PATNA: Bihar-born sub-Lieutenant Shivangi on Monday joined the Indian Navy as its first woman pilot on completion of operational training here, a Defence spokesman said.
She joined the duties at Kochi based naval base and was assigned the Donier aircraft for over-the sea surveillance.
Elated at his daughter's induction in Indian Navy as first woman pilot, her father Haribhusan Singh said, "Shivangi symbolises women empowerment in India. She ought to be emulated by other girls of our country and Bihar".
“There should not be any discrimination between a girl and a boy. The entire country, especially Bihar in particular, is proud of her," he added. He said Shivangi wanted to be a pilot since the age of 10 after seeing a chopper hovering in the sky.
“She is a very determined girl, full of patriotic zeal," he added.
Shivangi, speaking to the media at Kochi base said that a determination with devotion paves way for success. “I will dedicate all my success to nation and the blessing of parents, who never made me feel down,” she said. She was commissioned into the Indian Navvy in 2018 after completing her training.
"I have been cherishing a dream to see today movement to serve the nation and soon will complete the third round of training as well," she said.
Meanwhile, villagers and her family members in Muzffarpur’s Fatehabad village celebrated her historic induction as the first woman pilot in the Indian Navy. Aditya Ranjan of her village said that she has become a role model for all the youths and held the head of Bihar in particular high.