Tika, first woman pilot from Tharu community

By Avinash Chaudhary, Dhangadhi, Dec. 26: Man Bahadur Chaudhary’s farmland lies close to Dhangadhi Airport in Kailali. Airplane fly over his fields every day. Watching aircraft take off and land while working in the fields, his youngest daughter Tika once made a simple but bold declaration: “Dad, I want to become a pilot too.”

Chaudhary was stunned at first. After giving it some thought, he tried to dissuade her, saying that pilot training was expensive and beyond their financial reach. He also warned her about the risks of air crashes. But Tika’s determination eventually won him over.

After completing her plus two in science from NAST College in Dhangadhi, Tika remained firm in her resolve to become a pilot. “She told me she would work hard and asked me to manage the money,” her father Chaudhary recalled. “So, I started looking for funds, while she began searching for consultancies to send her abroad for pilot training.”

The 21-year-old has now become the first woman pilot from the Tharu community. Tika Chaudhary has recently obtained her private pilot licence. She is currently undergoing pilot training at Skyhawk Aviation in South Africa, though her training is yet to be completed.

“My training is not complete yet. We need to log 200 hours of flight time to finish the course,” Tika told The Rising Nepal. “I still have about 100 hours of flying left, which should be completed within the next six months.”

According to her, a private pilot licence allows her to fly an aircraft solo. She can now independently decide where to land in case of bad weather and is allowed to carry up to two passengers, including her father, on flights she operates on.

“Pilot training is very demanding. You have to fly alone in the sky. But nothing is impossible if you are determined. Success is achievable,” Tika said.

Chaudhary has six children -- five daughters and a son. He said he feels proud to have supported one of his daughters in becoming a pilot.

Meanwhile, Baatchit Ghar Dhangadhi honoured Tika on Thursday for making history as the first woman pilot from the Tharu community and for bringing pride to the community. 

Speaking at the programme, house owner of Baatchit Ghar Thakur Kariya Pradhan praised Tika for enhancing the reputation of the entire Tharu community.