Remembering Kalpana Chawla – An inspiration for million girls

By: Ashriya Gupta

“I’ve always been very determined. I don’t get easily discouraged.”

The above quote is of Kalpana Chawla. She became a source of inspiration for millions of girls in India by becoming the country’s first female astronaut and indeed she is my inspiration too.

Once in an interview she said, “I was born in space and will die in space”. Her love for space was never-ending.

Born in the Karnal district of Haryana, Kalpana was interested in Aeronautical Engineering from an early age. She took a lot of effort to pursue her dreams and worked at NASA for 7 years before becoming an astronaut.

Although Kalpana’s second space flight ended in disaster, she is remembered as an extraordinary woman, an inspiration, and a role model.

At a time when women were finding it hard to raise their voices, receive education, and work like men, Kalpana made records everywhere. She was determined at her work that nothing could hold her back.

And even today when she isn’t with us, she never fails to inspire us.