Meet the women who ruffled feathers to break stereotypes, to defy taboos and shatter the glass ceiling. To break out and fly. These are women whose flights of reality become fantastic stories of firsts. Stories to tell and retell, to inspire and motivate. Recognised for their extraordinary grit and courage, these are the women who have made it to the hall of fame – nationally and internationally – in sarees and high heels.
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“Always be happy, it is very important for us to be happy and cheerful. This one motto has seen me tide over the crises in my life.”
Of all the firsts in the history of Indian aviation, Sarla Thakral, for us, is the lady who started it all.
In 1936, at just 21 years of age, Sarla Thakral was the first woman in India to attain her ‘A’ license with over 1000 hours of flying to became the country’s first woman pilot! Dressed in a sari, this mother of a 4 year old, flew a Gypsy Moth solo from Lahore Flying club to forever etch her name in the history books.
Married as a 16 year old to PD Sharma, who was also a pilot, Sarla Thakral had a lot of support from her husband. In fact, his family already had nine pilots, so for someone who dreamed of flying, getting into the pilot’s seat was an achievable goal, if not an easy one.
Sadly, Sarla Thakral was widowed in 1939. Even though she had to hang up her pilot’s boots, this lady did not stop going after her dreams. She said, “After my first husband died in a crash, I went to Jodhpur to get a commercial pilot’s licence. Unfortunately World War II broke out and flying was suspended. I returned to Lahore, and joined Mayo School of Arts where I trained in the Bengal school of painting and obtained a diploma in fine arts”.
Sarla, who was also known as Mati, then went on to becomes a successful businesswoman, painter and began designing clothes and costume jewellery. She died in 2008.
Image Courtesy: First Cry India
“Nothing can replace the happiness you get on flying a solo successfully…”
The WE! Expedition could not have been more fortunate with a mentor. As India’s first woman private pilot and co-founder of the Indian Women’s Pilots Association (IWPA), Rabia Futehally (82) fought strong head winds to learn to fly in the early sixties.
From being ridiculed to reaching a point where she was lauded for doing her first solo after 11 hours of dual flying, Rabia has come a long way.
“I was a 25-year-old, mother to a nine-month-old, when I first climbed into the high cockpit of my favourite Piper PA-18 aircraft,” remembers Futehally, who is also the first woman pilot in the country to receive a private pilot licence (PPL).
In 2012, she was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship (IFF), in Atchison, Kansas, a great and prestigious global honour given to very few.
As someone driven by pure passion to be “in control”, Rabia has had a 25 year long flying career, most of which she flew in a sari! She recalls a time when she hit a turbulent patch while flying above Goa and she began to lose height. What saved the day was a cool head, reworking of the motor and taking back control. She says, “Nothing stopped us during our time in taking a successful flight and thus if one is really passionate about learning something, nothing could stop them too”.
Notching up the highest number of flying hours – 18500!
Back in the 1960s, five illustrious women pilots were sponsored by the International Organisation of Women Pilots (IOWP) known as the 99s. Captain Durba Banerjee was one of them. The other four, equally distinguished women were Chanda Budhabhatti, Mohini Shroff, Rabia Fatehally and Sunila Bhajekar.
In 1959, Durba Banerjee started her aviation career as a DC3 pilot flying a Dakota with the Air Survey of India. Next she joined Indian Airlines in Calcutta in 1966. Legend has it that when she first approached the then Central Aviation Minister to apply as a commercial pilot, he offered her a position as a flight attendant instead.
But Durba Banerjee was slated for bigger things and greater achievements.
Capt. Banerjee was India’s first woman commercial pilot in 1956 and became a captain on the F27s in 1966. She got herself type rated as a Jet pilot to fly the Boeing 737 series as soon as they arrived. She also flew the Airbus 300.
Durba Banerjee retired in 1988 but has, to her credit, the highest number of flying hours – a phenomenal 18,500 hours!
Image Courtesy: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website
“In the world of aviation, age is certainly not a barrier…”
Clearly a pioneer in the aviation industry where women are concerned, Chanda Budhabhatti has a series of firsts in her pocket.
She was one of the first to set a speed record for a single-engine plane when she piloted a Piper aircraft way back in 2004 in the US – a record she chose to set in Women’s History Month.
For those not in the know, the Piper aircraft generally flies at a speed of 130 miles per hour, but Budhabhatti and her co-pilot, Barbara Harper touched a cool 160 miles per hour, a clear first.
Speed of course is a habit with Budhabhatti. In July 1998 Budhabhatti and Harper flew from Tuscon in Arizona to Guaymas in Mexico covering the distance of 157.58 nautical miles in 1 hour 47 minutes and 11 seconds, another first under her wing!
She was also among the first five women who were invited to join the International Organisation of Women Pilots (IOWP) known as the 99s, along with pioneers like Rabia Futehally and Mohini Shroff. Dividing her time between Mumbai and the US, Budhabhatti also became the first Indian woman to receive a commercial sea plane rating. She also holds private, commercial, instrument and advanced ground instructor ratings.
Asked if she faced any difficulties because of her age, pat came the reply: “In the world of aviation, I think age is certainly not a barrier. What matters is your determination,” she said. And of course with Chanda Budhabhatti, determination is one thing she has plenty of.
Image Courtesy: India's Women Pilot Association (IWPA)
“Have faith in yourself, do not give up.”
It was a coincidence that Mohini heard of a flight scholarship from the Government of India way back in 1963. When asked how she’d manage to fly considering she was quite short, she responded with confidence, “In high heels!”
With that first experience of flying, Mohini honed her skills and from there began a lifelong love of flying, while pursuing her Masters in Public Relations at the same time.
Mohini earned her Private Pilot License in 1965. She was also one of the first five women who were invited to join the International Organisation of Women Pilots (IOWP) known as the 99s, along with pioneers like Rabia Futehally and Chanda Budhabhatti.
Mohini’s love for the skies far supersedes her love for terra firma. She is the driving force behind the Indian Women Pilots Association (IWPA). Her advice to young girls, “Have faith in yourself, do not give up.” Coming from someone with a never-say-never attitude, one would have to listen!
Image Courtesy: Mandar M. Bakre
“Whatever I did, I became the first woman pilot in India to do so”
It’s amazing how many pathbreakers abound in the history of the skies in India. And yet, we do not know much about them.
Meet Captain Saudamini Deshmukh.
Her series of firsts did not end there.
Capt. Deshmukh is also India’s second woman pilot to become a captain of an aircraft, the first being Capt. Durba Banerjee who was India’s first woman commercial pilot in 1956 and who became a captain on the F27s in 1966.
“I never thought of it as anything special but by God’s grace, there are a lot of firsts in my career. Whatever I did, I became the first woman pilot in India to do so,” said Capt Deshmukh. “As a child, I had always wanted to become a pilot and by God’s grace it happened,” she added.
Being a ‘first-timer’, though glorious, is not always easy. Captain Saudamini Deshmukh attributes a part of the success to the support and encouragement of her seniors and peers. “It was this support that helped as the job in itself was quite challenging and difficult,” she said.