Who is Abhilasha Barak? Indian Army's First Female Combat Aviator

Captain Abhilasha Barak, now a Combat Aviator, hails from Haryana and she grew up in a military community. Hailing from an army family, in an interview she said -“While growing up in military Cantonments, and being surrounded by people in uniform, it always seemed like an ordinary affair. I never realized it (that it was different) until our family moved out of the military life, after my father’s retirement in 2011" She also said that she knew for a fact that this is what she wanted to pursue after her brother's graduation parade from the Indian Military Academy.

Daughter of Retired Army officer Col. S Om Singh, Abhilasha was born in Tamilnadu. She reportedly did her schooling in the Lawrence School in Sanawar and Tagore international School, Vasanth Vihar, New Delhi. Captain Abhilasha Barak holds a degree of B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University in 2016 and worked at Deloitte, in the USA for a year post-graduation. On Wednesday Captain Abhilasha Barak was awarded the coveted 'wings' by the director-general of the Army Aviation during the graduation ceremony held in the Combat Army Aviation Training School in Nashik.

Captain Abhilasha Barak, was first commissioned in 2018, into the Indian Army from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. During this, she was selected as a 'Contingent Commander for Presentation of Colours to Army Air Defence' by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The 26-year-old Combat Aviator has reportedly scored an ‘A’ grade in the Army Air Defence Young officers course, 75.70 percent in Air Traffic Management and Air Laws course and in her first attempt, cleared the promotional exam, Part B.

According to excerpts of the interview released by the Indian Army, Abhilasha Barak has spoken more about this achievement, stating that she applied to Army Aviation Corps, mentioning that she had qualified for the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test. Back when she was applying Indian Army wasn't inducting women as combat pilots, which meant that she would only be eligible for ground duty. But she believed that the day wasn't far when the army would start admitting women.

She also added that-" In 1987, during Operation Meghdoot, my father was leading a patrolling party from Amar Post to Bana Top Post. Due to bad weather, he suffered from Cerebral Odema and he was brought back to Amar Post, from where he was evacuated right in time. He owes his life to the Army Aviation Corps and hence, so do I.”

Suggested Reading: Who Is Nayla Al Khaja? AR Rahman Collaborates With UAE’s First Woman Director