'What More Can I Ask For?' In Karnataka, A Moment Of Pride For Col Sofia Qureshi's Father-In-Law
Colonel Qureshi shot to the limelight in 2016 at the age of 35 when she led a 40-member contingent in Exercise FORCE 18 that involved ASEAN Plus countries
In a powerful image that captured the imagination of billions and became a symbol of India’s women power and resilience, the nation watched in rapt attention as two women in uniform—Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh—briefed the world about Operation Sindoor.
As images of the women—along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri—flooded social media, setting a new benchmark in not just India’s military narrative but pushing a calculated assertion of the country’s modern identity, for a couple in a small village in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, the pride felt more personal.
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Speaking to Indian Express, Ghouse Bagewadi, Qureshi’s father-in-law, said he was glued to the television. “That was a proud moment for our family and nation. I did not move an inch," he said.
Colonel Qureshi married Major Tajuddin Qureshi of the Mechanised Infantry in 2015. Her mother-in-law, though proud of her achievements, expressed fears for her safety.
Bagewadi shared that his son and daughter-in-law were scheduled to visit their village for Ramzan but work commitments held them back. He shared with Indian Express that while he and his wife had not studied beyond elementary school, he was proud of what his children had achieved.
While his son did not share specifics of Colonel Qureshi’s immediate responsibilities with him, Bagewadi said he had been fielding calls from friends and family members since her television appearance. “What more can I ask for?" he asked.
Colonel Qureshi shot to the limelight in 2016 at the age of 35 when she led a 40-member contingent in Exercise FORCE 18 that involved ASEAN Plus countries—the largest ground forces exercise ever conducted on Indian soil at the time. She also served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo in 2006 and has been associated with peacekeeping operations for over six years.
During the Operation Sindoor briefing, Colonel Qureshi’s way of briefing with details was a blend of operational and diplomatic firmness. She emphasised that the strike was a pre-emptive counter-terror operation targeting terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC).
News18 had earlier reported that Qureshi, calm and authoritative, stood as the quiet testament to the evolving gender dynamics within India’s defence forces, where competence is commanding the room, not gender.
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