From Sarees to Stripes: True Stories of Commercial Women Pilots in India

Straighten your seat, fasten your seatbelts, keep the tray table upright, and enjoy your flight! As you hear this announcement inside an aeroplane, how do you respond when it turns out that the captain/commander is a woman? Are you surprised, concerned or perhaps impressed? Women pilots have overcome extraordinary challenges to be where they are and their stories need to be told. ‘From Sarees to Stripes’ stems from experiences – both personal as well as those that numerous other women had, the challenges faced by them, and how they broke the glass ceiling every time. The stories of these women pilots weave together a narrative full of India’s aviation history, behind-the-scenes drama and the determination with which they fought all odds to realise their dreams. Starting from the mid-1930s to the millennials, the book covers the pioneers in this field. These women boast several firsts in the industry, one of which is being hired as pilots to fly for Indian Airlines, the airline that was the first to induct women as pilots as early as 1966, paving the way for many more.