Operation Sindoor: Biochemist who left PhD for the uniform

VADODARA: The city swelled with pride on Wednesday morning as its warrior, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, took centre stage to address the nation on Operation Sindoor, India's response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam."Only women know the importance of 'sindoor'," said a proud Hanima, Col Qureshi's mother. "Even my daughter's son, who turned 18, is preparing to join the IAF," said Hanima."I am proud of my daughter.My family has always followed the principle of 'Vayam Rashtre Jagrayam (We will keep the nation awake and alive)'. We are Indian first, and then Muslim," said Taj Mohammed Qureshi, Col Qureshi's father.As a third-generation military officer, Col Qureshi carries forward a proud family tradition that began with her grandfather, continued through her father's service in the Electronic and Mechanical Engineers Corps in Vadodara, and the 1971 war. "My father's maternal grandfather also served in the British army and later participated in the 1857 freedom struggle," one of Col Qureshi's three brothers, Mohammed Sanjay Qureshi, told TOI. Col Qureshi also has a sister."You can say that patriotism runs in our blood. She wanted to become a professor, but has now donned the Indian Army uniform," said Sanjay Qureshi, who, along with his father Taj Mohammed Qureshi, mother Hanima, and daughter Zara, addressed the media in Vadodara. Colonel Sofiya's husband, Tajuddin, is an officer in the Army's Mechanised Infantry.The decorated officer has many laurels to her name. She was the first woman officer to command an Army contingent in a multinational military exercise, "Exercise Force 18" in 2016, where she stood out as the only female commander among 18 contingents participating in the largest foreign military drill hosted by India.Col Qureshi earned her BSc in chemistry (1995) and MSc in biochemistry (1997) from M S University, after completing schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya, EME. She left her PhD program a year short to join Indian Army. Her career includes six years with UN peacekeeping forces, working in conflict zones and supporting humanitarian efforts.(With inputs from Sachin Sharma)