The first Indian woman in space , Kalpna Chawla was born on July 1 1961 to parents Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothi Chawla . She was the youngest of the four children . Kalpna means idea or imagination . Her interest in flight was inspired by J.R.D Tata , India’s first pilot . Chawla was a strict vegetarian . She completed her basic education at Tagore public school in Karnal ,Haryana . In 1982 ,…