the sam center government for Gujrat and Bihar or Kerla. God help our brothers and sisters of U.P.

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  • Kattooparambil

    Mayawati is the loadstar of venality in India with her fellow travellers, Karunanithi and the likes. She has a very humble beginning and has feathered her nest to the tunes of crores of Indian rupees. She is a scheduled caste woman and wearing the badge of honour of her fellow earthling-scheduled caste people-and didn’t make an iota of difference to their quotidian miserable existence.

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  • Anonymous

    She is not MA-YA, she is YA-MA, so she will do as her name makes her do. It is our misfortune to get her elected so we must pay the price…

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  • Anonymous

    “Maya keeps them poor, gives them states”

    Agreed but Sonia keeps them poor, doesn’t gives them states..

    [Reply]

  • Chimpu

    Mayawati is less corrupt than congress and reduced crime unlike Mulay Yadav.

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  • Ssmoorthy

    Whole life in India is Maya. The article is well written. Are the people falling for these illusionary tricks(MAYA). The people must ask for improvements. The politicians want to be re-elected to power so that they make more money.Some of the chief ministers have made hundreds of crores of rupees.If they divide UP into four states, the center should reorganise India into economic zonesw rather than linguistic states or caste based divisions. It is very unfortunate, disturbing,and revolting to percieve the population being divided on caste basis more now than at the time of Independence.The political forces do not appear to forsee the potential future disintegration of India.

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  • Lone Ranger

    Strange that you find anyone talking pro-Indian as RSS agent – are you a Pakistani? While I don’t agree with everything Arnab has written in this article, especially the means to justify ends, I agree with his arguments about India taking a dominating position in ICC. After all, in today’s world, Cricket as a game is kept alive to a large extent by Indian viewership (and consequent sponsership revenue).
    I happen to be an NRI based in Australia and find the Mai-Baap culture of pandering to Gora Saheb’s nauseating…

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  • Anonymous

    Looks like you are a Congressi or a Pakistani..only these two variety of people are opposed to India.

    [Reply]