Surekha Yadav, India’s first female train driver, has had a remarkable career with Indian Railways. After 36 years of passionate work for our cause, she’s hanging up her spurs. Yadav, born in 1965, grew up in a small farming town in Maharashtra. From a farming family, she is the oldest of five children. She joined the Indian Railways as an assistant train driver in 1989, paving the way for women in a field traditionally dominated by men.
By 1996, she had worked her way up through the ranks to become the first female locomotive pilot. Over her three-decade career, Yadav has piloted trains through extreme environments, from inundated railways to snowy alpine crossings. Her final trip, on the distinguished Rajdhani Express—every engineer’s dream assignment—was the crowning achievement of an unsurpassed career.
Yadav’s training as an electrical engineer gave her the technical fundamentals to do her job well. Yadav lived the challenges of managing work/family life while raising two children during two pregnancies. She continued to be deeply committed to her profession. She regularly had to forgo family holidays and day trips because of her grueling work schedule.
My co-workers were great. They never made me feel as if being a woman was something that made me fundamentally different. Other people may have felt that way, but not my colleagues,” Yadav said, in a testament to the supportive workplace ecosystem that she helped create.
Yadav has successfully piloted all kinds of trains during her distinguished career. She certainly has inspired thousands of aspiring train operators, particularly young women, to heed her call and take great strides in this thrilling new world. Her enthusiasm for the work comes through in her discussion of gender roles in the field.
“Machines don’t see gender. They see your strength,” she stated, emphasizing the equality that exists in the operational demands of train driving.
Yadav’s responsibilities extended beyond simply driving trains. She also needed to be super aware all the time, having to keep a watchful eye on signals, tracks, and equipment while communicating with coworkers. “You have to watch the signal, the track, the overhead equipment, listen to your colleague, and keep your eyes on the speed – all at the same time. How could I think of my children?” she recalled.
Yadav’s journey to becoming a Role Model is nothing short of remarkable. It inspires women toward non-traditional occupations and everyone who is working their way past challenges in their careers. Her story is a powerful example of the resilience and spirit that is helping to break barriers and change perceptions within an industry often dominated by men.
Up on her retirement, Yadav was given an emotional farewell by her co-workers from the reserved national queen, who soaked in her decades-long contribution and accomplishments. Her passion and wisdom has created a legacy that still inspires the next generation of train operators.