<strong>Investing in women: </strong>A group of student pilots prepares for flight at Banasthali Vidyapith's School of Aviation. Since its establishment in<strong> </strong>1962<strong>, </strong>the all-women flight school has produced more than<strong> </strong>5,000 alumnae.
Investing in women: A group of student pilots prepares for flight at Banasthali Vidyapith's School of Aviation. Since its establishment in 1962, the all-women flight school has produced more than 5,000 alumnae.
Courtesy Banasthali Vidyapith
<strong>The sky is calling: </strong>Tarana Saxena, a recent graduate, poses beside a Cessna at Banasthali Vidyapith University. "I couldn't believe how amazing it felt to be in the air," she says of her first flight. "I wanted five more minutes, 10 more minutes...I wanted it to last forever."
The sky is calling: Tarana Saxena, a recent graduate, poses beside a Cessna at Banasthali Vidyapith University. "I couldn't believe how amazing it felt to be in the air," she says of her first flight. "I wanted five more minutes, 10 more minutes...I wanted it to last forever."
Tarana Saxena
<strong>Ahead of its time: </strong>The university introduced its Gliding & Flying Club in the 1960s. Pictured here, Chanda Agarwala (formerly Chanda More) sits in the pilot seat during a training session more than four decades ago. "At a time when it was considered unreal and absurd for women to drive cars in the country, we were teaching girls how to fly," says Aditya Shastri, grandson of Banasthali Vidyapith founder Pandit Hiralal Shastri.
Ahead of its time: The university introduced its Gliding & Flying Club in the 1960s. Pictured here, Chanda Agarwala (formerly Chanda More) sits in the pilot seat during a training session more than four decades ago. "At a time when it was considered unreal and absurd for women to drive cars in the country, we were teaching girls how to fly," says Aditya Shastri, grandson of Banasthali Vidyapith founder Pandit Hiralal Shastri.
Courtesy Banasthali Vidyapith
<strong>Leading the way: </strong>In India, 12% of the country's pilots are women -- the highest percentage in the world. Airline IndiGo employs the highest percentage of female pilots in India.
Leading the way: In India, 12% of the country's pilots are women -- the highest percentage in the world. Airline IndiGo employs the highest percentage of female pilots in India.
PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>India's first female fighter pilots: </strong>Over the years, the aviation school has turned out many of India's top female pilots. These include Avani Chaturvedi (pictured in the center), who the country celebrated as its first female fighter pilot in 2016.
India's first female fighter pilots: Over the years, the aviation school has turned out many of India's top female pilots. These include Avani Chaturvedi (pictured in the center), who the country celebrated as its first female fighter pilot in 2016.
NOAH SEELAM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Empowering young women: </strong>University founder Hiralal Shastr set up the school to educate and empower young women, a dream he had envisioned for his own daughter, who tragically fell ill at the age of 12 and passed away.
Empowering young women: University founder Hiralal Shastr set up the school to educate and empower young women, a dream he had envisioned for his own daughter, who tragically fell ill at the age of 12 and passed away.
Courtesy Banasthali Vidyapith