Born on February 4, 1989, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Reshma Nilofer Naha has charted a course through uncharted waters to become India’s first and only female river pilot—a distinction that places her among a handful of women worldwide in this highly specialised maritime profession. Her journey from a modest 600-square-foot government quarters in Anna Nagar to navigating massive vessels through the treacherous Hooghly River exemplifies determination, skill, and an unwavering commitment to breaking gender barriers in one of the world’s most male-dominated industries.
Reshma grew up in Chennai as the daughter of central government employees who instilled strong values and gave her the freedom to pursue unconventional career paths. Though initially harbouring aspirations of becoming a doctor—what she describes as a “mediocre dream”—Reshma’s trajectory changed when she encountered a newspaper advertisement for a Danish shipping company, A.P. Moller-Maersk, offering a fully sponsored dual-competency program. The opportunity combined BSc Nautical Science and BE Marine Technology into a comprehensive five-year curriculum designed to create officers proficient in both navigation and engineering aspects of maritime operations.
Out of approximately 4,000 candidates who appeared for the national-level talent hunt, Reshma secured a place among the 300 selected for this prestigious program. She pursued her studies at AMET University (Academy of Maritime Education and Training) in Kanathur, Chennai, where she was one of only five female students among 5,000 male peers. This formative experience, she reflects, taught her invaluable lessons about tackling life’s pressures, facing challenges, and refusing to be intimidated in male-dominated spaces. The program culminated in a B.E. in Marine Technology degree from Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, which was affiliated with AMET at that time.
Following her graduation, Reshma sailed for two years with Maersk’s container fleet across international waters, gaining critical experience as a trainee officer on board ships. In 2011, she joined the Kolkata Port Trust (now renamed Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) as a trainee pilot, embarking on a six-and-a-half-year training journey. During this period, she served as a cadet at sea, obtained her second and first mate competency certificates from the Directorate General of Shipping, and undertook intensive training specific to navigating the Hooghly River. Her first vessel navigation assignment was on the ICGS Rajkiran, an Indian Coast Guard military operations vessel, where she served as a trainee.
In January 2018, Reshma cleared the Grade III examination and officially qualified as a Hooghly River pilot, making history as India’s first female river pilot. The achievement is particularly remarkable given the extreme difficulty of Hooghly pilotage. Reshma navigates ships from Sagar to Kolkata and Haldia ports, covering 223 kilometres, with approximately 148 kilometres traversing the notoriously dangerous Hooghly River. This waterway, characterised by treacherous sandbars, sharp bends, unpredictable drafts, and rapidly changing conditions, is considered one of the world’s most challenging navigable rivers. River pilots board vessels from small pilot launches, climb vertical rope ladders to reach the bridge, and must possess encyclopedic knowledge of every navigational hazard while making split-second decisions that can mean the difference between safe passage and disaster.
Reshma has piloted numerous vessels, including Navy ships, Coast Guard vessels, Merchant Navy carriers, and bulk carriers. Her work requires exceptional physical fitness to climb rope ladders in adverse weather, mental alertness to navigate narrow channels with minimal manoeuvring room, and the ability to command respect from ship captains who often mistake her for a trainee rather than the pilot. She recounts instances where foreign ship masters have asked, “Where is the pilot?” only to be calmly informed, “I am the pilot who will be taking you to Kolkata”.
On March 8, 2019, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred upon Reshma the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian honour for women, recognising her exceptional contributions to women’s empowerment. The President reportedly told her, “You have cleared a forest inspiring a whole lot of girls to follow. Congratulations. Keep up the good work!”
Beyond her professional achievements, Reshma married Avik Naha, a Bengali mariner who works as a second engineer on merchant ships, finding in him and his family the understanding and support essential for pursuing her demanding career. She remains deeply connected to Chennai, visiting annually, and has become a vocal advocate for creating more welcoming infrastructure for women in India’s maritime sector. Her story continues to inspire countless young women to pursue careers beyond traditional boundaries, proving that with determination and skill, even the roughest seas can be navigated.