O Captain My Captain

CAPTAIN RADHIKA MENON, THE FIRST WOMAN CAPTAIN IN THE INDIAN MERCHANT NAVY IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A PERSON WHO TOOK THE PROVERBIAL ‘ROAD NOT TAKEN’.

- Rochelle D'Souza

It would have been just another voyage for Captain Radhika Menon on the tumultuous afternoon in June 2015 Captain Radhika Menon, the first woman captain in the Indian Merchant Navy is the best example of a person who took the proverbial ‘Road Not Taken’. An epitome of bravery, self-confidence and determination, the first lady Master of India who has a long list of accomplishments under her belt has walked through the road fraught with barricades, bumps and uncharted terrain, displaying phenomenal courage, endurance and perseverance to achieve her dreams. Excerpts from the interview:

You’re the first woman from the world to be conferred with the International Maritime organization award for exceptional bravery at sea 2016 for conducting a rescue operation, which saved the lives of seven fishermen in stormy weather in the Bay of Bengal 2015. Can you tell us what happened? 

We were on a voyage from Budge Budge to Vishakhapatnam where there happened to be a depression which was moving from Kakinada to the Northeast. The wind speed was 60-70 knots and with 25-30 foot waves, our 22,000 tonne ship was being battered and tossed around in the storm.