The Pathbreaker: Durba Banerjee, First Woman Commercial Pilot Of India

Even though there were barriers and gender stereotypes prevalent during that time, Captain Durba Banerjee knew how to steer her way through and has to her credit flight hours of over 9000 hours. 

Captain Durba Banerjee, first woman commercial pilot of India.

Source : Facebook

India At 75: At a time when society did not allow a woman to even step out of her house according to her own wish, there was a woman who did not just step out but also touched the sky, literally. Captain Durba Banerjee, a first-generation female pilot from her family,  started her aviation career flying a Dakota with Air Survey of India as a DC3 pilot in the year 1959. 

Durba had a fascination for flying planes ever since her childhood. Even as growing up she liked planes and flying which turned into her passion. After being associated with the Air Survey of India, Captain Durba Banerjee moved to Indian Airlines in the year 1956 at Calcutta where she became the first woman commercial pilot in India. 

Apart from flying Indian Airlines, Captain Durba Banerjee also became a commander in the E27 turboprop aircraft which was a Dutch aircraft. She also flew the Tornado A-200, Airbus 300 and Boeing 737. 

TRAILBLAZERS OF CIVIL AVIATION!

Durba Banerjee was the first pilot of Indian Airlines in 1956 and the first Indian woman commercial pilot.Banerjee started her aviation career flying a Dakota with Air Survey of India as a DC3 pilot in 1959. pic.twitter.com/0P2VpcAaPR

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) February 7, 2021

The recognition did not come easy to her at a time and a society which had got independence from British rule not very long ago. Captain Durba Banerjee too had to face sexism and gender bias. 

This claim can be ascertained from the fact that when Captain Durba Banerjee approached the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Humayun Kabir to apply as a commercial pilot, the minister seemed reluctant. Kabir then told Durba that she can be offered the post of the flight attendant. 

Even though there were barriers and gender stereotypes prevalent during that time, Captain Durba Banerjee knew how to steer her way through and has to her credit flight hours of over 9000 hours. 

It is women like Captain Durba Banerjee who fuel the inspiration in other women to not just dream of a career but also find a path to achieve it.