Sarla Thukral (8 August 1914[1] – 15 March 2008[2]) was among the first Indian women to fly aircraft.

[3][4][5] Born in 1914, she earned an aviation pilot license in 1936 at the age of 21 and flew a Gypsy Moth solo.

Sylla Petit née Tata was technically the first woman in British India to obtain a license, Certificate No.

With a child to raise, and needing to earn her livelihood, Sarla abandoned her plans to become a commercial pilot, returning to Lahore and attending the Mayo School of Art where she trained in the Bengal school of painting, obtaining a diploma in fine arts.

Thukral, also known as Mati, became a successful businesswoman, painter and began designing clothes and costume jewellery.