Securing an aviation pilot license in 1936 at twenty-one years old established Sarla Thakral as one of the first women in India to operate aircraft. She achieved this milestone by completing over one thousand flight hours with the Lahore Flying Club, flying a Gypsy Moth solo to meet the rigorous requirements of her training.
Early Flight Career
Born in 1914 in New Delhi, Thakral married P. D. Sharma at sixteen. Her husband, whose family included nine pilots, was the first Indian individual to receive an airmail pilot license for routes between Karachi and Lahore. Supported by this background, she pursued her own certification, joining a small group of women in British India to earn an A license.
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The death of her husband in a 1939 airplane crash necessitated a shift in her professional focus. She intended to pursue a commercial pilot license, but the onset of World War II caused the immediate suspension of civil flight training. Faced with the responsibility of raising a child alone, she moved to Lahore and enrolled in the Mayo School of Art to secure a stable livelihood. There, she studied the Bengal school of painting, ultimately earning a diploma in fine arts.
Business and Later Years
Following the Partition of India, she relocated to Delhi with her two daughters. In 1948, she married R. P. Thakral. She became a successful entrepreneur and painter, diversifying her career by designing costume jewellery and clothing. Throughout her life, she remained a committed member of the Arya Samaj, a spiritual organization focused on the Vedas. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 94.
Fast facts
- Born: 1914, New Delhi
- Died: 2008
- Aviation license earned: 1936
- Initial flight hours: 1,000
- Spiritual affiliation: Arya Samaj
- Professional fields: Painting, aviation, costume design
Questions readers ask
Was Sarla Thakral the first woman in India to fly?
She was among the first Indian women to obtain an aviation license, achieving this in 1936.
Why did she stop flying?
Civil pilot training was suspended at the start of World War II, forcing her to seek alternative employment to support her family.
Achievements
- Worked as painter and aircraft pilot
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