Why Not?: Ankitha Rajendaran Writes Of Travel As Rebellion, Reflection, Connection

What are the typical images that come to your mind when you think of 'travel'? A walk along the golden sand and pristine blue waters of Indonesia? Or perhaps a bite of the most evocatively delicious Neapolitan pizza in Italy? Beyond these iconic tourist destinations lies a world of undiscovered locations with stories waiting to be told. It is in these overlooked and often misrepresented places that Ankitha Rajendaran finds her purpose. An Indian-origin traveller, corporate employee, content creator, and writer based in Dubai, she is on a mission to explore the narratives hidden behind headlines and stereotypes.

From the rugged mountains of Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan to the mysterious wildlife of Kirindy National Park in Madagascar, Ankitha (36) has ventured into places that most travellers do not. She has documented her travels in her debut book, Why Not?, in which she recounts the picturesque views that carved themselves into her memory, the cultures that exuded warmth, and the conversations that spoke louder than sensationalised news reports.

Why Not? by Ankitha Rajendaran

Beyond a regular travel journal, Ankitha's book is a memoir. Described as 'Travel Odysseys of an Indian Passport, an Unstoppable Woman, many Misunderstood Lands,' the book reflects how travel is closely tied to the invisible weights of gender roles, societal expectations, identity, and privilege. In a conversation with SheThePeople, Ankitha delved deeper into these themes and how they have impacted her as a traveller across 109 countries and seven continents.

"Upon learning about my solo treks in post-conflict regions or extended stays in culturally-restrictive societies, my peers consistently expressed astonishment," Ankitha shared. "Their innocent inquiries revealed a pervasive narrative, even though such travels were deemed implausible for an Indian woman balancing full-time professional obligations. Recognising this dissonance between lived reality and societal expectation prompted the compilation of Why Not?"

Ankitha credits her family's feminist upbringing to her approach to travel. "It wasn't just about equality in theory; it was lived. My opinions were valued equally, ambition was encouraged without gender constraints, and self-reliance was non-negotiable," she revealed. Born in India, raised in Oman, and educated in the US, her multicultural experiences inspired her instinct not to be tied down by conventions.

"'Why Not?' became an internal mantra long before it was a book title, a direct inheritance from that environment where barriers were seen not as immovable walls, but as questions demanding solutions. My identity formed around a principle: capability requires demonstration to follow through, not permission. This perspective directly fuels both my corporate engagements and solitary expeditions into complex geopolitical landscapes."

Of self versus perceived identity

In the book, Ankitha emphasises how her identity as a woman of colour became a lens through which she understood the world. While she grew up with a strong sense of self and cultural rootedness, her individuality often took a backseat to preconceived notions shaped by media portrayals or colonial hangovers. She mentions how her 'Indianness' often came with a stereotypical or oversimplified perspective.

"While I carry my Indian heritage with pride, the unnecessary focus on it by many I met was reductive," she said. "I was frequently pigeonholeed, expected to conform to Bollywood tropes in Algeria, to yoga stereotypes in Bali, or people assuming we were crew engineers on a cruise to Antarctica. My profession, my motivations for travel, and my perspectives beyond cultural heritage were secondary or invisible."

Ankitha also addressed how the extensive paperwork, invasive scrutiny, and constant uncertainty of visa applications become a burden for many travellers from countries like India. "It changed my perspective entirely. I viscerally understood that passport privilege is not an urban myth." Through her book, she intends to explore this tension and assert her multifaceted identity as an individual traveller, a professional, and a woman.

"I navigated it through meticulous research, immense patience, building networks of local guides, and channelling the frustration into advocating for greater awareness of this inequality - choosing destinations that are not trending but where our travel can make a meaningful contribution and change narratives around these very stereotypes. It made me hyper-aware of my privilege within India as well, enabling my travels and fiercely empathetic towards others facing bureaucratic walls."

A female traveller's chronicles

What makes a traveller different from a female traveller? Ankitha explained how her gender identity influenced her interactions and experiences as a visitor to many countries. "Being a woman undeniably shaped the journey, manifesting most overtly in regions enforcing stringent gender codes. In conservative areas of Asia, the Middle East, or North Africa, solitary female presence provoked visible discomfort or overt suspicion," she revealed.

"In regions with rigid gender roles, I faced curiosity, occasional paternalism, or restricted access. However, my very presence was a subtle act of rebellion against the expectation that women shouldn't or couldn't travel solo to such places."

Ankitha's "female gaze" during her travels also gave her a glimpse into the various facets of resilience, whether through female tour guides in Iran or through women-led cooperatives driving post-genocide reconstruction in Rwanda. "Travel consistently revealed women as pivotal societal anchors. Women frequently maintained cultural continuity, managed practical household and micro-economies, and fostered community resilience, even when formal power structures excluded them."

"I learned that impact isn't always loud or public. It's in the preservation of language and craft, the education of children, the maintenance of social bonds, and the quiet, persistent negotiation for agency within their spheres."

Why travel?

From all her years of ticking underappreciated destinations off her bucket list, Ankitha shared that the people of Afghanistan and Syria left a particularly deep impact on her. "The enduring spirit visible amidst scars is matched only by the overwhelming warmth, generosity, and unwavering hope of its people, especially the families rebuilding lives and communities with quiet fortitude," she said.

For Ankitha Rajendaran, travel is not merely about an escape, the perfect Instagram capture, or flyer rewards. It's an act of challenging prejudice and an act of asserting her agency. Each trip is akin to peeling back layers of vibrant cultures and unique stories behind biased assumptions. This philosophy of questioning norms and defying expectations is aptly captured right in the title of her book, Why Not?

She shared the most valuable lesson she gained as a traveller. "The most profound lesson, echoed across all these countries, is this: human connection transcends political borders, cultural differences, and imposed narratives. Beneath the surface of 'otherness,' the universal desires for connection, dignity, joy, and understanding are remarkably consistent. Travel, at its best, dissolves fear and builds bridges, one genuine encounter at a time."