A powerful moment encapsulating the history of women in the Indian Air Force (IAF) took place recently as Air Marshal (Retd.) Padma Bandopadhyay, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, met with one of India’s first female fighter pilots, Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi.
The meeting brought together two generations of IAF officers who are “firsts” in their respective fields, highlighting the remarkable progress of gender equality in the country’s armed forces.
Air Marshal Padma Bandopadhyay, a former Flight Surgeon, is a living legend in the IAF. She holds the distinction of being the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force to be promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, the third-highest rank in the service. Commissioned in 1968, her 37-year-long career was marked by numerous groundbreaking achievements, including being the first woman to complete the rigorous Defence Services Staff College course.
Standing alongside her was Sqn Ldr Avani Chaturvedi, one of the three women pilots (along with Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh) who broke the glass ceiling in 2016 to join the IAF’s fighter stream. Sqn Ldr Chaturvedi created history in 2018 when she became the first Indian woman to fly a fighter jet solo, piloting a MiG-21 Bison.
Sources indicate the interaction was a deeply inspiring occasion, symbolizing the journey of women from support roles to the combat cockpit. Air Marshal Bandopadhyay’s career paved the way for women to reach leadership positions, while Sqn Ldr Chaturvedi’s entry into fighter operations marked the final frontier for gender parity in the Air Force.
The photograph of the first woman Air Marshal standing with one of the first women fighter pilots instantly went viral on social media platforms, with many calling it the definitive image of Nari Shakti (Woman Power) in the defence sector.
This symbolic meeting serves as a powerful reminder of the relentless spirit and courage of Indian women who have conquered the skies and continue to inspire countless others to pursue their dreams in what were once considered male-only domains.
