At the close of the 20th century, when India’s maritime industry remained almost exclusively male, Sonali Banerjee defied convention. In 1999, she emerged as the country’s first female marine engineer, a breakthrough that challenged long-standing barriers of gender and tradition.
Breaking Into a Male Domain
Banerjee, raised in Allahabad, carried an early fascination with ships and the sea. When she cleared the entrance examination for Kolkata’s Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI) in 1995, she was the only woman among more than 1,500 cadets. At first, the institution had no place for her; she was eventually housed in quarters originally meant for faculty.
Training Across Oceans
Her perseverance carried her through demanding coursework, and in 1999 she graduated with a degree in marine engineering. Soon after, she secured a six-month pre-sea training placement with Mobil Shipping Company, traveling to ports in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Fiji and Australia. At every stop, her presence marked a quiet revolution in a profession that had rarely seen women on board.
A Historic First at Sea
On August 26, 2001, Banerjee stepped into history once more when she became the first Indian woman to oversee the engine room of a merchant vessel. The role, long reserved for men, required absolute technical command and physical endurance — qualities she demonstrated with unwavering resolve.
A Legacy for Future Generations
Her achievement was more than personal. It signaled a change in India’s maritime world, proving that women could not only enter the field but also excel in its most demanding roles. Today, Sonali Banerjee’s story stands as an emblem of perseverance — and a reminder that the tides of progress often begin with a single voyage.
