Shaping India’s Future Female Aviators

On a remote, 3,600-foot-long runway in Rajasthan, India, a white Cessna 152 positions itself for takeoff. Moments later, it ascends over the vast desert beneath a cloudless sky.

This is the private airstrip at Banasthali Vidyapith, a renowned 1,100-acre university dedicated to empowering women in India.

Since its founding in 1962, Banasthali Vidyapith’s School of Aviation has trained over 5,000 women, with many more following in their footsteps.

“In a society where many still hesitate to invest in girls’ futures, Banasthali Vidyapith offers a space where women are given equal importance,” says Captain Tarana Saxena, a proud graduate, in an interview with Dinogo Travel.

“They offer girls an opportunity to explore aviation... a chance to take flight.”

A major milestone for women

Banasthali Vidyapith University was born out of a tragic event that sparked its mission for change.

Founder Hiralal Shastri, a politician born into a farming family in Rajasthan, moved to the village of Vanasthali in 1929 with his family.

In this rural area, about 50 miles south of Jaipur, he launched a social initiative aimed at rebuilding the village and educating local farmers.

At a young age, his daughter shared his passion and began teaching the children of the village.

Tragically, she succumbed to illness at the age of 12.

Driven by his wife’s encouragement, Shastri dedicated himself to educating and empowering young women, fulfilling a dream he and his wife had envisioned for their daughter.

Banasthali Vidyapith was founded in 1935 with just seven female students and now offers over 28 academic disciplines, including doctoral programs.

“Access to education was a major leap for women in India,” says Saxena.

“The goal was never to segregate girls from boys, but to offer them a chance to grow— to excel, to learn, and to expand their minds.”

Taking flight

At Banasthali Vidyapith, the curriculum is grounded in the philosophy of “Panchmukhi Shiksha,” which focuses on the “holistic development of personality.”

The university offers a broad range of programs, including law, design, science, nanotechnology, and literature.

It established its Gliding & Flying Club in the 1960s, with a fleet of five planes, at a time when female pilots were few and far between around the world.

Initially, the aviation training was designed to boost women’s confidence as part of the university’s comprehensive approach to education.

It eventually transformed into a School of Aviation, offering women the opportunity to earn a student pilot's license, a bachelor’s degree, or even a commercial pilot’s license.

For those who are not seeking a career in aviation but wish to obtain a student pilot’s license, Banasthali offers 5-10 hours of free flying lessons.

“At a time when it seemed impossible and ridiculous for women to drive cars in India, we were teaching girls to fly,” recalls Aditya Shastri, grandson of founder Pandit Hiralal Shastri, in an interview with Dinogo Travel.

Over the years, the aviation school has produced many of India’s leading female pilots, including Avani Chaturvedi, who made history in 2016 as the country’s first female fighter pilot.

Chaturvedi made history once again in February, when, at 24, she became the first woman in India to fly a fighter jet solo.

A moment of turbulence

Raised in Bilari, a town in Uttar Pradesh, Saxena has dreamed of the sky ever since her parents gave her a toy airplane at the age of five.

“Though the toy couldn’t actually fly, I recall playing with it and wondering how such things stayed up in the air,” says Saxena.

She grew up in a town without an airport, where English was rarely spoken and it was considered a big deal if a girl rode a bicycle.

“Fortunately, I had parents who always supported me,” Saxena recalls. “One day, my father saw an ad for the flying club in a newspaper and applied for me while I was still in boarding school.”

“Banasthali is committed to fostering more women leaders in aviation,” says Professor Seema Verma, dean of the School of Aviation, in an interview with Dinogo Travel.

“Many Indian parents are reluctant to invest heavily in training for their daughters. However, there are exceptions—some parents share our vision and aspirations for their daughters.”

Saxena recalls how her parents—her mother, a doctor working with underprivileged communities, and her father, a professor—faced judgment from neighbors who questioned their decision to invest in a girl’s future.

“We live in a society where people criticize – why are you investing so much in your daughter? Why are you letting her pursue that? Girls can’t drive, so how could they ever fly?”

Saxena’s parents urged her to block out the negativity and chase her dreams.

“None of my family was involved in aviation. But my parents always supported us in being whatever we aspired to be – my sister wanted to be a doctor, and she is one. I wanted to be a pilot, and here I am,” Saxena shares.

Living the dream

When Saxena arrived at Banasthali in 2012, she was eager to take her first flight and make her dream a reality.

In December 2013, the long-awaited moment arrived. With an instructor by her side, Saxena climbed into the cockpit of a Cessna 152A, a popular aircraft for training.

“I remember my instructor telling me I might feel dizzy or nauseous, but all I felt was pure excitement,” Saxena recalls.

“I couldn’t believe the thrill of being airborne. I wanted five more minutes, then ten… I just wanted it to go on forever.”

She says flying was exactly as she had imagined it would be.

“It’s rare to dream about something, and then see that dream come true,” Saxena reflects.

She completed her Bachelor's degree in Aviation Science, then earned a commercial pilot's license after passing eight exams over the course of five years.

After graduation, Saxena received job offers from SpiceJet, Air Asia, and Vistara. This year, she secured her dream job with IndiGo.

“I chose IndiGo because they operate the Airbus 320, which I prefer, and because of its focus on gender diversity – IndiGo employs the highest percentage of female pilots in India (14%). The company bases everything on merit,” says Saxena.

“I don’t see myself as a symbol of any movement. I simply hope that more women in aviation will challenge outdated perceptions. Why should gender dictate one’s abilities?”

The journey to the skies

Back in the 1960s, it was a rarity to see a woman in a cockpit when the university launched its on-campus aviation school.

Currently, about 5% of commercial pilots around the globe are women, according to the Centre for Aviation.

India leads the world with 12% of its pilots being women – three times the proportion in the US, where women make up just 4% of pilots.

Harsh Vardhan, founder of Starair Consulting and a seasoned expert in India’s aviation sector, attributes the growth to post-independence momentum starting in the 1950s.

“In earlier times, we came from a traditional mindset, so few women ventured into the workforce,” Vardhan explains.

“Aviation wasn’t considered a career choice for women. Most were housewives, focusing on roles in fields like education, where they felt more secure.”

Vardhan highlights that leaders like former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi – India’s first female prime minister – played a crucial role in motivating women to step forward, a message further reinforced by her son, Rajiv Gandhi.

“Role models are key to creating success stories, and then others begin to follow suit,” Vardhan says. “Women like Kalpana Chawla, India’s first female astronaut, are truly inspiring.”

Vardhan estimates that there are currently over 2,600 women flying for private airlines, serving as navy and helicopter pilots, and filling various other aviation roles across India.

“While women can now train at flying schools nationwide, Banasthali Vidyapith remains one of the leading institutions paving the way for women’s education in India,” Vardhan notes.

“In the next five to ten years, this number could rise to 20% or more. It will take time, but the growth will come as we prioritize pilots based on their merit,” Vardhan predicts.