Bot at 15:17, 23 September 2022

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{{short description|Indian aviator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Bhawana Kanth
| image = Bhawana Kanth in 2020.jpg
| imagesize = 180
| caption = Bhawna Kanth
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|12|1}}
| birth_place = [[Darbhanga]],<ref name=bornhere/>[[Bihar]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| allegiance = {{IND}}
| branch = {{air force|India}}
| occupation = [[Fighter Pilot]]
| rank = [[File:Indian IAF OF-2.svg|25px]] Flight Lieutenant
| years_active =
| spouse = Flt Lt Kanhaiya Acharya
| children =
| relatives =
| awards = [[Nari Shakti Puraskar]]
| alma_mater = [[B.M.S College of Engineering]],[[B.M.S. Institute of Technology and Management]], [[Bangalore]]
}}
[[File:The Marshal of the Indian Air Force (MIAF) Arjan Singh along with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha (cropped).jpg|thumb|(L-R) Mohana Singh, [[Avani Chaturvedi]] and Bhawana Kanth ]]
'''Bhawana Kanth''' is one of the first female fighter pilots of India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/meet-indias-first-three-women-fighter-pilots-to-be-1285173|title=Meet The Trio Who Will Be India's First Women Fighter Pilots|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/tags/bhawana-kanth|title=Latest Current Affairs and News About Bhawana Kanth - Current Affairs Today|website=currentaffairs.gktoday.in|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/for-iafs-first-women-fighter-pilots-mohana-singh-bhawana-kanth-avani-chaturvedi-sky-is-no-limit/articleshow/52816373.cms|title=For IAF's first women fighter pilots Mohana Singh, Bhawana Kanth & Avani Chaturvedi, sky is no limit|last=Mohammed|first=Syed|date=2016-06-19|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref> She was declared as the first combat pilot along with two of her cohort, [[Mohana Singh Jitarwal|Mohana Singh]], and [[Avani Chaturvedi]]. The trio was inducted into the [[Indian Air Force]] fighter squadron in June 2016. They were formally commissioned by Defence Minister [[Manohar Parrikar]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/First-batch-of-three-female-fighter-pilots-commissioned/article14429868.ece|title=First batch of three female fighter pilots commissioned|last=Krishnamoorthy|first=Suresh|date=2016-06-18|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-11-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> After the government of India decided to open the fighter stream in India Air Force for women on an experimental basis, these three women were the first to be selected for the program.<ref name=":2" />

In May 2019, she became the first female fighter pilot in India to qualify to undertake combat missions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/bhawana-kanth-becomes-1st-fighter-pilot-to-qualify-to-undertake-combat-missions/articleshow/69448041.cms?from=mdr|title=Bhawana Kanth becomes 1st fighter pilot to qualify to undertake combat missions|last=Gurung|first=Shaurya Karanbir|date=2019-05-22|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>

==Early life==
Kanth was born on 1 December 1992 in [[Darbhanga]],<ref name=bornhere>{{Cite web|title=Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth is the first woman fighter pilot to qualify for combat duty|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/flt-lt-bhawana-kanth-is-first-woman-fighter-pilot-to-qualify-for-combat-duty-5743284/|date=2019-05-23|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> Bihar. Her father Tej Narayan Kanth is an electrical engineer in [[Indian Oil Corporation]] and mother Radha Kanth is a home maker.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-first-women-fighter-pilots-commissioned-into-air-force-1420576|title=India's First Women Fighter Pilots Get Wings|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref> While growing up, Kanth was fond of sports like [[Kho kho|Kho Kho]], [[Badminton]], swimming and painting.<ref name=":4" />

==Education==
Kanth completed her schooling from DAV Public School in Barauni refinery.<ref name=":0" /> She prepared for engineering entrance examinations in [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]], Rajasthan. Kanth joined [[Bachelor of Engineering]] in [[Medical Electronics]] from [[BMS College of Engineering]], [[Bengaluru]] for further studies.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/landmark-event-in-iaf-history-meet-indias-first-3-women-fighter-pilots-2841698.html|title=Landmark event in IAF history: Meet India's first 3 women fighter pilots|date=2016-06-18|work=Firstpost|access-date=2017-11-20|language=en-US}}</ref> She graduated in 2014 and was recruited for IT giant [[Tata Consultancy Services]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/supported-by-parents-bhawana-kanth-to-script-iaf-history-become-a-fighter-pilot-1216707.html|title=Supported by parents, Bhawana Kanth to script IAF history, become a fighter pilot|work=News18|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref>

== Career ==
[[File:Shri Narendra Modi with the Nari Shakti Awardees, in New Delhi on March 08, 2020.jpg|thumb|left|Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] with the Nari Shakti Awardees on [[International Women's Day]] in 2020.]]
Kanth had always dreamt of flying planes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/india/first-three-women-air-force-fighter-pilots-to-be-commissioned-in-december-2047996.html|title=First three women Air Force fighter pilots to be commissioned in December|date=2017-10-05|work=Zee News|access-date=2017-11-20|language=en}}</ref> She took the Air Force Common Admission Test and was selected to be commissioned into the Air Force.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Meet-country-first-women-fighter-pilots/listshow/52805557.cms|title=Meet country's first women fighter pilots- The Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref> As a part of her Stage 1 training, she joined the fighter stream.

In June 2016, Kanth underwent a six month long stage-II training on Kiran Intermediate Jet Trainers at [[Hakimpet Air Force Station]] in [[Hyderabad]] soon after which she got commissioned as Flying Officer at Combined Graduation Parade Spring Term at the Air Force Academy in [[Dundigal]] the same year.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

Kanth flies Hawk advanced jet trainers and it has been the plan to move her and the other two members of her cohort to MIG 21 Bison squadron.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-forces-first-3-women-fighter-pilots-may-fly-mig-21-bisons-from-november-1760195|title=Air Force's First 3 Women Fighter Pilots May Fly Mig-21 Bisons From November|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref> Flying Officer Bhawana Kanth on 16 March 2018 takes the solo flight of Mig-21 ‘Bison’. She made the solo flight of Mig-21 from Ambala Air Force Station at around 1400 hours.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ssbtosuccess.com/interesting-facts-bhawana-kanth/|title=Interesting Facts about Bhawana Kanth – 2nd Woman to Fly MiG-21 solo|last=Team|first=Editorial|date=2018-03-19|work=SSBToSuccess|access-date=2018-03-19|language=en-US}}</ref>

Kanth also tried some modelling assignments and appeared in print advertisements.<ref name=":4" />

On March 9, 2020, she was awarded with [[Nari Shakti Puraskar]] by President [[Ram Nath Kovind]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/flying-mig-21-bison-matter-of-pride-flt-lt-bhawana-kanth-11583759611965.html|title=Flying MiG-21 Bison matter of pride: Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth|date=2020-03-09|website=Livemint|language=en|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

She is posted to the [[Indian Air Force]]'s [[No. 3 Squadron IAF|No. 3 Squadron]] ''Cobras''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/flight-lieutenant-bhawana-kanth-is-indias-first-woman-pilot-to-qualify-for-combat-missions-2041527|title= Bhawana Kanth Is India's First Woman Pilot to Qualify for Combat Missions |publisher=NDTV|access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Nari Shakti Puraskar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanth, Bhawana}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1992 births]]
[[Category:Indian aviators]]
[[Category:Indian women aviators]]
[[Category:Women from Bihar]]
[[Category:Nari Shakti Puraskar winners]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Indian women in war]]

Bhawana Kanth - Revision history

Bot at 15:17, 23 September 2022