Mum Of Two, Sunita Kumari, Quits Teaching To Qualify As Chopper Pilot

A mother of two grown-up daughters, Sunita Kumari is an unapologetic striver of her dreams that has the sky as the limit. 49-years-old Sunita quit her job as a science teacher and decided to learn flying in the USA. Marriage, children or any other responsibilities never pulled her back. Today, she is aboard the Eurocopter AS350B3, a six-seater Pawan Hans chopper that ferries the CRPF jawans and civilians from Jammu and Kashmir in need of medical aid to the medical help centres.

Key Takeaways:

• Sunita Kumari belongs to a village in Haryana and has two grown-up daughters. 
• She decided to fly 10 years after her marriage. She learnt flying in Florida, USA.
• Currently, she is posted in Jammu and Kashmir where she is responsible for ferrying military officials and civilians to medical help centres.   
• She has completed 43 days of her flying since August 5.
• Sunita wants to inspire her daughters and other women in Haryana to accomplish their dreams. 

A determined pilot

An inhabitant of Rasolpur Village in Mahendragarh district of Haryana, Sunita Kumari has completed 43-days of flying since August 5. Expressing her elation, Sunita Kumari told Times Of India, “Can you imagine I was teaching science two decades ago in a school? Yet, after 10 years of my marriage and teaching, I decided to learn flying in the US and look for jobs here in India. The will and determination can take you to any place of your choice. Here I am in the valley, in the middle of all the actions, with the country’s premier chopper service.”

“I am glad I grew up with a father who was serving in the LOC for some part of his life. I carried the same attitude and passed on to my daughters also, one of whom has made it to the IIT Delhi and is now working in the MNC. What fills my heart at the end of the day is that she proudly shares my flying photos on Instagram.”

The task of flying in an area that has been torn apart in violence and crisis was indeed challenging for Sunita. Her flying included difficult landing of the chopper on sensitive places like Mount Everest, Handwara and Baramulla. Besides, her chopper was fraught with military officials and civilians from Kokernag, Anantnag in need of medical aid in Gurez, Baltal and Pahalgam.  She was responsible for their swift and safe landing before it gets too late.

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Sunita admitted that she often misses her family as she could not maintain her contact with them due to lack of a medium of communication or when she is on long flights. But, Sunita never deterred. Her job and its responsibilities have always been her first priority. This selfless determination and devotion towards work is a lesson that she has learnt from her father.

She said, “I am glad I grew up with a father who was serving in the LOC for some part of his life. I carried the same attitude and passed on to my daughters also, one of whom has made it to the IIT Delhi and is now working in the MNC. What fills my heart at the end of the day is that she proudly shares my flying photos on Instagram.”

“Can you imagine I was teaching science two decades ago in a school? Yet, after 10 years of my marriage and teaching, I decided to learn flying in the US and look for jobs here in India. The will and determination can take you to any place of your choice. Here I am in the valley, in the middle of all the actions, with the country’s premier chopper service.”

An inspiring mum and a woman

Sunita Kumari has set a benchmark of how motherhood is never a barrier and how it can be empowering. Even though she faced many sexist and patriarchal restrictions that never wanted her to fly and do whatever she wants, she overcame all the challenges and obstacles with a vision set beyond the clouds. Sunita aspires to inspire her daughters and other women stuck in the regressive patriarchal circles of villages or world. She says, “I just want to do difficult things in life. I want to inspire a lot of women and young girls in Haryana. If I can take up a job here and accomplish my dream, so can they. No women should feel helpless or undeserving for any job.”

Rudrani Kumari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV

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