Kalpana Chawla by Sunita Rani

If you want to attain something then remain focussed’ were the words of none other than Kalpana Chawla. This also sums up her life. She remained focused and reached where others fear to tread. Kalpana Chawla belonged to a middle class family in Haryana. She was born to Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothi on July 1, 1961 at Karnal, in Punjab, now in Haryana. Kalpana had two sisters and a brother who were elder to her. She was the youngest; therefore, everyone affectionately called her ‘Montu’.