Interview Times 
FEATURE: Anupriya Lakra’s story is a testament to the boundless potential that lies within every individual. Hailing from Malkangiri, one of the most remote places in Odisha devoid of access to proper education and facilities, this tribal woman bravely fought against all odds to reach her goals. She pursued her dream of becoming a pilot.
She shattered the bias that was a deterrent in her pathway to success through sheer determination and grit. Her ambition overpowered her engineering pursuit, and she left her studies midway to become a pilot and started to prepare herself for reaching her goals. After clearing her exam, she joined a flying institute in Bhubaneswar in 2012.
Her dreams finally transformed into reality in 2017 when she attained her license and became the first tribal woman from Odisha to become a commercial pilot. Her journey inspires us to dream big and break barriers.
In the year 2019, the young pilot achieved one of her greatest milestones when she piloted the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Malkangiri.
Her dream to touch the sky has catapulted a tribal woman from Odisha’s Maoist-hit Malkangiri district to become the first female pilot from the backward region.
Twenty-three-year-old Anupriya Lakra’s dream of becoming a pilot has become a reality seven years after she quit engineering studies midway and joined an aviation academy in 2012. The woman from the tribal-dominated district is all set to join a private airline as a co-pilot.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has congratulated Lakra for the rare feat achieved through dedication and grit and said it will set an example for others to emulate.
“I am happy to learn about the success of Anupriya Lakra. The success achieved by her through dedicated efforts and perseverance is an example for many,” Mr Patnaik tweeted, wishing Anupriya more achievements as an able pilot.
Daughter of Mariniyas Lakra, a Havildar in Odisha Police and Jamaj Yashmin Lakra, a homemaker, Anupriya completed her matriculation from a convent in Malkangiri and higher secondary from a school in Semiliguda.
With a passion of becoming a pilot, she quit her engineering studies in Bhubaneswar mid-way and prepared for pilot entrance test in Bhubaneswar, her father said.
In 2012, Anupriya joined the Pilot Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, he said. “We are very happy that her dream of becoming a pilot has now become a reality. She will be working as a co-pilot in a private airline,” Mariniyas said.
She has been selected as a co-pilot in a private airline and is likely to fly abroad shortly. “It is a big achievement for somebody from a backward district like Malkangiri. Her success has come after seven years of hard work,” he said.
Jubilant over Anupriya’s success, her mother said “I am very happy. It is a matter of pride for the people of Malkangiri. Her success will inspire other girls.” Anupriya was always encouraged to make efforts to translate her dreams into reality, her mother said.
The dreams of Anupriya Lakra, a 23-year-old girl from Maoist-hit Malkangiri district – one of the remotest corners of Odisha, becoming a pilot has become a reality seven years after she quit engineering studies midway and joined an aviation academy in 2012. Lakra, who hails from the tribal-dominated district, is all set to join a private airline as a co-pilot.
Daughter of Mariniyas Lakra, a Havildar in Odisha Police and Jamaj Yashmin Lakra, a homemaker, Anupriya completed her matriculation from a convent in Malkangiri, a moist hit area and higher secondary from a school in Semiliguda.
Belonging to the Santal community, Anupriya is the eldest of three children. She had a passion for becoming a pilot and quit her engineering studies in Bhubaneswar midway to prepare for the pilot entrance test in Bhubaneswar.
“I am very proud of my daughter. Since childhood, she wanted to make it big in life and today she has succeeded in doing so. All the credit goes to her hard work and to her mother who stood by her through thick and thin,” Anupriaya’s father Mariniyas Lakra said.
In 2012, Anupriya joined the Pilot Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, he added. “We are very happy that her dream of becoming a pilot has now become a reality. She will be working as a co-pilot in a private airline,” Mariniyas said.
She has been selected as a co-pilot in a private airline and is likely to fly abroad shortly. “It is a big achievement for somebody from a backward district like Malkangiri. Her success has come after seven years of hard work,” he said.
Jubilant over Anupriya’s success, her mother said “I am very happy. It is a matter of pride for the people of Malkangiri. Her success will inspire other girls.” Anupriya was always encouraged to make efforts to translate her dreams into reality, her mother said.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also congratulated Lakra for the rare feat achieved through dedication and grit and said it will set an example for others to emulate.
The success story of Anupriya Lakra is one among those many such inspiring stories, especially coming from those Maoist-affected tribals areas. Following the Modi government successive fight against the menace of the ‘Left-wing-terror’, there has been a considerable improvement in the lives and aspirations of the tribal people, which is being reflected through success stories like Anupriya Lakra.
Many youngsters, especially girls are aspiring to come out in the open to pursue their passion, without giving any credence to the left-wing terrorists anymore, who otherwise controlled thoughts, the actions of these deprived tribals in the past.
In a bid to eradicate the radicalization of the young people, who are often the targets of the Left-wing terror groups, the governments and security forces with effective state-based interventions, are keen to utilize the energy of the youngsters into a positive outcome.
