The spectacle of Lt Col Sophia Qureshi marching with Tricolour, alongside other foreign militaries to the tune of ASEAN anthem, made for a forceful impression of how she represents those women who have stormed into male bastions like Army.
"It's the same charm what draws the men, the love for the nation and honour and pride in donning the uniform," says Lieutenant Colonel Sofia Qureshi on being asked what made her join the Army. The 35-year-old created history last week when she became the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at Force 18 – ASEAN Plus multinational field training exercise – in Pune.
The spectacle of Lt Col Sophia Qureshi marching with Tricolour, alongside other foreign militaries to the tune of ASEAN anthem, made for a forceful impression of how she represents those women who have stormed into male bastions like Army.
"It was a wonderful experience, working with multinational armies, and an opportunity to learn their ways of military tactics," she says.
International assignments are not new to this officer from the Corps of Signals. She was part of the second batch of women officers who were part of the UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a military observer. "It was a great experience working with the multinational armies as a military observer, and it's fulfilling when it deals with protection of women and children from violence," she says of her distinct experience of working in the conflict zone.
Commissioned through the Officers Training Academy in 1999, back home, the lady officer served across various postings in India, including in counter-insurgency areas in signal regiments.
Qureshi represents a legacy of fine work women have been doing in the Army. She actively participated in Operation Parakram on Punjab borders during which she was awarded with General Officer Commanding in Chief commendation. She was also awarded with Signal officer in Chief commendation for provision of communication during flood relief operations in North East.
Having been associated with the Center for United Nations Peacekeeping operation (CUNPK) in New Delhi since 2010, Qureshi is married within the army fraternity to Major Tajuddin Bagewadi from the mechanised Infantry and is the mother of an eight-year-old boy. She takes pride in telling that the army life has trained her well to balance duty and home. "Duty, however, comes first," she admits.
Qureshi had an early exposure to seeing the Indian army closely when her father worked in the Army as a religious teacher for a few years. She also drew inspiration from her great grandfather and a few relatives who had also served in the British army.
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