Dipak Kurmi
(The writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com.)
On the morning of May 7, 2025, as the nation watched with bated breath, a striking image unfolded on television screens across India: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force stood on either side of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, representing the armed forces during the official briefing on “Operation Sindoor”—India’s retaliatory military strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It was not merely a display of strategic might but a symbolic moment of gender empowerment, national pride, and institutional strength. The presence of these two accomplished women officers, flanking the top diplomat of the country, was not just protocol—it was a statement.
Back in Vadodara, Gujarat, the family of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi watched the live broadcast with immense pride. Her brother, Mohammad Sanjay Qureshi, recalled the moment with visible emotion: “When I saw her on TV, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It took a while to realise that the person speaking was my sister. It is a matter of pride for all of us.” His daughter Zara, inspired by her aunt, has now resolved to join the armed forces herself, continuing a legacy that spans three generations. Their grandfather and father had both served in the Army—military service was not merely a profession in the Qureshi household; it was a tradition, a calling.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s journey into the Indian Army is as inspiring as it is unconventional. Born in Vadodara in 1974, she had initially pursued academics with the aspiration of becoming a professor. After completing her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in biochemistry from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, she joined the university as an assistant lecturer and began pursuing a PhD in the same field. But the classroom walls couldn’t contain her larger ambitions. Midway through her doctoral research, she was selected through the Short Service Commission and made the momentous decision to leave academia behind for the olive-green uniform of the Indian Army.
Her family stood firmly by her decision, never questioning her choice. Her father, Tajuddin Qureshi, speaking from their home in Tandalja, expressed an unambiguous patriotic fervour: “We are Indian first and Muslim afterwards. We are concerned only about our country. I am proud of my daughter. My family has always followed the principle of ‘Vayam Rashtre Jagrayam’—we will keep the nation awake and alive.” His statement, resonating with unflinching loyalty to the country, mirrored the resolve of his daughter standing before the nation just hours after India had executed precision strikes across the border.
Colonel Qureshi’s professional trajectory within the Indian Army has been one of consistent excellence and breaking barriers. She joined the Corps of Signals, a critical communication and electronic warfare division of the Army, and quickly distinguished herself as a leader. In 2006, she was deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations, a six-year stint that tested her mettle in one of the most volatile regions of the world. A decade later, in 2016, she shattered yet another glass ceiling, becoming the first woman officer to lead an Indian military contingent in a multinational field training exercise—“Force“ 18”, hosted by India and involving ASEAN Plus countries. She was the only female commander among 18 participating nations. The Ministry of Defence had highlighted this achievement in a Women’s Day post in 2020, stating, “She was the only Woman Officers Contingent Commander among all #ASEAN Plus contingents.”
In many ways, Colonel Qureshi represents the ideal synthesis of intellect, bravery, and leadership—qualities that reflect not only in her military record but also in the way she articulates the ethos of service. During the Operation Sindoor briefing, she spoke in Hindi, ensuring that her words reached the heart of the common Indian, while her Air Force counterpart, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, delivered complementary details in English—creating a seamless blend of inclusivity and professionalism.
If Colonel Qureshi embodies legacy and perseverance, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh represents a dream realised through sheer willpower and inspiration. Her story begins in a classroom in the early 1990s, when, as a Class 6 student, a classmate pointed out that her name, “Vyomika”, means “one who owns the sky”. That moment was her turning point. As she later shared in a 2023 panel discussion, “Since that day, I wanted to be a pilot.” Today, she stands tall as a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force, having logged over 2,500 flying hours and operated across some of India’s most demanding terrains—from high-altitude zones in Jammu and Kashmir to remote areas in the Northeast.
Her experience includes leading critical rescue operations, such as the 2020 evacuation of civilians under extreme weather conditions in Arunachal Pradesh. During the panel discussion, she spoke of the joy and responsibility of flying in diverse environments, sharing insights about navigating helicopters in adverse conditions with the ease of a seasoned professional. Like Colonel Qureshi, Vyomika too is married to a fellow officer—an Indian Air Force pilot—indicating a shared understanding of the rigours and commitment that a life in uniform entails.
Together, Qureshi and Singh did not merely stand beside the foreign secretary on that decisive morning—they stood as symbols of a new India. Their presence during the Operation Sindoor briefing not only added strategic depth but also served as a visual narrative of Nari Shakti (women power) in the armed forces, inspiring countless girls across the country.
Operation Sindoor itself was a precise and potent response to the brutal massacre of 26 civilians—mostly tourists—in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. Conducted in the early hours of May 7, between 1 am and 1.30 am, the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror installations across Pakistan and PoK. The strikes hit key locations, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke—both known epicentres of terror activities. These strikes were seen not just as a tactical military response but as a broader message of deterrence and strategic clarity.
During the briefing, Qureshi and Singh meticulously shared the names and specifics of the targeted sites. This level of transparency, particularly with two senior women officers delivering operational details, added gravitas and credibility to India’s official narrative. The operation, while retaliatory, was also emblematic of India’s evolving military doctrine—swift, targeted, and internationally justifiable.
The Gujarat government later issued a statement highlighting Col Sofiya’s educational background, military accomplishments, and historic role in the armed forces. “In 2016, Col Sofiya achieved a historic feat as she became the first woman officer to lead an Indian military contingent abroad… She was deployed in Congo in 2006 and was part of peacekeeping operations under the UN,” the statement read, cementing her place in Indian military history.
The larger implications of this moment go beyond battlefield logistics or counter-terror calculations. In a world where representation matters, the image of two women in uniform briefing the nation on a cross-border military strike resonates deeply. It challenges entrenched gender stereotypes, reinforces the operational equality of women in defence, and renews faith in a national security apparatus that is both inclusive and competent.
As India continues to navigate complex security challenges, the stories of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh will serve as guiding lights for future generations. They are not just warriors; they are mentors, trailblazers, and symbols of what the nation aspires to be—resilient, united, and forward-looking. In standing tall for the nation, they have become the face of its courage.