LUCKNOW, March 8 -- Amid dozens of boats waiting for passengers on the Gomti banks, one stands out every morning -not because of its size or speed, but because of the woman steering it, navigating her life in a profession dominated almost entirely by men after having battled scepticism and taunts in the early years.

The journey of Parul Shukla, 36, on the river is more than a daily routine; it is a story of grit and resilience.

A resident of IIM Road in Lucknow, she rows her modest wooden boat through the gentle waters of the river, determined to keep her family afloat despite mounting hardship.

The mother of two young sons is the sole breadwinner of the family, supporting them along with her husband Dheerendra, who has been unable to ...