Thread by @singhsahana

Why do we come to know about such high achievers only when they're approaching their 80s? They should be in textbooks inspiring generations of girls and boys. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay was the first female Air Marshall in the Indian Air Force. (1)

She broke so many glass ceilings but what I like most about her is the gratitude that she got all those opportunities rather than the "women's rights" approach that feminists have nowadays. I think this is truly the Hindu way. (2)

She dreams big then pushes and pushes until she gets what she wants while having faith in Bhagwan and acknowledging all the people who support her. Interviewers keep asking her what she feels about being the first woman to do this and that (3)

She says she was just doing her job and realized only much later that she was the first woman doing something.
It reminded me of how I realized one day that I was the first woman-engineer in my family (4)

Of course, going by my journey of decolonization and what I am finding out about India's educational heritage, I won't be surprised if female ancestors of mine were doing engineering design or project management. (5)

After all, Indian queens were leading water management projects even just a few centuries ago. They were making war strategies & fighting battles too. Not to forget ancient Brahmavadinis who debated their male counterparts or authored verses that are still chanted today (6)

Going back to Padmavathy ji she doesn't seem to have any ill-will towards the men who mocked or made assumptions about her abilities based on gender. She recounts how she was once not in her uniform but wearing a saree & driving her official car with the Indian flag. (7)

She was stopped by a security officer. When she told him that she was an air force officer, he said "Impossible, how can that be?" She showed him her identity card and commended him for doing his job of verification so diligently. What an attitude! (8)

I love that she and her husband were awarded the Vishisht Seva medal together - they were the first couple to be awarded at the same investiture ceremony. That reminds me of a Yajna in which husband and wife sit together to perform the rituals. (9)