Narangkar Khalsa (Glover) was the publisher of the Oakland-based skate zine, Swash Buckler which included four issues celebrating female skaters in the early 2000s.
Issue #1 from January 2001 featured Bridget Ribbel, Dandelion Bordow, the All Girl Skate Jam 2000, and ASR Tradeshow 2000. Issue #2 from May 2001 celebrated Peggy Oki, Melissa Dafnos, and the Florida 2001 AGSJ. Issue #3 from October 2001 focused on Alex White, Vanessa Torres, the 2001 San Diego All Girl Skate Jam, and finally in August 2002, Issue #4 included photos by Ana Paula Negrao, Miranda Morris and Martin Aranaydo, and interviews with Stacy Peralta and Tony Alva.
In the February 2002 issue of Thrasher, Wez Lundry gave the zine a review:
“In the vein of Villa Villa Cola (I never figured out what that one meant, but oh well) comes Swash Buckler, which pretty much sticks to the ladies side of skateboarding. This is issue #3 and it’s got a few interviews and coverage mostly from the All Girl Skate jam. Although it’s plagued by a few too many ‘headless skater’ shots, it also has some dynamite shit in there. Surely proving to be inspirational to aspiring young female skaters out there, I’m all for it. Send a buck or two to Swash Buckler, 461 43rd St, Oakland, CA 94609 or try swash_buckler2000@yahoo.com.”
In 2003, Narangkar was interviewed by Myriam Gurba for Clamor Magazine (March/April issue) and was quoted as saying, “I think the big surge in the skateboarding industry as a whole may have contributed to the popularity of female products and events, that is: American capitalism. Someone out there feels they can make something of it and more power to them….” (p. 25).
In regard to events like the All Girl Skate Jam, Narangkar said, “All female events are great for women who are up-and-coming… I think a great motivation is seeing that there are average female skaters in almost every town and city that skate and keep skating. Women’s skateboarding is a network and it’s growing… We grow together and we inspire each other” (p.26).
Drawing below was created by Narangkar in 2002 for With It Girl website, alongside the Swash Buckler t-shirt.
As I’ve begun to learn more about Narangkar’s story, I wonder if skateboarding was part of her healing journey? Narangkar was featured in the podcast “Uncomfortable Conversations: the untold stories of the 3HO Kundalini Yoga Community” on July 27, 2021, talking about her experience growing up in 3HO (Happy Healthy Holy Organization) in the 1970s, which she escaped at age 18 or 19. It was explained that, “Narangkar & her big sister were child-swapped when they were 7, sent to live in Ram Das Puri to live with strangers. In 1983 they got sent to India for boarding school.”
And, in the podcast for, Generation Cult it’s noted that the 3HO cult leader, Yogi Bhajan would tell parents to avoid attachment with their children, which meant being swapped to other families and sent away overseas. In India, Narangkar found herself in a “bleak institutional setting suffused with neglect and physical punishment.” And being witness to a fatal accident of a 7-year-old peer proved to be especially life-altering. Her interview called “No Horses in India” was released on September 16, 2019.
Narangkar is obviously a person of deep resilience, and creativity! I’ve learned that she has been a licensed massage therapist since 2003, and then received a Master of Fine Arts at University of California, Berkley in 2011, now based out of Portland, OR. Naranghkar’s artwork channels her skillset as a fine craftswoman merging weaving, quilting, and tapestry, into these stunning geometric sculptures and designs. I recommend following her Instagram account and checking out her professional website – you will be inspired!
I’m hoping to make contact with Narangkar to expand this page and possibly source copies of Swash Buckler for some fresh scans!
Reference:
- Gurba, Myriam. “Betties on Boards.” Clamor Magazine, March/April 2003, p. 24-26.
Womxn Skateboard History 