South Asian Business news and information

On November 28, 2006, I wrote about Namira Salim, the first Pakistani woman to go to space. On the other hand, Kalpana Chawla, was the first Indian female to travel space. What makes these two women special is the countries(India & Pakistan) to which they belong? In these two societies, an ideal woman is the one who would cook food, make the house, obey her husband and elders and take care of her children. There are few women who are able to break the social limits and prove their talents. Although it is true that the number of female students in colleges and universities have increased by the span of time in these two countries, women do not enjoy the rights and privileges like men in these two societies. Being born in such countries these two women have fulfilled their dreams.

Kalpana Chawla: She was born in Karnal of Punjab. From childhood, Chawla was interested in flying aeroplanes. The town where she grew up had a small flying club and she often asked her father to take her there for flying. One day, her father took her and her brother for a ride on aeroplanes. In an interview, before her space mission in STS-107, Chawla shared this incident. Since childhood, she decided to become an aerospace engineer. Another person that inspired her most was J.R.D Tata, also known as “The father of Indian Aviation.” Chawla studied in Tagore Bal Niketan School, and then did her pre-engineering and pre-university from Dayal Singh College. She then studied in Aeronautics from Punjab Engineering College. In 1984, Chawla finished her M.S in aerospace engineering from Texas University and PhD from University of Colorado in 1988.