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Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Passing-out parade for 530 Agniveers
Margao: 'Once you don the military uniform, you no longer remain your individual self but become a symbol of our nation's aspirations, pride, and security,' said brigadier Harsh Bhatia as he addressed 530 newly trained Agniveers at their passing-out parade held at 2 Signal Training Centre, Margao, on Tuesday. The ceremony marked the successful completion of 31 weeks of rigorous military and technical training, transforming civilian youth into disciplined soldiers of the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. The parade showcased military precision and grandeur while underscoring the core values instilled during their intensive training period. The comprehensive training programme included basic military training (BMT) and advanced military training (AMT), with recruits undergoing early morning physical training, drill sessions, weapons training, and academic instruction in military subjects. Night training exercises were also incorporated to develop the fighting spirit and team cohesion essential for military operations. Several Agniveers received recognition for exceptional performance. Agniveers Patil Piyush Ramesh, Rajat Indauliya, and Govind Kumar were awarded the overall 1st in merit medal in their respective courses. Agniveer Devara Siva earned the best in physical & sports medal, while Agniveer Biaksh Gauda received the best in drill medal.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Saris of valour: Trader's tribute to women officers
Varanasi: Inspired by their remarkable contribution to against Pakistan, a Varanasi-based sari trader has designed special saris to honour the bravery of Col Sofiya Qureshi of the and wing commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Colonel Sophia, who addressed the media on May 7 following India's retaliatory strikes, is a highly decorated officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. Born in Gujarat, she had earlier made history as the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multinational military drill 'Exercise Force 18' in Pune involving 18 ASEAN Plus nations. She was also the only female contingent commander in the event. Wing commander Singh, who co-led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor, is a distinguished helicopter pilot and a first-generation military officer. Their leadership in Operation Sindoor marks a turning point in military history, proving that gender is no barrier when it comes to defending the nation. With meticulous attention to detail, Shubham has captured the essence of their courageous efforts in the intricate designs. Shubham wishes to gift these unique saris to the officers as a token of appreciation for their exceptional service. The saris, crafted by traditional artisans, uniquely depict the essence of Operation Sindoor through intricate designs and motifs and are a tribute to the valour of the armed forces. Aircraft, camouflage patterns, and regimental insignias of the Army, Air Force, and Navy are woven into the fabric, symbolising the unity and determination displayed by the armed forces during the joint operation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Each sari is a testament to the bravery and coordination of the military personnel involved. The trader's careful conceptualisation and the artisans' skilled craftsmanship have resulted in a distinctive and meaningful tribute to the operation's heroes. "I was greatly moved by Operation Sindoor launched to avenge Pahalgam terror attack. The way our armed forces contributed to the success of Operation Sindoor inspired me to do something meaningful," the trader said. "Yeh meri taraf se ek chhota sa sammaan hai (This is a small tribute from my side)" he said. The design team behind the saris spent weeks researching news footage, interviews and reports on Operation Sindoor to ensure the artwork's accuracy. They intricately wove scenes of ground maneuvers, airborne formations, and warships into the fabric, capturing the operation's essence. Each sari took five artisans a week to weave, with every detail meticulously crafted to reflect the operation's significance. Through this gesture, the trader aims to honour the bravery of Operation Sindoor's heroes and inspire future generations to take pride in India's uniformed heroes. Asked about the price of the sari, Shubham said that the collection is not meant for sale. It is only aimed at saluting the valour of Operation Sindoor, he added. Shubham's 50-year-old shop in Varanasi's Chowk area is renowned for its exquisite Banarasi collection. His latest creations feature intricate designs that pay tribute to India's military prowess. "You'll see the S-400 missile, likened to India's Sudarshan Chakra, the BrahMos missile that keeps Pakistan on edge, INS Vikrant of the Indian Navy, and the Indian Army," he explained. "We've tried to showcase the entire armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor... Inspired by the operation and the Prime Minister's leadership, Shubham aims to gift these sarees to soldiers to boost their morale, driven by a desire to contribute to the nation," he said.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor: Deepika Padukone and Kangana Ranaut applaud Indian women officers leading military briefing
Bollywood actors and took to their handles to laud the remarkable Indian women officers who led the official briefing on , a strategic military action launched by India in retaliation against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Taking to their Instagram Stories, both Deepika and Kangana shared powerful images of the women officers - Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, an accomplished helicopter pilot with the , and Colonel Sophia Qureshi from the 's Corps of Signals — who led the communication. DP, saluting the courage and strength of India's women in uniform, accompanied the photo with the words 'Jai Hind' along with the hashtag #OperationSindoor and a Tricolour GIF. Kangana, on the other hand, known for her outspoken views, shared her sentiments in a note written in Hindi which loosely translates to 'Pakistani terrorists felt pity for our women, but our women felt no pity for them.' In her statement to ANI, Ranaut added, 'At the sight of our mothers and daughters, their husbands were gunned down. Those deaths are being avenged." On Wednesday, actors Rajinikanth, , Ajay Devgn, Allu Arjun and many others from the film industry, praised the Indian armed forces for carrying out missile strikes in retaliation to the in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The operation which was jointly carried out by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the mobilisation of assets and troops, reportedly struck nine terror targets using special precision munitions, destroying four in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sarjal, and Mehmoona Joya, and five in Pakistan-occupied (PoJK). According to reports, strikes on all nine targets were successful.
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Business Standard
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Qureshi, Singh, 'Nari Shakti': The face of India's response to terrorists
At 10.30am at the conference room of Delhi's National Media Centre on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stepped up to the lectern to brief the gathered media corps about India's 'Operation Sindoor'. The symbolism was not lost either on those present in the hall or the millions watching on television and internet when he introduced Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who he said will share operational details of India's pre-dawn missile and drone strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan. Government sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who closely followed India's fighter jets unleashing missiles on terror camps for 25-minutes from 1.05am, had picked the codename 'Operation Sindoor' as an expression of solidarity with women whose husbands were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta posted 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' on her X handle, and said, 'Operation Sindoor has provided justice to the women who lost their spouses'. Captain (retired) Manjula Katoch was one of several retired defence services personnel who lauded the symbolism of the press briefing. She said that fielding Qureshi and Singh to brief the media was to underscore people of all religious persuasion were together in protecting the nation's unity, and to not fall in the trap of Pakistan's attempt at dividing Hindus and Muslims. At the briefing, Foreign Secretary Misri said that the Pahalgam terror attack was driven by the objective of undermining the normalcy returning to Jammu & Kashmir and hit tourism, but was also an attempt at sowing communal discord in the country. 'The manner of the attack was also driven by an objective of provoking communal discord, both in Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of the nation. It is to the credit of the government and the people of India that these designs were foiled,' Misri said. At a panel discussion hosted in 2017, Qureshi had shared details of her journey into the armed forces. 'Being a 'fauji' kid, I was exposed to the army environment. My mother wanted either of us two sisters to join the Army. I applied for it and got it. My grandfather was also in the Army,' she had recalled. Qureshi said the Kargil War was on when she joined the academy. Born in Gujarat's Vadodara in 1974, Qureshi graduated with a Master's in biochemistry from Manonmaniam Sundaranar (MS) University in 1997. An officer in the critical Corps of Signals, in the past, she had been picked for the role of a military observer in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006, and been part of flood relief operations in the Northeast region. In 2016, she became the first woman officer to lead its contingent at a multi-national field training exercise, Force 18, hosted by India for interoperability in sustaining peace among ASEAN nations. As for Wing Commander Singh, she shared her story of how she became a pilot during a panel discussion hosted by a private channel in 2023. 'I was in Class 6 when the Eureka moment happened. I realised that I wanted to be a pilot and own the sky. We were having a discussion in class on the meaning of names. Somebody shouted, 'You are Vyomika, which means you own the sky'. Since that day, I have wanted to be a pilot. This was in the early 1990s,' Singh had recalled. She has logged over 2,500 flying hours, and has operated several helicopters across some of the country's most challenging terrains. In 2020, she led a rescue operation in Arunachal Pradesh, flying in extreme conditions to evacuate civilians.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Two officers who led media briefing on Operation Sindoor
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The presence of two women officers -- Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh -- leading the official briefing on the Indian military strikes on terror targets in Pakistan is being seen as highly symbolic, representing strength and sacrifice, besides honouring the women widowed in the Pahalgam attack The name of the operation 'Sindoor' -- a reference to the vermillion worn by married Hindu women -- was also aimed to convey India's strong resolve to respond to the terrorists and emphasised the human cost of Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army , who provided details on the military aspects of the operation, including the targets and precision strikes, also presented videos showing the destruction. The officer hails from Vadodara and completed her Masters in Biochemistry from MS University in 1997. Despite having an academic background in science, she chose to join the Indian Army and became part of the Corps of Signals. She comes from a military background. Her grandfather served in the Indian Army as a religious teacher and her husband is an officer in the Indian Army's Mechanised Infantry. In 2016, Colonel Sophia became the first woman officer to lead the Indian contingent in the multinational military exercise 'Force 18' held among Asean-Plus countries. She was the only woman commander among the participants from 18 nations. She has played a crucial role in international peacekeeping missions and during her six years of service under the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, she was deployed in Congo in 2006. She made significant contributions to peace-building and humanitarian Commander Vyomika Singh is a helicopter pilot and a first-generation military officer. She joined as a military pilot in 2019 and has flying experience with a variety of choppers like Cheetah and Chetak. She has served in challenging conditions in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East and is credited with carrying out precise, high-risk evacuation missions. She is also a keen mountaineer.
