Introduction
Gunjan Saxena (born 1975) is a former Indian Air Force officer and helicopter pilot who became a national icon for her extraordinary bravery during the 1999 Kargil War. She is widely known as “The Kargil Girl” and holds the historic distinction of being the first woman in India to fly in a combat zone during a war.
Follow us on Whatsapp and Facebook
She joined the Indian Air Force in 1994 and served for eight years, flying some of the most dangerous missions in India’s military history.
| Full Name | Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena |
|---|---|
| Native Name | गुंजन सक्सेना |
| Born | August 1975 |
| Country | India |
| Branch | Indian Air Force |
| Service Years | 1994 – 2004 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Conflict | Kargil War (1999) |
| Education | Hansraj College, Delhi University |
Early Life
She studied at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, initially taking up Anthropology, but later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. From a young age, she was inspired by discipline, courage, and service to the nation.
Joining the Indian Air Force
Her first posting was in Udhampur, where she served as a Flying Officer with the 132 Forward Area Control Unit.
In 2004, after serving as a pilot for eight years, her career as a helicopter pilot ended; permanent commissions for women were not available during her time.
The Kargil War – A Historic Role
During the 1999 Kargil War, Gunjan Saxena was just 24 years old and stationed in Srinagar. As part of Operation Vijay, she flew Cheetah helicopters in extremely dangerous conditions.
Her missions included:
-
Evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield
-
Transporting supplies to forward military posts in Dras and Batalik
-
Conducting aerial surveillance and mapping enemy positions
She flew at altitudes between 13,000 and 18,000 feet, landing on makeshift helipads under enemy fire.
Gunjan was one of ten pilots based in Srinagar who flew hundreds of sorties and helped evacuate more than 900 troops, including both the wounded and the fallen.
She was the only woman in the Indian Armed Forces to fly into active war zones during the Kargil War — a historic achievement.
End of Flying Career
In 2004, after serving for eight years as a helicopter pilot, Gunjan Saxena’s flying career came to an end. At that time, permanent commissions were not available for women in the Indian Air Force, which meant she had to leave active flying duty.
Achievements & Records
Gunjan Saxena achieved several firsts in her career:
-
First in Order of Merit during basic flying training
-
First in helicopter training
-
First woman to fly in a combat zone (recorded in Limca Book of Records)
-
First woman helicopter pilot to earn the prestigious “BG” category
-
First woman officer to complete jungle and snow survival training
Award Clarification
Personal Life
Gunjan Saxena is married to Wing Commander Gautam Narain, an Indian Air Force pilot who flies Mi-17 helicopters. He has also served as an instructor at the National Defence Academy (NDA).
They have a daughter named Pragya.
Book and Film
Her autobiography, “The Kargil Girl,” co-written with author-duo Kiran Nirvan, was published by Penguin Publishers in 2020.
Final Inspiration
Gunjan Saxena’s story proves that courage has no gender and dreams have no limits. Flying into enemy fire to save lives, she rewrote history and became a symbol of strength for millions of young women.
%20Recruitment%202025%20%E2%80%93%20Assistant%20Staff%20Nurse%20(312%20Posts).jpg)
%20Recruitment%202025%20%E2%80%93%20Assistant%20Staff%20Nurse%20(312%20Posts).jpg)
0 Comments