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For generations now, women have been working towards (read: fighting for) freedoms that have been the privilege of men in patriarchal societies. Some have faced flak, others have inched forward, but they have all persevered and, through their efforts, these freedoms become less elusive to so many Indian women. Femina celebrates these new freedom fighters and their ongoing trysts with destiny
Riding The Rough Seas
The world’s first woman river pilot, Reshma Nilofer guides ships along the dangerous waters of the Hooghly.
The role of a marine pilot is to guide a vessel safely in and out of the harbour. The job requires tremendous physical and mental strength, but that did not stop Reshma Nilofer from pursuing her ambition to be a river pilot. She is the world’s first and the only woman river pilot, currently working with the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). “It is never easy when you are the first one to achieve a feat,” says Reshma. “It took a lot of training and hard work for me to announce that I was here to stay and would not give up.” She adds that people don’t expect a woman to be the pilot.
“It is never easy when you are the first one to achieve a feat. It took a lot of training and hard work for me to announce that I was here to stay and would not give up.”
From humble beginnings in Chennai to reaching the waters of the Hooghly, it has been a journey of passion and endurance. “After completing my school education, I pursued a professional course in marine technology from the Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET), Chennai. Post the course, I sailed across the world on both passenger ships and container ships,” recalls Reshma, who trained at the KopT for nearly six-and-a-half years before being posted as a full-time maritime pilot at the same port in 2018.
“We are the local expert navigators attached to one particular port; we know the ins and outs of the port so that ships can enter and exit with ease,” she explains of her job as a maritime pilot. She also mentions that the captain of the ship cannot be an expert in every port, which is why the job of a marine pilot becomes crucial.
“The river is very narrow and has several sandbars and bends, and draughts that could create problems. You need to be mentally alert and capable of taking swift action.”
“The river is very narrow and has several sandbars and bends, and draughts that could create problems. You need to be mentally alert and capable of taking swift action as every second is crucial while manoeuvring a ship; a delay could result in a disaster,” she adds, emphasising the need for good physical fitness. “We board a ship from a small pilot launcher or a pilot boat, and we climb up and down the ship using a vertical rope ladder, which requires some amount of fitness.”
From bad weather to broken-down engines, fighting sea sickness, being away from family, and working longer shifts, Reshma has seen it all. This Nari Shakti Puraskar winner continues to inspire many with her hard work and dedication!
Also Read: Balancing Gender Equality: Activist Trisha Shetty
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Riding The Rough Seas
The world’s first woman river pilot, Reshma Nilofer guides ships along the dangerous waters of the Hooghly.
The role of a marine pilot is to guide a vessel safely in and out of the harbour. The job requires tremendous physical and mental strength, but that did not stop Reshma Nilofer from pursuing her ambition to be a river pilot. She is the world’s first and the only woman river pilot, currently working with the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). “It is never easy when you are the first one to achieve a feat,” says Reshma. “It took a lot of training and hard work for me to announce that I was here to stay and would not give up.” She adds that people don’t expect a woman to be the pilot.
“It is never easy when you are the first one to achieve a feat. It took a lot of training and hard work for me to announce that I was here to stay and would not give up.”
From humble beginnings in Chennai to reaching the waters of the Hooghly, it has been a journey of passion and endurance. “After completing my school education, I pursued a professional course in marine technology from the Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET), Chennai. Post the course, I sailed across the world on both passenger ships and container ships,” recalls Reshma, who trained at the KopT for nearly six-and-a-half years before being posted as a full-time maritime pilot at the same port in 2018.
“We are the local expert navigators attached to one particular port; we know the ins and outs of the port so that ships can enter and exit with ease,” she explains of her job as a maritime pilot. She also mentions that the captain of the ship cannot be an expert in every port, which is why the job of a marine pilot becomes crucial.
“The river is very narrow and has several sandbars and bends, and draughts that could create problems. You need to be mentally alert and capable of taking swift action.”
“The river is very narrow and has several sandbars and bends, and draughts that could create problems. You need to be mentally alert and capable of taking swift action as every second is crucial while manoeuvring a ship; a delay could result in a disaster,” she adds, emphasising the need for good physical fitness. “We board a ship from a small pilot launcher or a pilot boat, and we climb up and down the ship using a vertical rope ladder, which requires some amount of fitness.”
From bad weather to broken-down engines, fighting sea sickness, being away from family, and working longer shifts, Reshma has seen it all. This Nari Shakti Puraskar winner continues to inspire many with her hard work and dedication!
Also Read: Balancing Gender Equality: Activist Trisha Shetty
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