“People initially think I’m Christian and then gawk when I tell them my full name,” laughs Saarah Hameed Ahmed (25), the Bengaluru girl who became the first female commercial Muslim pilot in the Indian aviation sector.
“I just love the look on people’s faces when they discover I am Muslim,” said Saarah who has been flying commercial aircraft Spicejet airlines for over two years.
Sarah is the only Muslim woman to be chosen in the aviation sector out of 600 women already employed.
“I wanted to do something extraordinary, and an Australian pilot who took a career counseling session in Jyothi Nivas College—where I studied my Pre University Course—triggered interest in me in flying aircraft”, Saara told Islamic Voice.
Sarah’s mother, Naseema Ahmed, says, “Initially none of us encouraged her. In our community girls don’t usually take up professions where they have to stay away from home and live in hotels without an escort. Those days most Muslim students were being denied US Visas. When she got the visa without any trouble I saw it as a final message from God”.
Like others, she also wants to tie the knot. Quite a few of her suitors have either wanted her to give up her job or move cities. “My father has shooed away people asking them to get their sons to quit his job and move cities,” Saarah says letting out another blast of laughter.
The other two who are waiting in wings includes:
Captain Fatima Salva Syeda, 26, is a licensed commercial pilot. Although she has to qualify additional training before she can be a professional pilot.
Ayesha Aziz, 18, is another aspiring pilot. Hailing from Khawaja Bagh in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was lucky enough to obtain a basic flying licence at a very young age.