The first train driver in India to participate

“Do not see sex machines, they see your strength,” says Surekha Yadav, who was leading India’s trains for more than three decades.

Earlier this week, Mrs. Yadaf bid farewell to her job after 36 years of service, as she retired as the first train driver in India.

Over the years, it has operated a variety of trains through the length and breadth of India, and sometimes transports difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions.

Today, there are more than 2000 train operators in the Indian railway, but Mrs. Yadaf took office at a time when it was uncommon for women to explore this profession.

Mrs. Yadaf was born in 1965 in a small town in the state of Maharashtra in India, and comes from an agricultural family and is the five largest brothers.

From an early age, she was subjected to hard work, helping her family on the farm while studying.

She says her parents always encouraged her to study her studies first.

“Although my parents came from a modest background, they were progressing in their thinking. They taught me and this allowed me to work.”

After completing her education as an electric engineer, Mrs. Yadaf immediately started searching for a job. I randomly monitored a press advertisement by the Indian railway, looking for auxiliary train drivers, and seized the opportunity.

At that time, she was not aware that there were no female train operators in the country. She simply saw the job as a way to earn an income.

Government jobs are very reassuring in India due to the security and the privileges they offer. But getting one choice is difficult, as thousands of applicants from all over the country compete for one vacant job.

Mrs. Yadaf wiped the selection process in flying colors, and obtained her first function on the cargo train in 1989.

Only when I started training for her, I realized that the profession was incredibly dominating males.

Remember on the first day you went for training. While she didn’t expect many students, I was surprised when she saw that there was no single girl in her class.

“I wondered what to do. But I thought, if I didn’t take office, another person will do it. Since I was chosen, I will do it,” she says.

Mrs. Yadaf knew that she had made a difficult choice and that the job she chose was arduous. But she did not look back.

The first years were difficult, at the very least.

Mrs. Yadaf says that a lot of learning happened in the job, as there is no book that teaches you to be a good train driver.

Train operators use multiple monitoring systems to oversee various aspects of the trip, including roads and speed. They should be alert at all times and take quick decisions to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety.

Thousands of trains cross the sprawling rail network in India every day, and millions of passengers move to their destinations. Indian trains are often called the country’s lifestyle due to the extension of its network and a reasonable prices.

Mrs. Yadaf says that she learned the art of interpreting the sermon, expecting problems and responding in real time to avoid crises.

In 1996, it was promoted to the vocabulary pilot’s publication – the main operator of the train control room, or the “Neurology Center”.

The unpredictable working hours, due to the delay and unexpected accidents, were one of the most difficult challenges in the job.

Come to rain or sunlight, she had to appear for the duty. Unexpected meals times and laundry facilities or clothing changing rooms for women in some trains added to the challenges.

Mrs. Yadaf says that she has operated trains on the floods flooded, through mountain passes, and on multiple trips.

She worked through pregnancy and raising her children while continuing to work.

She says that the nature of her job did not allow her to miss her children when she had to be far from them.

“You have to watch the sign, the path, the upper equipment, listen to your colleague, and keep your eyes on speed – all at the same time. How can I think of my children?” Mrs. Yadaf says. “If your mind is drifting for 30 seconds, and even a microchet, it may be dangerous for everyone on the train.”

Remember to have to miss many celebrations and family comfort because of its job. But support from family and male colleagues helped her overcome.

“My colleagues were great. They didn’t make me feel different because I was a woman. Perhaps others thought that, but not my colleagues,” she says.

In her long career, Mrs. Yadaf also got an opportunity to direct the ambitious and many women operators.

Her hope is that her career is an inspiration for others.

On her last day, Mrs. Yadav led the Rajdhani Express team – one of the distinctive trains of long distances in India. At the terminal in the financial capital of India, Mumbai, she got great farewell by her colleagues, while completing foggy drums and dance offers.

“I never imagined that I was leading the trains until I became sixty,” says Ms. Yadaf.

When she was asked what she would miss more in her job, she said she was flashing signals.

These small guidelines always help them find the way.

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