Mumbai (Commonwealth Union)_It’s a no brainer – when we normally think of pilots, we associate the profession with a male tasked with the responsibility of flying an airline. Destroying these two very obvious stereotypes and many others is Reshma Naha, India’s very first female marine pilot.
Her story is an interesting one. She took a chance on a random newspaper advertisement by a shipping firm which showcased an opportunity to secure placement, post the completion of a programme in the field which was 100% sponsored. She beat 4000 other candidates in a national examination and secured her destiny to become a marine pilot. Fun fact is from the entire population who applied, she was the only female.
After 7 years of hardcore training, Naha was all set to set sail in her newly appointed position of Marine Pilot. In 2011, she was posted at the Kolkata Port Trust, at the Hooghly River which is notoriously popular for its treacherous route filled with dangerous bends and sharp turns.
Naha always knew she wanted to shatter glass ceilings. She was sure that her career would be something unorthodox and challenging, so when she got the opportunity she took it with both hands. She even disclosed in an interview that while everyone found Titanic to be a sad romance film, she was fascinated by the technical marvel it was, and since then dreamt of a career she would have total control over.
She even specified that many people mistakenly assume that she is assigned to an airline, for there is not much awareness about marine pilots and the intensity of their job. She mentioned that her duty isn’t only to ensure that a ship reaches the destination port carefully, it is to handle turbulence, roadblocks and other disruptions along the way in order to ensure that the ship reaches safely.
Out of the 223kms she has faced in water as the pilot, 153kms have been highly daunting and challenging. This is something she thrives on as she welcomes the thrill with open hands. The best part about the job for her is that it never gets monotonous!
We are so in awe of the grit and determination of Reshma Naha! Here’s hoping her story inspired you as much as it inspired us! Cheers to women who trailblaze through wonderful journeys and own their dreams!
