Arun Vasu - President
Arun Vasu is the Chairman and Managing Director of TT Group and the Honorary Consul for Sweden (South India) has been windsurfing from the age of 13. With 37 years of experience in the adventure tourism industry, he has successfully made water sports accessible along the east coast of India by establishing one of the successful surf schools (Surf Turf) on the east coast & Covelong Point Surfing Festival. This is his way of sharing the tremendous joy he experiences in the ocean and the discipline he learns from the sport with as many as he can. His heart is in India being recognized on the world surfing map and aiding athletes to tour the world showcasing their talent from coast to coast, making India proud.
Rammohan Paranjape - Vice President
Ram is a founding member of the Surfing Federation of India since 2011 and an original member of India’s first surf establishment Mantra Surf Club under the aegis of Surfing Swami. He’s been at the forefront of surfing development in India for a decade now where he was instrumental in introducing many different programs, policies, and structures in the country. Ram is also widely known for many surf explorations around the sub-continent and the documentation of surfing culture through his surf photography. His work has been published around the world in various surf media and many successful collaborations with global surf brands. His work was pivotal in putting India on the global surf map.
Jehan Hoshi Driver - General Secretary
An avid waterman and a longtime advisor of SFI for developmental programs and policymaking. Jehan brings years of experience in structuring and policymaking to help SFI further develop surfing as a safe and professional sport in the country.
Gaurav Hegde - Joint Secretary
Gaurav Hegde is an industrialist and a SUP enthusiast who’s very keen to see surfing and water sports develop on the west coast of India. He firmly believes surfing can empower coastal communities across the region and pave way for coastal tourism development.
Nawaz Jabbar – Treasurer
Nawaz is a law graduate and an entrepreneur based in Chennai with a keen interest in cycling, tennis and needless to say, any sport which is under, in or on the water. It is this interest in watersports that lead him to start Surfing, SUP and Windsurfing a few years ago. Nawaz has played the role of contest director at some of the surfing events organized by SFI which has enabled him to understand the standard of judging, athlete management and importance of developing surfing at all levels.
Somdev Devvarman - Member
Star of the council, Somdev is a former professional tennis player, an Arjuna Awardee and a recipient of Padma Shri award who brought laurels to India. Being an accomplished athlete and now a Surf & SUP enthusiast, Somdev understands the sport of surfing and its lifestyle. The agenda for the council is to develop the sport in India in liaison with sports departments and other organisations and Somdev will play a key role in that.
Dr. Ishani Chaudhary - Member
Dr. Ishani is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries and hails from a family of medical professionals. Along with helping her patients with their injuries, her motto is “Stay active and engage in sports for a fit balanced healthy life.” Dr Ishani started surfing 11 years ago with her family and since then has been regularly surfing, stand up paddle boarding and kayaking across India and the world. Her love for the ocean is unparalleled and inspiring to many working professionals. She was one of the first few female participants along with her sister in the inaugural Spice Coast Open (surfing contest) organized by Surfing Federation of India way back in 2013. During the same year, Dr. Ishani with a team of 6 people from India and USA set a world record for the highest (SUP) stand up paddling expedition in the world. Her surfing sojourn has been featured across media and newspapers like The Hindu, The Times of India, DNA and many local newspapers which has inspired many working women to try out surfing. As a Board Member of the Surfing Federation of India she aspires to take women’s surfing and allied ocean sports to greater heights in India with the stellar Governing Council members.
