A woman from Assam stands as an inspiration for generations of women who ever dreamt of flying high, quite literally.
In the 1960s, in an India that had gained her independence merely 13 years back, people were just about finding their feet. When Dhira Chaliha of Assam decided to fly an airplane, her mother was shocked – since, a woman being a pilot was unheard of.
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Her childhood
As a child, Dhira Chaliha would climb trees to get a closer look at the warplanes that made bombing runs to and from the Burma battlefront. That was probably when her dream to fly first began.
Her father never made her feel less than a man. Speaking to a local daily, she said, “Since childhood, my father has always been my great source of inspiration. There is nothing that a man can do and a woman cannot, he told me. I love climbing trees and games which are played more by boys.”
In a blog written by her daughter, she says that her mother came across an announcement in a newspaper in 1959 which read:
The youth of the region are invited to apply for 6 fully funded training scholarships to become pilots within two years.
Apply for interview.
Assam Flying Club, Gauhati Airport, Jalukbari
Dhira Chaliha applied, got accepted and the training began. Despite her mother’s dissuasions, she persevered.
Training begins
Training took place twice a week for the next two years. The flying lessons took place at sunrise before her college classes on small two-seater propeller airplanes, the legendary Tiger Moth and the native Pushpak.
Finally, in April 1961, Dhira Chaliha Hazarika was awarded her flying wings, making her Assam’s first woman pilot at the age of 21.
Assam’s first female pilot/ Twitter, heyloons.com
Her first solo flight was from Borjhar to Tezpur in 1961. Talking of the exhilarating experience, she says, “Initially, I was a bit apprehensive as there was no radio contact with the airport. I was only enjoying. In spite of a forced landing, the passengers were safe and sound.”
Dream of commercial pilot license
A pioneer as she was in her field, she still was only human – and a female at that, and life happened.
Dhira Chaliha/ heyloons.com
After her stint as a trainee pilot, she worked very hard for a commercial pilot license. But, after her marriage to Kamal Hazarika, she moved to London with her husband – just before receiving the commercial license.
She does not regret it and adds, “There are, however, moments when I feel that if I had become a commercial pilot, I could have travelled to so many places and met so many people.”
An inspiration for many
Thus, Ms Dhira Chaliha became Mrs Dhira Hazarika – marriage may have hindered her from getting a commercial pilot license. However, she continued and still continues to be an inspiration for many a woman in Assam and Northeast India who may have feared following their dreams.
Her proud daughter says, “Today, nearly half a century later, when boarding a flight, she still feels an urge to turn towards the cockpit, not the cabin. She still harbours a desire to go up in a small plane once more and take its controls. Her eyes light up at the very thought.”
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