Dream has no boundaries…
This has truly been proved by Gunjan Saxena, born in Lucknow around 1975 into a prominent military family.
Being a daughter and sister of Indian Army officers, Gunjan has been inspired since her childhood days.
Today 44 year 44-year-old Gunjan Saxena is known as ‘Kargil Girl’, and was awarded the Shaurya Award for her valour, courage and patriotism.
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Gunjan Saxena, a five-year-old girl, saw a fighter plane for the first time and decided on the same day that one day she would fly the plane herself. She not only dreamed, she lived her dream.
She pursued physics at Hansraj College, Delhi, and later took flying lessons at Delhi’s Safdarjung Flying Club.
She broke the barriers…
In 1994, the IAF started admitting women as Short Service Commissioned Officers in non-medical roles. Gunjan was the second cohort of 25 women pilots. Commissioned in 1996, she became part of the 132 FAC Flight based in Udhampur. Despite being a woman in a male-dominated service and facing the lack of basic infrastructure, like no separate washrooms or changing rooms, Gunjan did not quit.
The Hero of the Kargil War…
In 1999, at the age of 24, Gunjan created history by becoming the first woman to fly in a combat zone during the Kargil War. Piloting Cheetah helicopters in treacherous high-altitude terrain, often under enemy fire near Pakistani positions in Srinagar, she not only flew on the casualty evacuation missions but also went on the supply drops and reconnaissance sorties. She evacuated more than 900 troops throughout multiple sorties.
Gunjan reflected in an interview, “It was the evacuation of the injured Indian Army soldiers that motivated me the most… It’s a very satisfying feeling when you save a life.”
The Legacy and Recognition…
She continued flying until 2004 and retired as a Flight Lieutenant. She left the service when permanent commissions for women pilots were not permitted at that time. However, she is the pioneer of catalysing the policy changes that expanded permanent roles for women in the IAF.
Her courage and determination have been recognised across platforms:
- The Kargil Girl, co-written by Gunjan and Kiran Nirvan, was published alongside the Netflix film.
- Biopic: Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020), starring Janhvi Kapoor, received critical acclaim and multiple Filmfare nominations.
- Formerly featured in the Limca Book of Records, and awarded a civilian “Shaurya Veer” post-Kargil.
Life behind the Cockpit…
Gunjan is married to Wing Commander Gautam Narain, an IAF Mi-17 pilot and former NDA instructor. Together, they have a daughter named Pragya (born 2004). She successfully maintained a balanced career and family, and she has achieved trailblazing achievements.
Inspiring Generations…
Aren’t you inspired by her story? How she triumphs over gender norms and bureaucratic barriers! Today, Gunjan Saxena is not only a name but also an inspiration to countless young women to dream of being a part of the Indian Air Force beyond societal limitations.
She reminds us, “The machine will not know whether a man is flying it or a woman is flying it.”
And she proved herself.
Her journey is a beacon of courage and resilience. She rewrote the rules of the skies.
Today, her legacy continues to uplift emerging leaders, rekindle the pride during moments like Operation Sindoor.
Gunjan Saxena, the national hero, is the first woman to receive the Shaurya Veer Award for her bravery during the Kargil War.
You will see women pilots fly fighter planes in the Indian Air Force, and the credit goes to the courageous IAF pilots like Gunjan Saxena.
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