#DidYouKnow #WomenInHistory
1/ In the late 1940s, when Sardar Patel was traveling across the country in his historical effort to unify post-Independence India, Usha Sundaram was often one of the pilots for his flights.
1/ In the late 1940s, when Sardar Patel was traveling across the country in his historical effort to unify post-Independence India, Usha Sundaram was often one of the pilots for his flights.
2/ At a time when Indian women in planes were still a rarity, Usha took to the skies at a young age soon after she married V Sundaram in July 1941, becoming the first graduate of the flying club at #Bengaluru's Jakkur.
3/ Sundaram was an accomplished pilot and an instructor at Madras Flying Club. He and Usha became the pilots of the Maharaja of Mysore's personal plane, a Dakota DC-3, that was utilized by dignitaries like Nehru, Patel & Dr Rajendra Prasad to fly to different corners of India.
4/ In 1947, during the Partition, Usha also daringly flew into Pakistan on a few occasions to rescue people stranded due to widespread violence and brought them back safely to Indian soil on her plane.
5/ In 1951, Usha and Sundaram flew from London to Bombay in 27 hours to set a world record. The record still stands.
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