Colonel Sofiya Qureshi : Trailblazing Indian Army Officer, Peacekeeper, and Hero of Operation Sindoor

Born in 1974 in Vadodara, Gujarat, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi grew up in a family steeped in military tradition. Her grandfather and father, Taj Mohammad, served in the Indian Army, instilling in her a sense of duty and patriotism. Raised with secular values, Sofiya traces her lineage to a great-grandmother who fought alongside Rani Laxmibai in the 1857 revolt. She and her twin sister, Shyna Sunsara, were educated at Kendriya Vidyalaya, EME, in Vadodara. Sofiya excelled academically, earning a B.Sc. in Chemistry and an M.Sc. in Biochemistry from Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda. She briefly worked as an assistant lecturer at MSU and was enrolled in a Ph.D. program before choosing a military career, inspired by her grandmother’s stories of valor.

Military Career (1999–Present)

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi joined the Indian Army in 1999 through the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, commissioned into the Corps of Signals. Her career spans over two decades, marked by pioneering leadership, operational excellence, and contributions to peacekeeping.

• Early Service and Operations: As a young officer, Sofiya earned commendations for her role in counter-insurgency operations on the Punjab border during Operation Parakram (2001–2002), a tense military standoff following the Parliament attack. She also provided critical communication support during flood relief operations in Northeast India, showcasing her versatility.

• UN Peacekeeping Mission (2006): Sofiya served as a military observer in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over her six-plus years in peacekeeping roles, she contributed to ceasefire monitoring, humanitarian aid, and protecting vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. A notable act was reuniting a missing Congolese child with her family, earning local admiration.

• Historic Leadership (2016): In 2016, as a Lieutenant Colonel, Sofiya made history as the first Indian woman officer to lead a 40-member Indian Army contingent at Exercise Force 18, a multinational military exercise in Pune involving ASEAN Plus countries. As the only female contingent commander among 18 nations, she earned praise from then-Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat for her strategic acumen and leadership.

• Operation Sindoor (2025): Promoted to Colonel, Sofiya gained national prominence for leading the media briefing alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri after India’s precision strikes on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation, a response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, was a success, and Sofiya’s articulate briefing emphasized justice for victims and countered Pakistani misinformation.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi : Personal Life

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is married to Colonel Tajuddin Bagewadi, an officer in the Mechanised Infantry from Konnur village, Belagavi, Karnataka. The couple met while serving in Jhansi and married in 2015. They have a son, Sameer, who is preparing to join the Air Force. Her twin sister, Shyna Sunsara, is a model and film producer in Mumbai. Sofiya’s family emphasizes unity and service, with her father stating, “We are first Indians and then Hindus or Muslims.” Despite her public profile, Sofiya maintains privacy, and fake social media accounts claiming to be hers have been debunked.

Legacy and Public Perception

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is celebrated as a trailblazer for women in the Indian armed forces, embodying gender equality in high-stakes roles. Her leadership in Operation Sindoor and Exercise Force 18 has made her a household name, particularly in Vadodara and Belagavi, where she is honored as a local hero. However, some critiques highlight the use of her image to bolster nationalist narratives, occasionally overshadowing broader conflict-related issues. Her calm, authoritative presence and dedication to service continue to inspire, cementing her as a symbol of resilience and empowerment.

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