This weekend’s special Independence Day show of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) will feature the courage and leadership of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the iconic face of Operation Sindoor. Along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh (Indian Air Force) and Commander Prerna Deosthalee (Indian Navy), Col Qureshi will share the stage with host Amitabh Bachchan and talk about women’s empowerment and share unseen moments from the high-profile defense operation.
A Pivotal Role in Operation Sindoor
During Operation Sindoor, Col Qureshi was present at the front line of communications, doing press briefings with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. The operation, targeting terror and military hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir earlier this year, saw officers from across India’s armed forces come together in a coordinated show of strategic acumen and endurance.
The KBC episode will offer viewers rare insight into how the operation unfolded, including personal accounts from the officers who played crucial roles.
Military Heritage Rooted in Courage
Col Qureshi’s journey to the Indian Army was influenced by an extraordinary family legacy.
“I belong to a family where everyone was in the Army. My great-grandmother’s ancestors were with Rani Lakshmi Bai,” she told Bachchan in a snippet shared by Sony TV.
In place of bedtime lullabies, she learned stories of bravery.
“I have never been given lullabies. I have been given stories of bravery, and I have listened to lectures that explain the meaning of bravery,” she explained.
Her sister, Shyna Sunsara, narrated how their father had been a combatant in the 1971 Bangladesh war, and previous generations of his had been in the Army, BSF, and even the British Army before volunteering for the 1857 revolt with the Rani of Jhansi.
Equality in the Armed Forces
Describing her own experience, Col Qureshi asserted that the Indian Army is a gender-independent force in which all soldiers receive the same kind of training and preparation, maintaining the same standards for men and women serving.
Col Qureshi was born in 1974 in Vadodara, Gujarat. She did her Master’s in Biochemistry from Maharaja Sayajirao University in 1997 and then joined the Mechanised Infantry of the Army. She became the first Indian female officer to command a national contingent of the ASEAN Plus Multinational Military Exercise ‘Force 18’ in 2016.
Her previous service is marked with a key role in Operation Parakram on the Punjab border after the 2001 Parliament attack for which she was awarded a Commendation Card by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
Inspired by Rani Lakshmi Bai
Rani Lakshmi Bai, née Manikarnika Tambe, 1828, is still a lasting symbol of resistance throughout Indian history as the leader of the 1857 rebellion against British occupation until her death at the Battle of Gwalior in 1858. Col Qureshi references the Rani as an inspiration within her own military service a connection cemented by her family links to the freedom fighter’s army.
Kaun Banega Crorepati Independence Day special guarantees a mix of military acumen, historical heritage, and individual bravery, with Operation Sindoor being the focal point of the discussion.
