Thiruvananthapuram: Growing up in Poonthura, a coastal neighbourhood in the state capital where fishing is a way of life for many families, Karishma Binraj nurtured a dream that seemed far removed from her surroundings — to become a commercial pilot. At 27, she has taken a major step towards realising that ambition by earning a private pilot licence (PPL) after flight training in Cape Town, South Africa.Karishma, the first woman pilot from Poonthura’s fishing community, now hopes to obtain a commercial pilot licence (CPL) and eventually fly for an Indian airline.“I feel proud that the dream I have carried since childhood is close to reality. I have not reached my destination yet; this is only the beginning of my journey,” she told TOI from Cape Town, where she is continuing her training.Her interest in aviation began when she was 10. Her relative, Sruthy Mol, who worked as ground staff at Thiruvananthapuram airport, would share stories about air travel and women pilots. Those conversations sparked an ambition that stayed with Karishma through her school years.Born to Sahayaraju and Mary Vasantha, Karishma completed her schooling up to Class XII in Poonthura. She said she is “proud that her father is a fisherman.”She initially explored the possibility of becoming a pilot in the Indian Air Force, but didn’t succeed. She later travelled to Italy and Australia for higher studies and work before returning to Poonthura, where she started a small jewellery business.Her childhood ambition, however, remained alive. At 25, she decided to pursue flight training in South Africa and took a loan to finance the course. Despite the financial pressures and challenges of training abroad, she persevered and secured her PPL.Karishma said she was now working towards the next stage of her training — obtaining a CPL. This would enable her to pursue professional flying opportunities, subject to meeting the applicable regulatory requirements. She is staying in accommodation provided by her flight school in Cape Town.
