Even as people applaud the Air India crew for bringing Indians home safe and sound from Italy, one must remember that those risking their lives for duty are also human beings with families. There have been reports of them facing discrimination at home because they are flying to coronavirus-affected areas and that is just not on.
To bring home someone's son, daughter, wife, husband, mother or father, brother or sister, they are taking a chance. And what is at stake? Their own families.?
One such example is none other than the brave woman who led the charge. Yes, we are talking of Captain Swati Rawal, the lady who flew the Boeing 777 that brought home 263 Indians from Italy. Yes, she is the one who flew the plane into a coronavirus-hit country, risked her own safety to ensure that our people came back. She is someone to look up to.?
But she is more than that just a pilot. She is a mother with a kid. That makes the sacrifice she is making all the more significant.?
Swati is no stranger to being in the news though. Back in 2010, she was part of Air India's all-woman crew which flew Mumbai to New York.?
She has been flying for over 15 years. By her own admission, she wanted to be fighter pilot. But back then women were not allowed in the Air Force to fly, so she became a commercial pilot.?
Swati maintains that her family has supported her for her choices and she is making us proud by flying the skies.?
She has put duty first and is doing her job at the helm. The least we can do is treat her and those like her with the respect they deserve in this time of need. ???