Charting Her Own Course

Over the past 5,000 years, India has crafted many a fascinating story on its 7,500-km coastline.

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From the world’s first tidal dock circa 2300 BC in Lothal, the ancient Silk Route and the establishment of East India Company in the eastern coast to today’s modern container ports, the country has been a crucial link in the world maritime trade,” says Asha Sheth, chairperson of Vasant J Sheth Memorial Foundation and former vice-chairman and currently a member of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). “However, there was a time when the significance of India’s rich seafaring past was overlooked. Today, as a sign of changing times, maritime heritage is finally finding pride of place.”

A pioneer in documenting and promoting India’s maritime heritage, Sheth has played a vital role in preserving this invaluable part of India’s history by highlighting environmental issues relating to coastal activities and garnering social support. Unconventional in thinking and independent in her endeavours, she produced the documentary fiction film, Chattarbhang, on untouchables in Uttar Pradesh in 1976 and was one of the founder members of the Museum Society of Bombay at the Prince of Wales Museum in 1963. The only daughter of K D Malaviya, considered the father of the Indian oil industry, and wife of Vasant J Sheth, a pioneer and visionary of the Indian shipping industry, Sheth has charted her own course. In an exclusive conversation with Sai Prabha Kamath, the 83 year-old talks about her family, journey and vision for the country’s coasts.

You were brought up in a family of freedom fighters. Please share your memories of your father K D Malaviya’s involvement in the freedom movement.

I was born in a family of eminent Brahmins from Allahabad. We lived a simple and happy life in a joint family. My father was a very dynamic and bold person. He was noted as he was part of the Bengal