Sarla Thakral was the first Indian woman to become a pilot. At 16, she married P. D. Sharma, who flew personal planes and came from a family of pilots. Encouraged by her new family, Sarla pursued her own passion for flying. She received her ‘A’ license and aimed to obtain a ‘B’ license to fly commercial planes.

Unfortunately, life took a tragic turn in 1939 when her husband died in a plane crash. At just 25, Sarla needed to support herself and her 8-year-old daughter. Despite this loss, her dreams of flying remained strong, and she continued to pursue her commercial license. However, with the onset of World War II, Sarla had to permanently shelve her aspirations of flying.

This was not the end of Sarla’s career goals, as she pursued a new path as a costume designer and painter. Her skills and business acumen led her to success in this new field. Although she found success in this avenue, she is primarily remembered for her pioneering achievements in aviation. Her legacy continues to inspire Indian women today, as India boasts the highest percentage of female pilots in the world.