Bhawana Kanth

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Bhawana Kanth
Bhawana Kanth in 2020.jpg
Bhawna Kanth
Personal details
Born (1992-12-01) 1 December 1992 (age 32)
Darbhanga, [1] Bihar, India
Alma mater B.M.S College of Engineering, B.M.S. Institute of Technology and Management, Bangalore
Occupation Fighter Pilot
Awards Nari Shakti Puraskar
Military service
AllegianceFlag of India.svg  India
Branch/serviceAir Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force
Rank Indian IAF OF-2.svg Squadron Leader
(L-R) Mohana Singh Jitarwal, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth The Marshal of the Indian Air Force (MIAF) Arjan Singh along with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha (cropped).jpg
(L-R) Mohana Singh Jitarwal, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth

Bhawana Kanth is the first female fighter pilot of India. [2] [3] She was declared as the first woman to qualify for undertaking missions on a fighter aircraft. She along with two of her cohort, Mohana Singh, and Avani Chaturvedi were inducted into the Indian Air Force fighter squadron in June 2016 and were formally commissioned by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. [4] After the government of India decided to open the fighter stream in India Air Force for women on an experimental basis, these three women were the first to be selected for the program. [5]

Contents

In May 2019, she became the first female fighter pilot in India to qualify to undertake combat missions. [6]

Early life

Kanth was born on 1 December 1992 in Darbhanga, Bihar. [1] Her father Tej Narayan Kanth is an electrical engineer in Indian Oil Corporation and mother Radha Kanth is a home maker. [7] While growing up, Kanth was fond of sports like Kho Kho, Badminton, swimming and painting. [8]

Education

Kanth completed her schooling from DAV Public School in Barauni refinery. [9] She prepared for engineering entrance examinations in Kota, Rajasthan, and joined Bachelor of Engineering in Medical Electronics from BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru for further studies. [10] She graduated in 2014 and was recruited for IT giant Tata Consultancy Services. [8]

Career

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Nari Shakti Awardees on International Women's Day in 2020. Shri Narendra Modi with the Nari Shakti Awardees, in New Delhi on March 08, 2020.jpg
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Nari Shakti Awardees on International Women's Day in 2020.

Kanth had always dreamt of flying planes. [11] She took the Air Force Common Admission Test and was selected to be commissioned into the Air Force. [12] As a part of her Stage 1 training, she joined the fighter stream.

In June 2016, Kanth underwent a six month long stage-II training on Kiran Intermediate Jet Trainers at Hakimpet Air Force Station in Hyderabad soon after which she got commissioned as Flying Officer at Combined Graduation Parade Spring Term at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal the same year. [10] [3]

Kanth flew Hawk advanced jet trainers at AFS Bidar [13] and it has been the plan to move her and the other two members of her cohort to MIG 21 Bison squadron. [5] Flying Officer Bhawana Kanth on 16 March 2018 takes the solo flight of Mig-21 ‘Bison’. She made the solo flight of Mig-21 from Ambala Air Force Station at around 1400 hours. [14]

Kanth also tried some modelling assignments and appeared in print advertisements. [8]

On 9 March 2020, she was awarded with Nari Shakti Puraskar by President Ram Nath Kovind [15]

She is posted to the Indian Air Force's No. 3 Squadron Cobras. [16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth is the first woman fighter pilot to qualify for combat duty". The Indian Express. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Latest Current Affairs and News About Bhawana Kanth - Current Affairs Today". currentaffairs.gktoday.in. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 Mohammed, Syed (19 June 2016). "For IAF's first women fighter pilots Mohana Singh, Bhawana Kanth & Avani Chaturvedi, sky is no limit". The Economic Times. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  4. ↑ Krishnamoorthy, Suresh (18 June 2016). "First batch of three female fighter pilots commissioned". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Air Force's First 3 Women Fighter Pilots May Fly Mig-21 Bisons From November". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Gurung, Shaurya Karanbir (22 May 2019). "Bhawana Kanth becomes 1st fighter pilot to qualify to undertake combat missions". The Economic Times. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "India's First Women Fighter Pilots Get Wings". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "Supported by parents, Bhawana Kanth to script IAF history, become a fighter pilot". News18. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Latest Current Affairs and News About Bhawana Kanth - Current Affairs Today". currentaffairs.gktoday.in. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Landmark event in IAF history: Meet India's first 3 women fighter pilots". Firstpost. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "First three women Air Force fighter pilots to be commissioned in December". Zee News. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Meet country's first women fighter pilots- The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "India's First 3 Female Fighter Pilots Will Now Learn Aerial Combat Tricks!". IndiaTimes. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Team, Editorial (19 March 2018). "Interesting Facts about Bhawana Kanth – 2nd Woman to Fly MiG-21 solo". SSBToSuccess. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  15. ↑ "Flying MiG-21 Bison matter of pride: Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth". Livemint. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "Bhawana Kanth Is India's First Woman Pilot to Qualify for Combat Missions". NDTV. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
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