A VOYAGE WOVEN WITH SALT & STARLIGHT

AS A GRADUATE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, SUBIKSHA WORKED AT A PRIVATE BANK BEFORE PURSUING HER PASSION OF BECOMING A FISHERWOMAN AND A SEAFOOD ENTREPRENEUR

- S GODSON WISELY DASS

THE Periyathalai shoreline is alive with the sound of crashing waves when a silhouette emerges in the faint glow of the moonlit sky, balancing fishing nets on her shoulder as the salt-laden wind whips around her. It is common for people on the seashore to carry a fish basket on their heads, but carrying fishing nets on their shoulders is uncommon.

Subiksha, a 23-year-old fisherwoman, moves with the ease of someone born to the sea. A fibre craft boat waits at the water's edge, bobbing against the fierce waves. As her father and brother push the vessel into the surf, Subiksha climbs aboard, ready to chart yet another daring voyage into the dark, unpredictable waters.

Unlike most women in her village, who stick to selling the day's catch on the shore, Subiksha has embraced the life of a full-fledged fisherwoman - a role traditionally reserved for men. From casting nets to hauling them back with precision, she has defied societal norms to claim her place in the deep blue, where every journey is a test of endurance and skill.

For Subiksha, the sea is both a challenge and a calling. Fishing isn't just about physical strength; it demands courage and precision, she says. Over the past two years, Subiksha has joined her father, J Kumar, and brother, K Leander (22), in their fishing trips, defying high waves and stormy weather.