ANNY DIVYA, PUNJAB'S DAUGHTER BECOMES WORLD'S FIRST WOMAN COMMANDER TO FLY BOEING 777

Born in a middle class family in Pathanot Punjab, Anny Divya, who, for a long time in her life had not travelled in a plane, has now become the first woman pilot to fly the Boeing 777, world’s largest aircraft. 30 year-old Anny Divya is not just the first female pilot of Boeing 777 in India, but in the world as well.

Anny, who always dreamed of becoming a pilot in her life, did not have an easy journey as she belonged to a middle class family where her father was in the Army who took voluntary retirement and settled in Vijaywada later.

Talking about her childhood, Anny said that her parents always supported her choice of becoming a pilot even though everyone else, including their relatives were against her decision. She said that their parents had to take up a loan for her studies as her father’s financial condition was not very strong.

Anny said that people used to make fun of her poor English as she did not have a strong grip on the language because of her modest background. “I had difficulty adjusting and speaking English. People used to mock me for my poor English and that hurt me a lot. At times, I thought of going back. However, I didn’t. With my parents’ support, I worked hard enough to win a scholarship”, Anny said. Anny flew a plane for the first time when she was 17 and got her first job with Air India when she was 19.

Anny’s story certainly reminds us not to give up on our dreams as there are real life stories as Anny’s that prove that if our willpower is strong, then no matter how bumpy the road is, the heart can always achieve what it desires.