On September 15 each year, India celebrates National Engineer’s Day in honour of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, one of the nation’s most celebrated engineers. It’s a day to recognise the hard work and contributions of engineers across the country. This year, we turn our attention to Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha, India’s first female engineer, who overcame societal expectations and became a pioneer for women in engineering.
Born in 1919 into a middle-class Telugu-speaking family in Madras Presidency, Lalitha was the fifth of seven children. While her brothers pursued engineering, she and her sisters had limited access to basic education. At the age of 15, Lalitha was married, but tragedy struck when her husband died in 1937, leaving her widowed at just 18. Widows in India at the time faced severe restrictions, expected to live isolated lives of mourning. However, Lalitha defied these societal norms.
Instead of following the traditional path laid out for widows, Lalitha chose to continue her education. With strong support from her father, who was an engineering professor, she decided to study engineering, a male-dominated field at the time. In 1940, she enrolled at the College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG) in Chennai, becoming the first woman to be admitted to the institution’s engineering programme.
Pioneering Education
The road ahead was not easy. Lalitha was the only female student at CEG when she began, but she was determined. Her father, Pappu Subba Rao, worked closely with the college authorities to ensure her admission. Over time, more women, including Leelamma George and PK Thresia, joined the college for civil engineering, thanks to the precedent Lalitha had set.
Her perseverance paid off when she graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1944, making history as India’s first female engineer.
A Groundbreaking Career
Lalitha’s career in engineering spanned over 20 years, during which she made significant contributions to the field. She worked for the Central Standards Organisation in Shimla, and later for the Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) in Kolkata. One of her notable achievements was her work on electrical generators for the Bhakra Nangal Dam, one of India’s largest hydroelectric projects.
Lalitha was not just an engineer; she was a strong advocate for women’s rights. She believed in equal access to education and employment opportunities for women, and she actively promoted gender equality. Her involvement with organisations like the All India Women’s Conference and the National Federation of Indian Women demonstrated her commitment to these ideals.
Her achievements did not go unnoticed. In 1964, Lalitha represented India at the First International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists in New York, where she famously remarked, ’150 years ago, I would have been burned on the funeral pyre with my husband’s body.’ Her journey from a young widow to an internationally-recognised engineer was a testament to her resilience and vision.
At a time when women were often confined to traditional roles, Lalitha paved the way for future generations of female engineers in India. Her contributions to engineering, combined with her advocacy for women’s rights, have left an enduring legacy.
