27-Year-Old Anupriya Lakra From Odisha Becomes First Tribal Woman To Become A Commercial Pilot
Image: Instagram
For many of us, the idea of tribal people brings the images of illiterate, unemployed people who go from one day to the next on daily wages. However, over the years, the people from the tribal areas have seen a lot more trauma than us regular city dwellers. This is particularly true for those who live in the areas that fell prey to Maoist attacks, and for many people there, life never came back to normal.
When we look at the people in these tribal areas, we look at them with sympathy and sometimes even with fear. However, there are many among these tribal communities who get over the odds to create history. Here, we bring to you a story of a woman from Malkangiri, a war-affected tribal region in Odisha, who went on to become their first commercial pilot. Read on to know more.
Born to a police constable, Anupriya Madhumita Lakra went on to fulfill an ambition that seemed next to impossible for her folks. Born in Malkangiri region of Odisha, a region highly affected by Maoists, the 27-year-old tribal woman is now a co-pilot in Indigo Airlines. Her parents believe that she has made not just her family, but the whole state proud.
When her father found it difficult to make ends meet and fund Anupriya’s pilot training, their relatives pitched in. Together they ensured that Anupriya’s dream would be fulfilled, no matter what it cost. Despite the struggle to provide for their family, her parents encouraged their daughter to dream big. And today, they are happy that she has gone on to become what she dreamt of since a young age. On a bigger picture, they wanted Anupriya to be an inspiration for girls and women across the nation. And, Anupriya’s biggest strength? Her parents’ support.
Against this backdrop, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik used the social media platforms to express his appreciation and admiration for the commercial pilot, and also stated that Anupriya is going to be a role model for several girls out there.
And a bigger matter of pride is that Anupriya is not merely the first woman commercial pilot in the tribe, but in Odisha itself. In a place where many women have not even gone close to seeing a train or rail line, this girl went on to not merely be in an aircraft, but to fly it.
Where it all began?
Born in the tribal region, Anupriya got through her basic education from the neighboring district after reaching the secondary education level in a missionary school in Malkangiri. While in higher secondary, she was one of the few students who were selected to get admission in an engineering college that was run by the government. After a few months in the college which was located in Bhubaneswar, Anupriya realized that it was not where she wanted to be. She realized that her calling was to becoming a pilot. And, that is exactly what she reached out to.
After discontinuing her engineering, she joined the Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI) located in the city of Bhubaneswar. While keen on supporting her dreams, her father struggled to bear all the expenses. During this time Anupriya’s uncles came together to help her out. For a period of seven years, they took loans and did whatever it took for Anupriya to clear the examination that she had to attend in order to attain a commercial pilot license. But, her family had only one thing on their mind. They wanted to make sure that Anupriya never gave up on her dreams.
This is a massive step for the tribal region. Of the numerous people who struggle to make ends meet, Anupriya has set new goals for not just the girls in the region, but also to everyone else.
It is true. If you set your mind on something, the universe will bring together whatever it takes to make the impossible happen. And on this, it will not only help you create legacy, but also live your life to the fullest.
In a society where women are being snubbed and brought down to show male supremacy, Anupriya is a person who has taken the first step out of it. Women, though considered as the weaker gender, are the strongest of the lot with sound logical thinking. They can make the impossible happen, and 2019 has proven it to us. India’s daughters like Minty Agarwal, PV Sindhu and Anupriya Lakra are among the few names that have changed the course of history as we know it.
Remember, women were born strong to endure more difficulties than men do. For that matter of fact, women create new humans. If they can do that, they can most definitely create a new legacy of their own. Despite all the odds against them, they have made a difference. Now, look into the mirror and ask yourself, “What is your excuse?”
