Meet UP’s Sania Mirza set to become country’s first Muslim female fighter pilot, IAF clarifies
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying and sacrifice, Hailing from the Jasovar village in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh, the daughter of a TV mechanic, Sania Mirza has created history and become the country’s first Muslim girl and the state’s first female fighter pilot
While her success is remarkable — considering that only two such positions were reserved for women during the exam — she still has a long way to go to become an actual fighter pilot, the Indian Air Force (IAF) clarified in a statement on Friday.
Sania, who studied in a Hindi medium school, said that Hindi medium students too can achieve success if they are determined. On December 27, she will join NDA Khadakwasla in Pune.
The parents as well as the villagers are feeling proud of her.
“Any candidate joining NDA as an Air Force cadet in the flying branch has to undergo 3 years of combined training with his/ her coursemates from the other 2 services. The aim of NDA is to foster joint manship amongst the services, hence training is common for all. This has basic elements of flying training for AF cadets only in the last 6 months prior to passing out,” the spokesperson added.
“Assuming that the young woman featured in this article has received joining instructions for NDA, it would take 4 years for her to be commissioned as a pilot in the IAF. During these 4 years, she will have to successfully complete the designated training for the flying branch and have the aptitude and merit to make it as a fighter pilot,” the statement read.
The IAF also extended best wishes to her for her future, adding that may all her dreams come true.
She studied from primary to Class 10 at Pandit Chintamani Dubey Inter College in the village itself. After that, she went to Guru Nanak Girls Inter College in the city. She was the district topper in the 12th UP Board. She started her preparations at Centurion Defense Academy.
“I cracked NDA and secured overall 149th rank and got selected for the airforce. When I saw Avni Chaturvedi, the first woman pilot on YouTube, I got inspired. I cracked NDA on the second attempt”, she said.
Interacting with ANI, her father Shahid Ali said, “Sania Mirza considers the country’s first fighter pilot Avni Chaturvedi as her role model. From the beginning, she wanted to be like her. Sania is the second girl in the country who has been selected as a fighter pilot.”
Sania Mirza’s hard work and dedication brought not only her village but also the state into the limelight. Sania Mirza’s mother Tabassum Mirza also praised her daughter and said, “Our daughter has made us and the entire village proud. She fulfils the dream of becoming the first fighter pilot. She inspired every girl in the village to follow their dreams.”
In the National Defense Academy 2022 examination, there were a total of 400 seats including male and female. There were 19 seats for women, and two seats were reserved for fighter pilots. In these two seats, Sania managed to get a place on the strength of her talent.
