Guruaribam Rumi Sharma - First Manipuri woman pilot in the IAF
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 01, 2012:
Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad) witnessed a colourful combined passing out parade of 217 young Air Force Officers yesterday including a 23 year old State girl, Guru Aribam Rumi Sharma.
Flying Officer Guruaribam Rumi Sharma d/o Col Sushil Kumar Sharma and Malabika Sharma of Brahmapur Naha-bam Bamon Leikai was among the 97 newly commissioned pilots.
Not only earning the tag as the first Manipuri woman pilot in the IAF, Rumi Sharma also bagged the coveted trophy of Best Officer - like Qualities.
She was also declared as the Best All Round Woman Pilot.
Flying Officer, Rumi Sharma is an Electronics and Telecommunication Engineer with distinctions from Singad Academy of Engineering, Pune.
Her love for adventure and passion to fly enticed her to decline attractive job offers by Infosys and Accen ture.
She will fly transport aircraft in the IAF.
Her father, Col Sushil was posted as an instructor in the prestigious IMA, Dehradun.
Flying Officer Rumi and Col Sushil are one of the few father-daughter duo presently serving in the defence forces.
Interestingly, Flying Officer Rumi and cousin, Wing Commander, Kh Bishwanth (MI-17 pilot) from Manipur also form a unique brother-sister pilot combo in the IAF.