P is for Pilot

Girls going gaga over handsome dudes dressed in white and blue with stylish cap on their heads at the airport is a common site. At the same time, both girls and boys turn their flirty eyes into admiration when a woman in same attire passes by with equal confidence.Yes, being a pilot is one profession many people land into as a result of their dream. The ability to fly has always been fancied by humans and controlling the cockpit is the path to sky. India has approximately 600 women pilots employed in the Indian aviation sector. Below are two ladies who made it all possible in their own way.Sarla Thakral

Sarla Thakral was the first Indian woman to get an aviation pilot license and fly an aircraft. She was born in 1914 in Delhi and married at the age of 16. At the age of 21, when today’s generation does not has a clue of their future, the girl was already a mother of 4 year old daughter and got her aviation pilot license in 1936. She was one of those lucky women who got complete support from her family. Sarla’s husband P D Sharma had 9 pilots in the family! She went on to complete one thousand hours of flying in the aircraft owned by the Lahore Flying Club. 

She abandoned her plans to become a commercial pilot after the death of her husband in her young age in 1939. This however did not stop her from excelling in other fields. She became a successful watercolor painter.  Later she returned to Delhi and took up costume jewellery making, saree designing, painting and designing for the National School of Drama.Information and Image Sources:http://www.thebetterindia.com/18871/11-interesting-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-indias-first-woman-pilot/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarla_Thakral
Saarah Hameed AhmedSaarah is the current generation girl from Bengaluru. What makes her special is the fact that she is the only known woman from her community – Muslim, to be employed in the Indian aviation sector. She sound just like another bubbly girl when she says that she people’s reaction to her being a pilot makes her laugh. Like any general girl in her community, she too had to face the oppositions from her family on choosing a profession which would keep her away from home at wee hours without any male family member. But luck favored her when her father got right advice from right person.
Image and information soure:http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dont-let-them-kill-your-dreams-says-india-only-woman-muslim-pilot/article1-1323961.aspx
This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is Women In A to Z Professions. Click at the link to check other professions women have excelled in and their respective links.