Bhawana Kanth

Bhawana Kanth is one of the first female fighter pilots of India.[2][3][4] She was declared as the first combat pilot along with two of her cohort, Mohana Singh, and Avani Chaturvedi. The trio was inducted into the Indian Air Force fighter squadron in June 2016. They were formally commissioned by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.[5] 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.[6]

Bhawana Kanth
Bhawna Kanth
Personal details
Born (1992-12-01) 1 December 1992
Darbhanga,[1]Bihar, India
Spouse(s)Flt Lt Kanhaiya Acharya
OccupationFighter Pilot
AwardsNari Shakti Puraskar
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Rank Flight Lieutenant
(L-R) Mohana Singh, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth

In May 2019, she became the first female fighter pilot in India to qualify to undertake combat missions.[7]

Early life

Kanth was born on 1 December 1992 in Darbhanga,[1] Bihar. Her father Tej Narayan Kanth is an electrical engineer in Indian Oil Corporation and mother Radha Kanth is a home maker.[8] While growing up, Kanth was fond of sports like Kho Kho, Badminton, swimming and painting.[9]

Education

Kanth completed her schooling from DAV Public School in Barauni refinery.[3] She prepared for engineering entrance examinations in Kota, Rajasthan. Kanth 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.[9]

Career
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][4]

Kanth flies Hawk advanced jet trainers and it has been the plan to move her and the other two members of her cohort to MIG 21 Bison squadron.[6] 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.[13]

Kanth also tried some modelling assignments and appeared in print advertisements.[9]

On March 9th, 2020, she was awarded with Nari Shakti Puraskar by President Ram Nath Kovind [14]

She is posted to the Indian Air Force's No. 3 Squadron Cobras.[15]

References
  1. "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. "Meet The Trio Who Will Be India's First Women Fighter Pilots". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. "Latest Current Affairs and News About Bhawana Kanth - Current Affairs Today". currentaffairs.gktoday.in. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  4. 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.
  5. Krishnamoorthy, Suresh (18 June 2016). "First batch of three female fighter pilots commissioned". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. "Air Force's First 3 Women Fighter Pilots May Fly Mig-21 Bisons From November". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  7. 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.
  8. "India's First Women Fighter Pilots Get Wings". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  9. "Supported by parents, Bhawana Kanth to script IAF history, become a fighter pilot". News18. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  10. "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. Team, Editorial (19 March 2018). "Interesting Facts about Bhawana Kanth – 2nd Woman to Fly MiG-21 solo". SSBToSuccess. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  14. "Flying MiG-21 Bison matter of pride: Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth". Livemint. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  15. "Bhawana Kanth Is India's First Woman Pilot to Qualify for Combat Missions". NDTV. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
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