A flying officer in Indian Air Force and a loving mother, women can do it all

Girls should grow up, become proficient in everything from academics to household chores and then be married off in early 20s. Isn't that how most North Indian families think?
Breaking stereotype of getting girls married at age of 20 and play the role of perfect homemakers, 41-year-old operational head at MNC Sushmita Sahay shocked the community by joining Indian Air Force as flying officer in 1997.

Sharing her story, Sushmita said, “I had to break social barriers that stood between me and my dreams." She was born and brough up in a Bihari family. The general trend in the family was girls getting martied and settling down at a young age as a homemaker.

 “My father (Ramanandan) like every other north Indian father, wanted me to get married to a nice settled guy at the ‘right age’,” Sushmita said. She explained that people have a hard time finding a groom for an educated girl, who has crossed the age of 20 in north India.

“When I turned 18, I wanted to pursue my dream of serving the country,” Sushmita said. She expected her father to be her pillar of strength.

“I was shocked and disheartened, when he objected to my ambition, quoting the marriage issues,” Sushmita said. Unexpectedly, her mother Ranjana supported her.

“My mother, a simple traditional Indian homemaker, was always been against working women,” Sushmita shared. She cannot find a reason for her mother’s behaviour, but she is grateful to her.

“Though my father kept objecting to my ambition, but mom’s support encouraged me,” Sushmita said. She cracked Air Force Common Admission Test and her father accepted her ambition.

“It took time, patience and persistence, but dad was finally proud of my achievements,” Sushmita said. Talking about her experiences at force, she discussed experience of talking to terrorists.

“I was a part of Kargil, which an educative experience,” Sushmita said. During the war, she was monitored by terrorists, who recognised her by her code name and face. “It was scary and exhilarating,” she added.

She left air force as squadron leader in 2009 for taking care of her son Romit. She worked in multinational companies later as operational head.
Further, left everything and become a wonderful mother raising her son Rohan.