Dreams see no bounds, especially when a woman sees them. Dhira Chaliha Hazarika dreamt of flying beyond boundaries and made it possible by becoming the first woman pilot from Assam. Let’s explore her exhilarating story.
Noreen Borooah
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They say, “Aim for the moon, because if you miss it, you will at least land among the stars.” Dhira Chaliha Hazarika made it possible through her ever-rigid perseverance.
Her ever-fulfilling desire was to do something that her father could take pride in; little Dhira hence geared up to fly. Her dream might have been ahead of her time, but so was her achievement.
Image: Dhira Chaliha Hazarika, the first Assamese woman pilot
This story is a little old; we might have to go back a few decades in time to commemorate this exceptional journey among the clouds. So, let’s explore the exhilarating journey of Dhira Chaliha Hazarika, the first Assamese woman pilot.
The Childhood of a Dreamer
Dhira Chaliha Hazarika was born in 1940 in Jorhat and lived her childhood around Jorhat and Guwahati. She completed her education at Handique College, Guwahati. As a child, Dhira was quite a sport; she enjoyed doing things that girls of those times were probably not approved of.
Her childhood was not bounded by the confines of society because her father was her strongest support. She recalls how her father, Mr. Kamaleshwar Chaliha, encouraged her to always do whatever pleased her, and Dhira complied.
When she was a kid, Dhira Chaliha Hazarika recounts how she, with her boyish charm, used to climb trees in the backyard of her house to watch the warplanes of the Burma Campaign of the British India. It was possibly in the high branches of those trees that she found her passion for flying.
When Freedom Knocked at her Door
Those dreams that Dhira Chaliha Hazarika envisioned were far too high for a society in the colonial era to allow a woman to fly planes when women were not even allowed to step out of the kitchen.
Yet the hero to Dhira Chaliha’s story is her father. Once during the chilly winters in Assam in 1959, when India had just gained independence, Dhira’s independence knocked at her door. Her father came across an advertisement in the Assam Tribune, the news announced;
The youth of the region are invited to apply for 6 fully funded training scholarships to become pilots within two years. Apply for an interview.
– Assam Flying Club, Gauhati Airport, Jalukbari”
Dhira’s father was compliant and sure of what his daughter wanted, although in contrast to her mother’s beliefs. But regardless, she started her training.
Dhira Chaliha’s training began with the Assam Flying Club. For two years she was up in the air mastering every inch of the skill and lesson to perfection. In a rigorous routine of flights and bumpy landings, Dhira Chaliha mastered her skills. Her mother was still protective of her journey, but she knew no bounds.
Also read: Inspiring Journey of Seema Biswas from Theatre to Movies
Her First Flight
It happened so suddenly that Dhira didn’t know it would be the special day that would make history and change her life forever. When one morning her flying instructor informed her that she was ready for her first solo flight, in an astonishing yet excited triumph, young Dhira took control of the tabs and buttons and the levers and controllers; she fastened herself, and off she went, steady but speeding into the sky.
Among the clouds and the golden light of the sun, she witnessed the greens and blues of the sky and land alike. In the days when technology was yet not in place, the sky was the limit that seemed assumably dangerous. It was because of the air traffic control being subaverage and radios and towers lacking communication that Dhira Chaliha Hazarika’s first flight drifted between Guwahati and Tezpur, Jorhat, or Shillong but back to the landing runway in Guwahati.
Something unexpected happened that day. In the village of Azara, the village people gathered to witness history; it is not that they had never witnessed a plane land before, but it certainly was that they were going to witness the first Assamese girl land her first plane at just 21.
Her Dream was left Unfulfilled
Dhira Chaliha proved her caliber because Assam and Northeast India have a daughter they take pride in. She was persistent to give a new destination to her journey; she wanted to start flying commercially. She tried her best for her commercial flying license, but life had other plans for her. In the midst of society and dreams, she let society win this time. Two years after her first flight, she was married to Kamal Hazarika, and Dhira Chaliha became Mrs. Dhira Chaliha Hazarika.
Just when her license was in line, she had to move to London with her husband. She made multiple tries at flying in London, but when her family was in question, she made a decision that she still believes she does not regret taking; she chose her family.
An Icon for Women Empowerment
Today, after decades of a history Dhira Chaliha created, continues to inspire every girl who has ever dreamt without counting the consequences. From being a mischievous young girl to becoming a rebellious teenager, she became an inspiring woman for everyone.
It is a privilege that Assam gave birth to a woman like Dhira Chaliha, who is still taken pride in. Dhira Chaliha Hazarika is a true inspiration for everyone to know that the sky is limitless if you persevere enough and have the will to make a difference for yourself and the generations to come.
Hello! I am Noreen Borooah, a psychology student, storyteller, and podcast host. I am from Guwahati, Assam, and currently I am studying at Delhi University. Being a storyteller and an Assamese, I am here to tell you the untold stories of Assam. My email: noreen@diversityassam.com.
