Ayesha Aziz, A 21 YO Kashmiri Girl Is All Set To Become India’s 1st Female To Fly A MIG-29!

Jammu and Kashmir is, certainly, one of the most beautiful parts of India. Nestled in the Himalayas with a strong youth population, the state has the potential of becoming one of the most prosperous ones in the nation. Sadly, due to conflict with Pakistan and the continuous problem of terrorism in the region, the state has been unable to tap its natural and human resource potential, with a large number of youths from the state getting brainwashed by the extremist groups.

However, a lot of kids from the region have shown us that grit and determination overpower any obstacle that comes your way. Adding another name to that list, Ayesha Aziz is an inspiration for not just Kashmiris, but for every single one of us.

After getting her commercial flying licence last week, 21-Year-Old Ayesha Aziz is now eyeing to become the first Indian woman to fly a MIG-29 fighter jet at Russia’s Sokul airbase. 

“I want to reach the edge of space, for which we are talking terms with the Russian agency to fly the MIG-29.”

 

In 2011, Aziz became the country’s youngest student pilot at the age of 16 after getting a license from the ‘Bombay Flying Club’. Speaking about her passion for flying, she said,

 

Aziz idolises Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and in 2012, was one of the three Indians chosen to undergo a two-month advance training course at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

 

While Ayesha’s mother hails from Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, her father, Abdul Aziz, is a businessman from Mumbai. Ayesha credits her father for her success and his thoughts tell us why. 

“I have always believed that knowledge and enquiry are keys to human progress. If my child had a dream which was achievable, I had to be part of the process and see that she realised this dream.”

 

Giving a message to the Kashmiri girls, Ayesha asks them to spread their wings and fly, rather than getting feared by the grey skies.

“My message for Kashmiri girls would be to chase their dreams, to not let anything let them down, have goals in your life and achieve them.”

Let’s face it, being a Muslim woman in a conservative society like India is difficult enough to pursue your dreams. Even if you are determined, willing to work hard and get support from your parents, society tries to drag you to the bottom. And this is why Ayesha’s achievements are so much more than a regular success story and she deserves every bit of applause for it.

Ayesha has proved that if you have a will, even sky is not the limit. Let’s hope that her story inspires more Kashmiris and women to follow their dreams.

News Sources: NDTV and The Times Of India

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