India’s First women in air – India’s first lady pilot – Sarla Thakral
The year 1936 when the flying was like dream, flying in air was like miracle.
There were only male in the cockpit of the airplane.
At that time one lady entered the cockpit of a Gypsy Moth and flew into the blue skies, and made a history as India’s first lady pilot.
The dashing, courageous, Sarla Thakral. She was only 21 year old when she achieved that sky.
First inning
Inspiration:
Her husband P D Sharma was the initiator behind that and father-in-law was the supportive of all the things.
P D Sharm’s family after all had nine pilots already and they were all supportive of the decision.
“In fact it wasn’t so much my husband. My father-in-law was even more enthusiastic and got me enrolled in the flying club,” says Sarla and adds,” I knew I was breaching a strictly male bastion but I must say the men, they never made me feel out of place.”
She obtained her ‘A’ license when she accumulated over 1000 hours of flying.
She was looking for the group B license that would authorize her to fly as a commercial pilot. But when she was undergoing training in Jodhpur, unfaith happened. Her husband died in a crash in 1939. She widowed at 24. She abandoned her plans to become a commercial pilot.
Second inning:
She joined the Mayo School of Arts in Lahore. But her parents re-married her and she settled in Delhi after partition. She succeeded in establishing herself as a renown painter. Most of her water colors have followed the Bengali School of Art.
Along with paintings she also began designing clothes and costume jewellery.
She supplied her jewellery designs to several cottage industries for over 20 years. She had also started textile printing and her sari prints were a rage with the fashionable crowd.
One of the clients was Vijaylaxmi Pandit.
Now she is 91 years old young lady still flying high in his life.
“Every morning I wake up and chart out my plans. If there is plenty of work I feel very happy otherwise I feel a precious day has been wasted,” she says.
source: http://www.the-south-asian.com/May-June2003/sarla_thakral__first_woman_pilot.htm
>>> Real Indian Lady <<<<
She is representing the courage of Indian lady .
Good Work..:)
Keep on spreading the rich Indian Culture.. There are so many things about the proud Indians, which can give the rest good inspiration…
Good job…:)
sarla thakral is my inspiration. i 2 wannna become a pilot.
I am an Information technology engg. But now I wish to achieve my childhood dream of becoming a pilot ….After going through her life story I think a lady has a life beyond that of the kitchen and the office …for me its going to be the cockpit…i will be flying high I salute the first lady pilot
Thakral”s hv a proud on her
Yes, she is indeed a great lady. She is also my grandmother and I am proud to have such a lady in the family as a role model. She inspires me to be dedicated towards my life, be active always and have a “never say die” attitude towards whatever comes my way.
Vivek:
Thanks for commenting here.. we all proud to have such lady in country, really your grandmother is inspiration for lot of us.
hats off to sarala madam.
my blogs are basically for such things, to introduce peoples with our real heros/heroines. to aware people regarding Traditons ( right and wrong), Culture, festivals.
Hello Manisha:
What an excellent Story and accomplishment! If you have more information, please email me at your convenience.
Thank you!
Hello there, can someone please guide me, that who was the exact first Indian lady to fly? Because, according to ‘DNA’, its Lt.Mrs.Geeta Godbole, from Mumbai. Please mail me with correct information at ‘kshiprasadhan@yahoomail.com’. For your reference, please check the news released by ‘DNA’ (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_india-s-first-woman-pilot-geeta-godbole-no-more_1592939). I hope, you will surely help me out from this confusion.
Thanks and Regards !
Kshiprasadhan.
Hello kshiprasadh, Lt.Mrs Geeta Godbole flew her first solo flight in 1940,whereas my GREAT GRAND MOTHER, the late Sarla Thakral flew here first solo flight in 1936 hence making her the first women pilot of India. If it was not for the war she would have also been the first commercial airline pilot. 🙂
Here’s a link.It’s an interview taken by NDTV India.
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/down-memory-lane-first-woman-pilot-recounts-life-story/6231
Hey .,she used to live in my house in old delhi,
It is great to know about such a lady with guts and fighting spirit. Can you provide me any contact address of hers? Thanks
Reply ——–
NO madam, i dont have any contact number..
India’s First Lady Pilot, Legend of Flying and Colors-
Sarla Thakral, represents ‘Source of Inspiration’ for
young women of India.
real beauty of india,,, fatastic,, hatsoff,, 🙂
when india was under british rule,owning a car or driving was a dream for all indians and in those days flying of aircraft was big achievment for all the indians.regards….
To,
Jagadish Thakral
I am a journalism student and writing a profile on Sarla Thakral and have been struggling to talk to people who know her. Can i please get to talk to her and you as you are her grandson u say? Please send me contacts.
Regards,
Sonali Desai
Hello Sonali
Thats great thing that u r writing a pofile on Sarala madam.
but i even dont have contact of Sarala madam or Mr. Jagdish Thakaral.
I am also fan of her.
You just tell me your mail id so if i get any information i will forward you.
Thanks Viv.chavan
To,
Jagadish Thakral
I am studying journalism and writing a profile on Sarla Thakral. I have been looking forward to talk to people who know her and also interview her. Please send me the contacts.
Regards,
Sonali Desai
My email id is sonaliedesai@yahoo.co.in. Can i know her date of birth and her birth place? Also some background information.
greeting ,
i also want to be a piolet so what can i do????????
brave lady….jai hind..
Its great that now girls are also intrested in piolet as a carrer.I am also one of them who also intrested init.But whatever i collected the information about it, i am not fully satisfy. so i want that plz give more detail about it ,,including mini mini things that how i will apply,what the age limit??,,is it possible that after graduation on IT stream can also apply??? whats the expenditure and time it take!!!!
Because i impresed to miss.SARLA THAKRAL 🙂 really!!!
you send detail on my e-mail..
thanks!!
Lily
You can fly commercially in India if you passed 10+2 with Physics and maths.In India it takes 2-3 years for 250 hours flying.Some people have done it in less time.Cost appx. 25 lakhs. Outside India cost little more only.takes 6 months to a year and you dont need 10+2 phy and maths(Pl. confirm this point).Then it takes 6 months to a year to convert your foreign CPL(commercial Pilots License) to Indian takes 6 to12 months.depending on passing Indian requirements fr conversion.
its really great. even at age 91 she is planning and ready to
analyse her work.great. is she still alive
first of all i want to salute this brave lady .i”m also a journalist as sonali and want to talk him.this will be an amazing chapter of knowledge for me .
lokmitra
can any one guide me , where does she stay ?
I think in that time she was so was so luky that so has such a supportive husband
& father-in-law……
I think in that time she was so was so luky that she has such a supportive husband
& father-in-law……
Ma aim is to become a pilot when i got to know that sarla madam is the first lady pilot it made me to know more about her . its really great .she is ma motivation.
it,s great to have woman like Sarla madam in our country
Hats off to your courage madam
to
manisha thakaral
my goodness what a courageous indian woman.i an inspired by thiis biography after amelia m earhart.i wish i will be a great indian pilot like her . “please mam bless me!”
regards
mithra
i am her grandson, She indeed was a supergreat woman, sadly she passed away on 15th march 2009 with a smile on her face, lived a life of complete fulfillment, independent and with grace on her own terms, sad the govt did not confer PadmaShri on such a legend,pitiable politicians looking after thier own
great work mam.she is one of role models now.hatsoff to her.
great work.she is one of my role models now.hatsoff to her
Really hats off to you mam….now I am stable with my decision of becoming a pilot…thank u mam
its really great .good mind .your really fan .i very much pilot transport
i m proud of u
wow…. keep it up my friends and i will help u also. Indian ladys and girls are full of cultural activities as well as in study. they do work hard in study as in cultural activities.they are sign of india;s properity . they r courageous,and never look backward.they r GODDESSSES for Indians.
SARLA THAKRAL you are so GREAT GREAT GREAT.And all Indians proud on u.u had given a example to Indian women.
Fly high lady and keep flying high.I come from the city where you studied, i also went to the same institution
HELLO MADEM,
HAPPY WOMEN DAY’S! all Indians proud ON U.SALUTES TO U…..
(JAI HIND )
My name is Capt. Aditya Sharma, and i feel immensely proud to say that I come from the family tree of Sarla Thakral.
I am the 16 th pilot of my family.
She is my great grandmother.
always felt proud for her, always will.
Dear Capt Aditya Sharma, great to see your message. I am the secretary of Aviation History Society Of India.Kindly get in touch on ph 09876019312 or tonyraheja@hotmail.com. We need as much information as possible.
Regards
Capt S Raheja
she is a very great inspiration of mine to become a commercial pilot…….in india …….keep flying bcozz sky has no limits mam…..
now iam working with indias first male pilot (the pilot licence no 1 ) mr jrd tata@ tata aviation services THE GOD WHO OPENED UP THE SKIES FOR HIS COUNTRY….jamshedpur as a chopper pilot……
u r simply g8 madam
i m now 15yrs old n in 10th std …i want to become a pilot n i m sure that i ll become a pilot after reading this post i m feeling very proud that i had chosen the right path….i really solute to mrs.SARALA THAKRAL…… thank u madam you gave the girls inspiration to become a pilot n make their life……..i m proud to be a girl ……
I admire her………..and salutes her
Hey Guys..
I really admire this lady. Made a way for each dreamer specially for girls. My grandmother told me how difficult it was even to come out from home in those days. So She has done splendid job ..
Also i am looking for a lady pilot named INDIRA who became pilot right after India got independence. She was my Grandmom’s Best friend and due to partition they never met again. After 60 yrs, long journey of her life she remembers all memories of their childhood and wish to see her again. I think there should be some information about such lady pilot cos that time right after independence there were very few lady pilots… Searching for someone wd first name and no other detail seems impossible but i really wanna do it for her. Internet is a possible way !! Any one having any info about it pls ans here… Thanks !!
i proud of my first pilot lady.
9450604124
my only dream is to become a piolet. Bt its too much costly 😦
and air force dont need female piolets 😥
Dear Puja,
Pilot are very dedicated peoples flying around and very clever and quick decision makers
if your aptitude is very sharp all Flying clubs offer scholor ships and u can write the exam for obtaining http://www.rgaviation.com
good luck
If there is will you will have a way
Just wishing not enough be initiative there are pleanty of good hearted people who will come to your rescue if u are really interested if u are day dreamer just keep on dreaming
P B S
SAME THING IS WITH ME PUJA
It’s really a gud one………….:)
HEY I WANT TO BE LIKE U AND A SUCESSFUL WOMAN PILOT IN MY LYF ………
Thanks for this amazing information. Indeed she is a brave lady.
G.R.E.A.T.
Just b’coz this people I m proud to be a girl…………………………………………………………..
i also want to be a pilot .. i know its not easy but i hv to do it.
dream big dreams. if u can dream , u can achieve it ,go there where is no path and lead a trial.
follow ur dream u will gt defnetly the path.
i also want to be like you
I”ll promised u mam i will goen to fly with my image , with my aim…
i want to know who is the first bengali woman to be a pilot. can you please tell me?
she is inpiration for new generation ……….hats off to her …………..
There was another lady from Lahore, Mrs. Hijab Imtiaz Ali taj, who got licence for flying in 1936 after an year of rigorous training.She got her licence in perhaps September 1936, because the news about her published in newspaper of Lahore on 2nd October 1936.When Did Shrimati sarla get her licence? Can any body tell the exact date?
This is exactly what I wanted to know but I guess we will never get the answer from the Indian people, because this other lady is from Pakistan and a Muslim.
really hats of sarala tharkal, my dream is my daughter become a pilot in future
We stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I might
as well check things out. I like what I see so now i
am following you. Look forward to looking over your web page for a second time.
Hats off to Sarla Thakral. She is great!
Great achievement for a lady.
It’s remarkable for me to have a web site, which is useful in favor of my knowledge.
thanks admin
Sarla Mam is a great shining inspiration for me ,for the lady pilots and those who want to be a pilot…..
I am on 10th standard now and it is also my dream to be a pilot and i think i will be able to full fill my dream by getting many inspiration from sarla mam.
I AM PROUD
love you
I salute you M’am. Your courage and inspite of hardship,you are an example for millions of us. Commendable lifestyle. Jai Hind.