An fictional tale of Gunjan Saxena, highlighting her determination, courage, and journey to becoming a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
Gunjan was the youngest member of her family. She had a sound mind with great potential for learning. Besides her regular academics, Gunjan had a keen desire to fly in the sky. She wanted to become a fighter pilot and join the Indian Air Force. Her father, who was a retired naval officer, encouraged his daughter to be a part of the defence services.
Once, at a gathering, Gunjan got an opportunity to meet a pilot from the Air Force. She was quite excited and asked him, “Pilot uncle, can I join the Indian Air Force and become a fighter pilot like you?”
The pilot was delighted to see her enthusiasm. He said, “Sure, you can. You need to follow some rules, and in no time you can fly in the sky.”
Gunjan was curious. She asked, “Rules? What kind of rules, pilot uncle?”
“Well, to begin with, you need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. You also need to take care of your eyesight and avoid wearing spectacles. And remember to exercise daily. This way, I am sure you too can become a pilot.”
“Ah! It means that being a pilot is a tough job, but I will surely do all this to become a great pilot in the future.”
The pilot smiled and said, “I am sure you can my dear.”
A few years passed. By now, tiny little Gunjan had grown into a charming young girl, but her dream of becoming a pilot remained constant.
She continued to maintain a disciplined life and studied hard for the AFCAT examination that would make her dream come true.
Many of her family members were not happy with Gunjan’s decision, but her father always supported her.
After qualifying in the AFCAT, Gunjan appeared for the height, weight, and eye tests. She succeeded, but then she faced a new challenge—she was overweight.
Gunjan was very upset and lost all hope of becoming a pilot. But then she heard the officer say, “Don’t lose hope. You have a week’s time to reduce your weight and reappear for the test.”
Gunjan found new hope and started following a strict diet. Her father encouraged her. He said, “You are not only my daughter but also my son. I want you to prove that girls can do everything that boys can do. Go and give it your best effort, my child.”
Gunjan’s spirits lifted. She said, “Papa, your dream will come true, and your daughter will make you shine bright. This is my promise.” Her father was very happy to see her confidence.
Gunjan started jogging every day and drinking bitter gourd juice and fruit juices. She lost weight in no time and was finally selected to join the academy.
When she joined, she found that she was the only female pilot in the academy. All the other pilots laughed when they saw a woman in this profession. One officer mocked her and said, “This girl will be competing with us. She should be in the kitchen, not in an academy.”
Gunjan was deeply hurt. However, her determination doubled when she heard these remarks. She knew they were just trying to distract her from her goal. She remained calm.
The next day, Gunjan woke up with renewed zeal and performed the best during the training sessions. The chief was pleased and told her about an important mission she could be a part of. This was her chance to show the male pilots that a woman too could do everything they could.
The pilots of the Indian Air Force gathered for the secret mission before sunrise.
Gunjan’s chief asked her, “Will you be able to complete the mission, Gunjan? Or shall I instruct someone else?”
“No, sir. I am all ready to serve my country,” came her prompt reply.
As the sun started to rise in the eastern horizon, the fighter planes took off one by one. Within the next hour, Gunjan flew fearlessly across enemy lines, destroying more than 200 enemy targets. Her efforts made the mission a success.
That evening, as Gunjan arrived at the dinner party, everyone applauded her, including those who had mocked her earlier. She smiled and said softly,
“DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.”
