'Machines don't see gender': India's first female train driver on blazing the trail

Surekha Yadav has made history in India as the country's first female train driver. She joined the Indian Railways in 1989, a time when it was very rare for women to work in such jobs. After 36 years of service, she recently retired, leaving behind a legacy that has inspired thousands of women. Surekha believes that 'machines don't see gender; they see your strength. ' This idea helped her face many challenges during her long career.

Surekha was born in 1965 in a small town in Maharashtra. Her family were farmers, and she was the eldest of five siblings. From a young age, she learned the value of hard work by helping her family on the farm while also focusing on her studies. Her parents, though not wealthy, were forward-thinking and encouraged her to get a good education. After becoming an electrical engineer, Surekha started looking for a job. She found an advertisement in the newspaper for assistant train drivers and decided to apply, not knowing that there were no women in that role at the time. She simply wanted a stable job to support herself and her family.

Getting a government job in India is very competitive, as thousands of people apply for each position. Surekha passed the exams and interviews with excellent results and started her career driving goods trains. When she went for training, she was surprised to find that she was the only woman in her class. She felt nervous but decided to continue, thinking that if she didn't take the opportunity, someone else would. The job was tough, with long hours, unpredictable schedules, and a lot of responsibility. She had to learn many skills on the job, as there were no books to teach her how to be a good train driver. She had to be alert at all times, watching signals, monitoring the train's speed, and making quick decisions to keep passengers safe.

Over the years, Surekha drove trains across India, sometimes in difficult weather and on challenging routes. She was promoted to locomotive pilot in 1996, becoming the main operator in the train's control room. The job was demanding, with irregular hours and few facilities for women, such as washrooms or changing rooms. She even worked through two pregnancies and raised her children while continuing her job. Surekha says that while driving, she couldn't think about her family because she had to focus completely on the train. She missed many family events, but her family and colleagues supported her. Her male co-workers treated her as an equal, and she later mentored many new train drivers, including women. On her last day, she drove the Rajdhani Express, one of India's most important trains, and received a grand farewell from her colleagues. Surekha hopes her story will inspire more women to join the Indian Railways and follow their dreams.