Wings of Courage: Meet Vyomika Singh, The Trailblazer Behind Operation Sindoor

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Wing Commander Vyomika Singh has come to be recognized as an icon of courage, professionalism, and the changing place of women in India's military. Her recent outing as co-narrator of Operation Sindoor, India's surgical military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, has made her a household name across India and an inspiration to millions of Indians.

Key Highlights

Vyomika Singh was selected by the government of India, along with Army Colonel Sophia Qureshi, to give the nation an update on Operation Sindoor. This operation was initiated following the Pahalgam massacre in which at least 26 civilians were killed by terrorists. The operation involved the elimination of nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which was one of India's biggest cross-border precision strikes after Balakot.

Singh's career started in Delhi, where she completed her education at St. Anthony's Senior Secondary School in 1998. Teachers remember her as being academically talented, modest, and sports-active, particularly in basketball and debates. Her Hindi teacher once signed in her autograph book, "You were born to touch the skies"-a prediction that Singh realized both literally and metaphorically.

She did environmental engineering from Delhi College of Engineering. Flying as a sport became her hobby after her schooling days, more specifically by the way she worked as part of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) programme.

Singh was the first member of her family to enter the armed forces. She got commissioned as a helicopter pilot of the Indian Air Force and granted a permanent commission in the flying branch on 18 December 2019.

With more than 2,500 flying hours, Singh has flown Chetak and Cheetah helicopters over some of India's toughest terrain, such as Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast. She has commanded a number of high-risk rescue operations, including a high-stakes mission in Arunachal Pradesh in November 2020.

In 2021, she was part of an all-women tri-services mountaineering expedition to Mt. Manirang, winning praise from senior defence officials, including the Chief of Air Staff.

Her leadership and poise under pressure have seen her receive a number of accolades and commendations from the upper echelons of the Indian Air Force. She is universally regarded as a role model by aspiring officers, particularly women.

At the Operation Sindoor media briefing, Singh's authoritative presence with Colonel Qureshi emphasized the increasing strategic role of women in India's defence forces-not merely as participants but as leaders.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh's tale is not only one of personal success but one of shattering barriers and encouraging a new generation to dream beyond boundaries. Her rise from a Delhi schoolgirl to the emblem of a historic military mission is the perfect example of determination, discipline, and unstinting devotion to the nation.

Sources: The Indian Express, Financial Express, Business Standard, Times of India, StudyIQ, SSBCrack, Wikipedia (Hindi), GoodReturns