First Odia lady marine engineer

Odisha’s first woman marine engineer Bibhusita Das of Cuttack has defied societal pressure and set conventions to go on to work in a cargo ship, MV Biswamahal.

The 28-year-old marine engineer arrived in Paradip port yesterday in a coke-carrier ship from Australia and was felicitated by the port trust. Among the 26 crew members, she is the lone woman.

An alumnus of CV Raman College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar, Bibhusita said she got the job of a third engineer last year in Shipping Corporation of India and opted for onboard sailing. However, the ship’s chief engineer wasn’t very happy with Bibhusita’s decision.

“I got seasickness and the crew thought I wasn’t fit for this job. But I was determined to stay and proved them wrong,” she said, adding, “It was my father Karunakar Das – a BSNL employee – who inspired me to join SCI.” Even as a child, the girl loved reading stories about sea voyages.

She is the first woman from her family to step out and do something different. “I have to do better than others so that no one says I messed up because I am a woman,” said Bibhusita.

Conscious of the prestige the job brings her, Bibhusita, the youngest of four sisters, says she wants to work hard and prove herself.

A job in the ship comes with several benefits: higher pay, moving around the globe, six-month work and six months of holiday.

Attributing her success to her parents’ efforts, Bibhusita said, “My mother and father always encouraged us to study and said there was no difference between a girl and a boy. All my three sisters are engineers. But I am the only marine engineer. I travelled Australia, South Africa, Turkey, Britain, Germany and many other countries in my ship. I had a childhood dream to see the world and my job has helped me fulfil my dreams.”