Sarla Thukral(ਸਰਲਾ ਠੁਕਰਾਲ, சர்லா துக்ரல், સરલા ઠકરાલ, সরলা ঠুকরাল, సరళ తుక్రాల్) was born on 8 August 1914 and was amongst the first Indian women to fly an aircraft.
Born: 8th August 1914
Place of Birth: Delhi
Nationality: Indian
Education: Diploma In Fine Arts (Mayo School Of Art)
Occupation: Pilot, painter and designer, businesswoman
Famous for: 1st Indian women to fly an aircraft
Sarla Thukral Spouses: P. D. Sharma, R.P Thakral
Children: 2 Daughters
Died: 15 March 2008 (93 Years)
At 21, Sarla got her aviation pilot license and solo flew a Gypsy Moth. Despite difficulties, she was able to complete 1000 hours of flying. She flew the aircraft owned by Lahore Flying Club before India got Independence. She was married to P. D. Sharma, an aviation pilot. P. D. Sharma was the first Indian to get a pilot’s license and use it to fly a plane between Lahore & Karachi.
Her flying instructor’s name was Mr. Natoor. He believed in her natural ability to fly, and due to this, only after 8 hours and 10 minutes of instructions allowed her to fly solo. Thakral wanted her husband’s presence for her first solo flight but went for it, seeing Mr. Natoor’s confidence in her. Rest is history.
Few Indian-born women did get a pilot’s license before Sarla Thukral, like Sylla and Rodabeh Tata, sister of J.R.D. Tata in May 1929. Sylla and Rodabeh Tata, though, had British nationality. Sarla tried to become a commercial pilot after the death of her husband in a plane crash in 1939. However, due to World War II, she could not continue flying as civil training was suspended due to war.
To continue working and earn for raising her child, she joined Mayo School of Art(now the National College of Arts) in Lahore and got her diploma in fine arts.
As India gained Independence in 1947 and the partition happened, she moved to Delhi and started her career as a clothes and costume jewelry designer.
Sarla was a follower of Arya Samaj, a spiritual community that believes that the Vedas are infallible and follow the teachings of the Vedas.
Google celebrated the 107th birth anniversary of Sarla Thukral on August 8, 2021, with a doodle created by guest artist Vrinda Zaveri. Google planned to do this doodle in 2020. Unfortunately, due to Kerela’s plane crash which left 21 people dead, Google had to withhold it out of respect for relief efforts.
She showed the world that every woman faces many obstacles and challenges in her journey to success, but hard work pays. Remember that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and stay dedicated to your goals. Believe in yourself and take calculated risks. Never stop fighting until you reach your destination, whether that’s becoming a prime minister of India, starting a successful business from scratch, or being the first women pilot like Sarla Thukral.
Other First Women Pilots in India
Who is the first woman pilot of the Indian Navy?
Lt. Shubhangi Swaroop, from Tilhar, Uttar Pradesh, is the 1st women pilot of the Indian Navy.
Who is the first woman pilot of Indian airlines?
Captain Durba Banerjee is the first woman pilot of Indian airlines. She initially worked in the Air Survey of India. In 1956 she moved to Calcutta, where she joined Indian airlines as a pilot.
Who is the first woman pilot in Indian Air Force?
The first woman pilot in the Indian Air Force is Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi. She joined IAF after completing her training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad. Avani Chaturvedi is one of three women selected for the IAF’s fighter pilot training program in 2015. The other two were Mohana Singh Jitarwal and Bhawana Kanth. Avani Chaturvedi flew the MiG-21 Bison fighter plane and currently serves as a fighter pilot in the IAF.
